Doctoral Regalia Long Shot
Hi, so this may be random but my husband and I have pretty much ran out of other options. (TY for the suggestions, please read my Edit to Add below)
My husband is defending his doctoral dissertation in July and then we will move from the area and start our next chapter. Most of his cohort is walking in this May's graduation ceremony being held on Thursday, May 21. He just found out yesterday that the school is letting summer grads walk this spring instead of waiting for the commencement in spring '27. This was great news BUT the gown and hood orders closed two days ago, so we just missed it.
The school has no extra rentals and everybody we know personally that has graduated rented their gown. We can't find anything online that could ship nearly soon enough, most orders require 4-5 weeks lead time.
So my ask is, can I just make it? I'm a beginner sewist and mostly enjoy quilting, but if I put all my energy and time and resources to this endeavor so my husband can walk on Thursday after years of toiling, I think it'd be worth it.
Obviously I think fabric may be the hardest to source, but I live near G Street Fabrics, which has a lot of fabric options. The right color may be difficult as well.
The pattern is something I'd need and the embroidered emblem on the chest is another item I'd have to figure out.
Any and all suggestions, recommendations, ideas are truly welcome. Even if it is to say it can't be done.
I think the hat (called a tam) we can get on Amazon pretty easily.
Edit to add: everybody is being very kind with all there suggestions, but I promise all of you that we have tried everything. This post was the hailest of Hail Marys. Our biggest hurdle was being told of the policy change Friday evening after everything closed for the weekend.
-We've called every single person my husband has ever known while in grad school.
-We've called/emailed every professor, advisor, dean, staff, lab manager, theater director at the school
-We've posted on FB groups, local subreddits, the nextdoor app, yikyak, LinkedIn, etc
-We know there are gowns that appear available from websites. They're not. They require weeks in advance to order OR are only the gown and not the hood. Which doesn't even matter because none could be delivered in time. Come Monday morning, we will contact every cap and gown company we find and ask. But we already have emails out and voicemails sent. If we can find something and overnight it, we will.
-Amazon and EBay are not it. Thank you. I think we could work something out with those, but the hoods are all primarily black, we need a red one. My husband also doesn't want to wear the Amazon/ebay one we could find. So I will respect that.
-The school's library, grad assoc, alumni association haven't been fruitful.