Before the sun rose, a group of teenage girls huddled in front of the Roar Store at 6:30 in the morning. Braving the cold in their blankets and armed with drinks and breakfast, the girls sat on the stairs, ranging from seniors to freshmen, all with one goal in mind: the opening of the Roar Store at 7:30 am.
What were they waiting for? A giveaway? Free money?
No, they were waiting for a new item in the Roar Store: the “Pius Parke.”
If you’ve been on social media recently, you’ve probably seen the trend of the mock-neck Parke sweatshirt, which has quickly flooded FYPs and shopping carts.
A new trend emerged among the girls at SPX: the Pius Parke, a mock-neck sweatshirt featuring the word “PIUS” on the front, inspired by the original Parke sweatshirt.
These sweatshirts have become a staple at Pius, seamlessly fitting into sweatpants days, sports practices, and daily life around our school.
Somehow, they made their way into the Roar Store.
“It’s flattering, and I’m addicted. Maybe it is overconsumption, but I am overconsumption,” said sophomore Stella Wirtz.
Sophomore Margot Ried said, “I woke up the earliest I’ve ever woken up for school. I lied and said that I needed to go in early. I got there at seven, and I was the first person in line for the restock. I was grabbing one, and everyone was scratching and clawing. It was terrifying. It was really scary.”
Those who don’t own them are more confused by the concept of the beloved sweatshirts.
“I just don’t understand the hype,” said Fr. Robbie Cotta.
Others are simply indifferent. “I think we should let people wear whatever they want,” said junior Meredith Slaton.
“I saw the girls lined up at 7 a.m. waiting outside the door. I walked into that line by accident. It’s definitely kind of weird,” said sophomore Joey Nordmark.
Despite the confusion, many teachers and staff members have jumped on the trend, rocking their pink, blue, and gray Pius Parkes.
“I surprisingly really like it. I have the blue one, and it’s perfect for winter wear,” said Miranda Contreras.
Whether the sweatshirts are just a phase or here to stay, there’s no denying they’ve become a big part of the SPX community.
