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Is this the hippest scarf in south London? How Dulwich Hamlet F.C's accessory became a style must-have

Michael Fabricant in the Dulwich Hamlet F.C scarf - 2019 Getty Images
Michael Fabricant in the Dulwich Hamlet F.C scarf - 2019 Getty Images

Michael Fabricant, the politician who looks like the curious love child of Anthea Turner and Worzel Gummidge, isn’t the first to spring to mind as a style setter, despite that signature sweep of sandy locks that could double as floor mop. But the Conservative MP was spotted today in a scarf that’s become something on a phenomenon amongst a small pocket of south Londoners; the football scarf of Dulwich Hamlet FC.

For those unfamiliar, Dulwich is a leafy, middle class enclave of south east London, pilates studios jostling alongside organic babychino pop-ups. And Dulwich Hamlet FC is its local team, signature colours of which happily chime with the aesthetics of sports outfitter Jack Wills; dark blue and baby pink. In fact, Dulwich’s yummy mummys may remember the hues from their university days when Jack Wills, a wannabe British Ralph Lauren, was de rigeur, yah?

The club has earned ‘hipster’ status in recent years; in lieu of Bovril, craft beer is the mainstay. Pies? Terrible for the GI darling; it’s all about artisanal food trucks. And in a move to make football more inclusive, the team partnered with gay rights charity Stonewall to produce a range of Pride themed football scarves. Fabricant extolled the virtues of his scarf a year ago on Twitter, and merrily wore it this week to face protests outside parliament. At least the colour was jaunty.

It’s a scarf that comes with considerable celebrity endorsement; Sadiq Khan and James Nesbitt have also been spotted in it. And if you’re in the know, much like a visit to Peckham’s car park bar Levels and a membership to private members enclave Upstairs in Brixton (Trinny Woodall is a fan), they’ve become calling cards amongst a pocket of SE / SW locals.

The Telegraph Claire Cohen, proud bearer of that SE postcode, says “the Hamlet's pink and blue scarf is must-have item for any self-respecting South East London hipster. It's instantly recognisable - even the local labradors have been known to wear them. What we lack in major Premiership clubs down here, we make up for in local team spirit."

Harry, 36, says it gives him a sense of "belonging" - referring to the knowing nods exchanged by scarf-wearers as they pass on the streets of Dulwich Village, or spot one another over a craft beer in nearby West Norwood.

Fashion football scarves have been a recurring theme in men’s fashion - big name houses such as Louis Vuitton and Acne Studios creating knit accessories that ape football paraphernalia for hundreds of pounds - but this version comes with bonafide hipster credentials for just £10.