Frequently Asked Questions

The fabric for all of our gowns and our stoles is a polyester-cotton blend. We recommend dry cleaning for all of our products in order to keep the integrity of the garment. However, our products can be washed in a machine using the gentle cycle or handwashed. For drying, please hang dry. The material can be ironed on a low setting.

The main difference is the finish of the fabric. Our shiny gowns are a knitted fabric that has more of a shiny look to it giving the color of the gowns more brightness. Our matte gowns are a woven fabric which has more of a flat dull finish. Either option look greats.

No. Our gowns are made with the finest quality. What distinguishes us from other suppliers is that all our products are carefully manufactured using only the finest quality materials while still maintaining unbelievably low prices certain to suit your needs.

Our dazzling array of high school graduation gowns come in a fine polyester finish smooth pleat and neck piping and a heavy duty zipper construction for trouble-free operation.

The Deluxe Bachelors and Masters Gowns are produced with high quality matte fabric with fluting on the arms and back.

The PhD grad gown has a fluted back and shoulders and velvet trim and is designed with traditional academic sleeve and made of the highest quality fabrics.

You can view our color and material charts atSize & Color Charts

Our Deluxe gowns have fluting around the shoulders and yoke. They have more fabric used so they tend to be heavier. This is true for all of our deluxe gowns. 

The deluxe master has a different shape for the batwings. 

The deluxe doctor has bell sleeves and a braided button to attach the hood whereas the classic does not.

We cannot do an embroidered chest emblem on the classic doctor. 

Overall, the deluxe is considered a higher quality gown for your regalia.

Please contact your educational institution, as we currently do not have access to school colors.

We welcome anyone to order with us! Although, we cannot give assurance or be held responsible for our gowns’ colours matching another company’s gowns. We provide unique shades of gowns are not the same with another vendor's products.

We do not color match. We have a very specific set of fabrics. We cannot guarantee that our fabric colors will match with another supplier’s fabrics.

There is no standardized and unified published listing available of all current school colors. While GradWear does maintain a color chart for degree velvet colors there is no true substitute for contacting your school directly and asking them what colors they are currently using for your graduation apparel. Schools can and sometimes do change their colors on a yearly basis (and even the color of the gown itself).

You can email us the color that you need, we will get back to you with a closed match. 

We can color match some products if a bulk order is placed.

You need to provide us with each customer's height with shoes on for the gown and weight. You do not need to provide cap size as our standard caps are one size fits all with elastic. Please see the our size chart. 

You need to provide us with each customer's height with shoes on for the gown. You do not need to provide cap size as our standard caps are one size fits all with elastic. You can view our sizing chart at size chart. We do offer fullfit sizes for those customers in need of more room for girth.

All of our tassels are sold in either 1, 2 or 3 color combinations.

From Pre-K to High School/Bachelor regular gowns, we do not offer other colors than the ones listed on the website. If you are looking to order more than 1000pcs, please email us the Pantone color and we will get back to you.

If you need to add a logo or letters on regular gowns, please email us the specifications and we will get back to you with a quote and estimated delivery date. 

For Deluxe Bachelor, Master gowns, we do offer custom colors and embroidery with no minimum order required. Please email us what you are looking to order and we will provide you a quote. 

For Doctoral gowns, we offer a listing where you can customize your own gown. You can select your gown color, piping color, add embroidery, etc... If you do not see an option that you would like to add on your gown, please email us and we will check if we are able to process your request.

Piping is an embroidered thread around the velvet of a gown or hood.

The 4th Chevron is for the Chancellor or President of a University. If you are neither, do not select "Add 4th Chevron" to your doctorate gown.

Place it over your head draping off your shoulders and across the back of your gown. The velvet edge should be on the outside visible from the back. Make sure the lining (field and chevron school colors) are turned out so that people can see from the back your university colors. Usually this is done by turning the velvet trim to the outside at the back just below your shoulders. If you ordered a professional / faculty hood there will be a cord in the back (with two buttons one on each side of the hood) to keep your hood in place and a cord in the front to keep the hood away from your neck. Fasten the front cord to a shirt or dress button. Finally make sure the fabric shell of the hood is smoothed down and lays flat against the back of your robe.

There is no standardized and unified published listing available of all current school colors.

While GradWear does maintain a color chart for degree velvet colors there is no true substitute for contacting your school directly and asking them what colors they are currently using for your graduation apparel. Schools can and sometimes do change their colors on a yearly basis (and even the color of the gown itself).

The lining and chevron (satin fabric) represent your school colors. The shell is the material of hood which is always black (polyester fabric, matte finish). The velvet color represents your specific degree or field of study.

Please note for Associate Degree, you only need to select the lining and chevron colors (no velvet color required). 

You always need to choose the colors based on your highest level of education or current school you are attending.

Tams are made from higher quality materials than mortarboards; tams are composed of a black velvet fabric and generally have a gold bullion tassel rather than a tassel that is the color of the school or University. Rather than having a flat top tams have a poof top similar to a beefeater style cap.

Tams are typically used for Doctoral degrees though some Master's programs do use them. Tams are made from velvet and usually have a ribbon over the fabric and in black. Color variations do occur with some colleges. The numbers of sides vary; we offer four six or eight sided tams. Four sided is usually only used for Master's degrees while six and eight sided are used for Doctor's degrees depending on which the University prefers. Tams are "poofed" at the top instead of flat and come with a tassel usually in gold with one or two buttons and sometimes in a gold bullion color.

