Graduation Attire, Built to Order

Graduation gown UK and US conventions differ in two visible places: the gown cut and the hood. Everything else — the color matching, the crest work, the order process — is the same whether you are buying for a UK institution or an American one.

In the UK cut the bachelor's gown has bell-shaped sleeves; the master's gown has long sleeves closed at the end with a slit above the elbow for the arm; and the doctoral gown follows one of two national shapes — the Oxford doctor's shape with bell-shaped sleeves, or the Cambridge doctor's shape with long open sleeves. (The US cut differs: there the bachelor's gown has pointed sleeves.) Hoods carry the institution's own shape and trim scheme, so a UK order is specified from the awarding body's reference rather than from a general color chart.

We make to order for UK institutions in the same factory as our US and Australian lines. Gowns are Pantone-matched to the awarding body's colors, hoods are matched to the institution's reference, and lab dips come back within 48 hours. Minimum order is 50 units per style and color, and bulk production runs 30 to 45 days after sample approval. Freight is sea or air, door to door, with export documentation handled by our freight team. Gown-only orders are specified from graduation gowns.

Do you make UK-style gowns and hoods, or only US styles?

Both. UK gown shapes and hood schemes differ from the US, so a UK order is specified from the awarding body's own reference — send it and we match the gown, hood and trim before cutting.

What is the minimum order for a UK institution?

50 units per style and color, the same as our US and Australian lines. Samples and lab dips are supplied for written approval before bulk production.