A newly designed graduation gown has been unveiled 106 years after Ewha produced its first graduates in 1914. The renewal project started in 2018 by Professor Park Sun-hee from the Department of Fashion Design.
“It was my honor to be given this opportunity,” Park said. “As a graduate and a professor of Ewha, it was truly meaningful to design the school’s new graduation gown. I would like to thank the researchers of the Fashion Design Research Institute who worked with me and other faculty members who gave suggestions.”
Park emphasized that she focused on making a graduation gown that would represent the school. Not only was there a color change from black to Ewha Green, but also a neck collar with the Ewha font logo and symbol inscribed was added. Moreover, in order to represent the enterprising and future-oriented image of Ewha, the gown has been designed as outerwear in the form of a cape by adopting the style of an H-line jacket with an A-line cape.
Park explained that another reason why she selected the combined style of a jacket and cape was to reflect student opinions. In May 2018, the school held an event to investigate student’s preferences for the graduation gown. During the event, a variety of gown designs were provided for students to try on, take pictures, and give their opinion. Among different styles, a gown that highlighted its shoulders by the combination of a jacket and cape received the majority vote.
“We made sure to embrace the result of the event,” Park added. “I am glad to have communicated effectively with students during the production process so that I could apply their feedback.”
Unlike the previous gown, the material of the newly designed gown is made of velvet and satin. Velvet is used to give a luxurious impression, while satin is applied on the neck for its softness and convenience.
Along with the change in the graduation gown, there have also been adjustments in the graduation cap. The figure of the cap has changed from a quadrangle to a hexagon in order to easily adjust the tassel. The color of the tassels differs depending on the colleges.
Kwon Soo-jin, a graduate from the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, shared her opinion on the design of the new gown.
“I think that the new graduation gown evidently shows the school’s identity especially with the use of Ewha green, the school’s official color,” Kwon said. “In order to relieve the frustration from the cancellation of the graduation ceremony due to COVID-19, I went around the campus wearing the newly designed gown and took pictures. Wearing the gown was meaningful as it helped me reminisce and celebrate my memorable years at Ewha.”
Due to the postponement of the graduation ceremony in February, the newly designed graduation gown will be available to graduates on the upcoming graduation ceremony on Aug. 28.