The traditional graduation cap and gown, such as the ones sold by Academic Apparel, is manufactured from polyester, a fabric known for its resilience to tears, resistance to mildew, and also ability to show off colors in a most lustrous manner.
What Is Polyester And Why Is It Bad For The Environment?
In simplest terms, polyester is a polymer-a plastic. As such, it is cheap and easy to mass produce, and therefore polyester finds its way into so many different clothing articles, including the graduation cap and gown. Plastic does not readily decompose in landfills, and although one might plan on holding on to the academic regalia forever, the odds are good that sooner or later you-or your heirs-may dispose of them.
Although cynics not yet ready for contemplating a green graduation may point out that if all else fails, the graduation cap and gown could be recycled, the facts that the manufacture of polyester contributes to the exhaustion of the world petroleum supply and the dyeing process has been shown to adversely impact groundwater and wildlife, should be sufficient reason to reconsider available choices with respect to graduation robes and other regalia.
What Are The Alternatives To Wearing Traditional Caps And Gowns?
If you are ready for a green graduation and willing to choose your graduation cap and gown with eco friendliness in mind, then you will be glad to find out that with just a bit of searching, you can still walk up on stage in style and at the same time keep your head high knowing that you are single handily doing your part to keep the environment healthy!
Do It Yourself
Find out the colors for your graduation ceremony; then, to make it a green graduation, purchase an earth friendly fabric, such as hemp, soy or organic cotton from retailers like Rocky Woods, and follow the extensive sewing instructions offered by Sewing to Distraction.
Buy Second Hand
EBay, Craig’s list, and a plethora of other online auction and resale sites permitting consumers to list virtually anything and everything for sale are a great stomping ground for the eco-friendly graduate. While you are still purchasing a traditional polyester graduation cap and gown, the fact that the fabric is being recycled definitely counts toward a green graduation.
If you are not the sentimental sort, you might even go ahead and put it up for sale or auction again when you are done with the academic regalia and thereby maybe recoup some or all of your investment. The Northwest Herald even reported that one graduate listed his gown for free, just to let someone else get some use out of it!
Rent It!
More and more schools are getting on the green graduation bandwagon, and earth-friendly alternative ideas to wearing traditional caps and gowns purchased from the school or bookstore are beginning to gradually phase out. Instead, contact your school and find out what rental options are available to students. The only thing you may not be able to rent is the tassel, which makes for a great souvenir anyways. Just be sure to return your academic regalia when you are done with them so someone else may get a chance at reusing the graduation cap and gown!
If all else fails, there are also online businesses–such as the Robe Shop-where you may rent your graduation outfit. It is important to start the process early enough to beat the rush which is sure to ensue as graduations draw nearer!
Sources:
Graduation Caps and Gowns, Choir Robes, Academic Regalia, Judicial Robes, and more.
http://www.rockywoods.com/
http://sewingtodistraction.blogspot.com/
http://www.nwherald.com/
http://www.robeshop.com/
