Somebody Should Have Thought This Through: Ridgewood Cheer Spirit Wear Design Raises Eyebrows
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, School fundraisers are usually a straightforward affair—a great way to support student athletes while showing off some local pride. However, a recent online apparel store for the Ridgewood High School Varsity Cheer team has residents in Ridgewood, NJ doing a double take.
A Design Oversight?
techniques for local spirit wear usually play it safe with classic school names or traditional mascots. The current RHS Varsity Cheer fundraiser includes a few non-cheer-branded items, including popular mock neck sweatshirts and cozy sweatpants for girls and women.
The catch? Printed prominently across the front of the apparel is the word “WOOD” in massive block lettering—presumably a play on the ending of “Ridgewood.”
While the design was likely intended as a chic, abbreviated style for local apparel, many residents quickly pointed out that the design team failed to anticipate common modern slang and double entendres before approving the text across high school spirit wear.
Limited Time Left on the Online Store
Despite the unintentional humor and social media chatter surrounding the design choice, the fundraiser remains live for a limited window. According to the team’s online shop—where items like their Plaid Crewneck Sweatshirt are featured—the store is set to close on Monday.
Whether the bold design becomes a sought-after tongue-in-cheek collector’s item or leads to a quick artwork revision, one thing is certain: people in town are definitely talking about it.
Stay updated on state and national news that affects you. From politics to policy, from culture to current affairs, our eBlast will keep you well-informed . http://eepurl.com/bgt6T #RidgewoodBlog #LocalNews #StateNews #NationalNews #Subscribe #Community
Tags: Ridgewood NJ, High School Sports, Spirit Wear, Local News, Social Media Trends, Bergen County
Given that “wood” is common slang for an erection, it’s surprising that no one considered the obvious meaning before putting WOOD in huge letters on apparel intended for high schoolers.
I’m surprised this made it through the approval process. Putting WOOD in huge letters on clothing marketed specifically to teenage girls seems like a pretty significant oversight.
RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Public Information Officer
Christine Corliss, MBA Award-Winning Communications Professional
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?
Teen Cheer—mostly female minors—wearing clothing featuring WOOD (IN ALL CAPS) prominently across the chest and rear. 😬
This seems really inappropriate for merchandise being marketed to minors. Someone should have caught this before it went on sale.