Whether you pick a 4, 6 or 8 sided tam has less to do with regulation and more to do with looking your best! Traditionally tams were 8 sided. Most tall or large men look best in 8 sided tams. Short and stocky individuals may look better in a 4 sided tam since it is less round looking. Most average sized women and small to average sized men look best in a 6 sided tam as it is very similar to the 8 sided tam but smaller and less round.

The level of education attained by the wearer is indicated by the varying number of sides on a tam. Master's graduates commonly wear four or six-sided tams, with the specific choice often determined by the school. It's advisable to verify the appropriate tam style before making a purchase. Tams with six sides are suitable for programs like Ed.S (education specialist) that fall between Master's and Ph.D. Eight-sided tams are typically reserved for Doctoral programs.

It depends on your college. Some colleges require mortarboards for Masters candidates and others tams. If tams are acceptable it is usually the 4-sided version for Masters degrees.

A beefeater, also referred to as a Tudor Bonnet, is a premium hat usually reserved for esteemed officials overseeing graduation ceremonies (deans, presidents, etc...). The standard mortarboard, a square of cardboard encased in polyester, is worn atop the head and traditionally used for primary and secondary school graduations. In contrast, tams are more commonly chosen for advanced graduations like Ed.S and doctoral ceremonies, and occasionally for master's degrees.

Yes, you can with a minimum order of 8 pcs. Please email us with the details of your diploma covers and we can provide you a quote and estimated delivery date.

Debossing typically refers to the process of creating a raised or indented design on the surface of the cover. This is achieved by using a die (a metal or other hard material) to press the design into the material of the cover, creating a textured and visually appealing result.

In the case of diploma covers, debossing is often used to add a tactile and elegant element to the cover. It can be used to feature the school's emblem, logo, or other decorative elements. The debossed design is usually slightly indented into the material, providing a subtle and sophisticated look and feel to the diploma cover.

We recommend checking with your school which color and size to get or you can measure your diploma as well.

Yes, we offer customized options for diplomas with a minimum quantity of 100pcs. Please email us with the details and we will provide you a quote and estimated delivery date.

Please contact your school directly for a copy of your diploma.

Yes we do. Please check our stock diplomas for Kindergarten through High School.

A graduation stole is a decorative sash worn by graduates during commencement ceremonies. Stoles are often made of a silky or satin-like material and are worn draped around the neck and over the shoulders, hanging down the front of the graduate's gown. They come in various colors and designs, and the choice of stole often signifies certain achievements, honors, or affiliations.

Graduation stoles are commonly used to denote academic honors, membership in honor societies, or participation in specific programs or activities. Different colors and patterns may be associated with various academic disciplines, achievements, or organizational affiliations. The wearing of graduation stoles adds a personalized and symbolic touch to the traditional graduation attire, allowing graduates to showcase their accomplishments and affiliations as they celebrate their academic achievements.

A graduation tassel is a dangling ornament typically made of silk or a similar material and attached to a loop at the top. It is commonly worn as part of the cap and gown ensemble during graduation ceremonies. The tassel is attached to the mortarboard, which is the square-shaped cap worn by graduates.

The color of the graduation tassel often holds symbolic meaning and may represent the graduate's academic discipline, school colors, or specific achievements. During the commencement ceremony, graduates typically begin with their tassels on one side of the cap (often the right side) and then move them to the other side (often the left side) upon receiving their diplomas. This symbolic gesture signifies the transition from being a candidate to a graduate.

In some cases, graduates may receive special tassels to denote honors, awards, or specific accomplishments. Overall, the graduation tassel is a traditional and symbolic accessory that adds a sense of ceremony and visual distinction to the cap and gown worn during graduation celebrations.

Please email us the design and quantity, we will get back to you if we are able to process your request. 

Please note we need a minimum of 10 pcs for customized tassel colors and a minimum of 100pcs for customized year date drops.

Jumbo bullion tassels, characterized by their increased thickness, are specifically employed on college tams. These tams often symbolize the field of study pursued by the student.

Year Date Drops can easily be removed and reapplied yourself at home.

A graduation honor cord is a decorative accessory worn by graduates during commencement ceremonies to signify academic achievements, honors, or affiliations. Honor cords are typically made of intertwined cords of various colors, and they are worn around the neck with the ends hanging down the front of the graduate's gown.

The colors of the cords often carry specific meanings, representing different academic achievements or honors. For example, honor cords might indicate graduation with honors, membership in an honor society, participation in specific programs, or other notable accomplishments. The specific color combinations can vary widely between institutions and organizations. We recommend checking with your school with colors you need to select for your honor cords. 

Graduates who have earned the right to wear honor cords often do so with pride as a visible symbol of their academic achievements. Honor cords add a personalized and meaningful element to the graduation regalia, allowing students to showcase their accomplishments and distinctions during the ceremony.

A double cord consists of two individual cords joined together at the center, with the knot positioned at the back of the graduate's neck.

Yes we do with a minimum of 10 pcs. 

Please email us the specifications and we will get back to you with a quote and estimated delivery date.

Email us the information of what you are looking to order and we can create a mockup for you.