On a chilly day in February, a sausage roll appeared in the window of a Primark. Why was it there? What could it mean? Was it a prank, or simply a mistake? No. It was the start of the collaboration that no one expected, but everyone would want.
Soon after, Greggs and Primark launched their collection. It sold out, with reports suggesting people were selling pieces online for more than three times their original price.
But now, it’s back and bigger than ever and I headed down to the ‘Snackfest Bus’ in Cathedral Gardens and got my hands on head to toe Greggs fashion.
Firstly, the hats, the wonderful bucket hat. It’s a staple of Manc fashion and one to be seen all across festivals this summer.
There have been iconic bucket hats of years gone by, the Ikea hat, those worn by Kevin and Perry, and whichever one, of the assumed thousands, Liam Gallagher decides to pop on his head at a show.
But now, Greggs and Primark have joined the ranks with their reversible hats. One side is black, chic with an embroidered stamp logo, while the other has an all over pattern.
Everything else I purchased can be summed up in one word: comfort. The line has certainly been designed to wear while lounging but does hold a certain summery, festival feel.
I purchased two t-shirts - both are 100 percent cotton and one says Greggs. The other is a graphic tee and has a picture of a sausage roll on a stick with the logo ‘flakes included’.
They are comfortable, no fuss t-shirts. Designed as men's t-shirts, I got them in a large and they are true to size. However, the black t-shirts logo could be better applied as the XXX material feels like it could peel once given a wash or two.
While covering and of a decent length, the shorts do allow some shapes to show through. The label, for example. Another little niggle is the lack of pockets, as with a lot of womenswear, pockets are often forgotten and while lounge shorts aren’t the most obvious of articles to attach pockets to, I would like somewhere to put my phone without having to buy the bumbag.
However, they are incredibly soft and comfortable and do make for excellent work from home gear. I'm a fan of the little boxing-like tag at the front, proclaiming 'Greggs since 1939'.
At this point, I’m slightly annoyed that I didn’t get the matching cropped hoodie so I can sit around, existing like a classic sausage roll paper bag.
As it’s been announced that the England team will wear an all white strip in the Euros final against Germany, I may just join them and show off my new wavey Greggs garms, proudly supporting the British high street.
An expected sell out product is the Greggs clogs. A blue shoe with a yellow strap and the Greggs logo printed on the outside.
They’re comfortable, striking and resemble a very trendy brand. However, there is one glaring issue with the clogs: they only come in shoe sizes six and above.
In the UK, the average women’s shoe size is six, meaning many are under that size and many are over. But if you are a woman with dainty feet, then sadly, you won't be able to buy these clogs and instead will have to settle for the original sliders which are to be released next week; excitingly though, they now come in black.
This, for me, was the real disappointment as I could have loved a pair of home and corner shop shoes. Instead, I purchased a pair for my partner and got his opinion.
He said: "I'd expect more contouring on the sole, they're light, flat and breathable."
When asked if he would wear them in public, he said: "Absolutely not, they're unironically hideous. I'd get it if they were trying to be funny about it. They're just so ugly."
Sadly, he wasn't impressed with the gift and will not be wearing them around town.
Overall, I think the collection is bold, comfortable and unifies true areas of the British high street. I'm sure it will be sell out and look forward to nodding at other people proudly wearing a GR-EGGs roll on their tops.
Today Cathedral Gardens, tomorrow Vogue. The full collection will be available to buy in Primark stores from August 5.
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