Regalia Reuse program cuts back on textile waste — and graduation costs

Once you get through your college commencement ceremony, you’re greeted with a number of decisions. What should I eat for dinner? When will I see my friends again? What should I do with the rest of my life?

And, most importantly, what am I supposed to do with my cap and gown?

Sentimentalists may opt to keep their graduation regalia as mementos. Less keepsake-inclined graduates may simply throw their gowns away. For those getting their degrees from Miami University’s largest graduate program, Project Dragonfly, there’s a third option: Donating their regalia back for future students.

More than 700 students are enrolled in Project Dragonfly’s two primary Master’s degree programs, said Connie Malone, graduate student service manager for the program. The program’s focus on environmental efforts is part of what inspired her and the department to launch the Regalia Reuse program in December 2023.

“It was very aligned with what we do programmatically, and … it made such sense to me because we could support our students furthering their sustainability goals along with our own,” Malone said.

Malone was inspired, too, by local organizations like SnaZZy Boutique Thread Up, which focuses on textile waste reduction. She originally pitched regalia reuse as a university-wide initiative after hearing a talk from local leaders in textile reduction, but ultimately started small within her own program to manage logistics.

Because Project Dragonfly students are remote, they have more expenses associated with attending commencement in person. Saving regalia results in monetary savings, too. The program loaned out 92 items in December, representing more than $2,000 in savings (most Project Dragonfly students graduate in the winter).

Stephanie Hull was living in Georgia as she completed her Master’s degree through Project Dragonfly. When it came time to graduate in May 2024, the first ceremony where Malone had used regalia available to loan, Hull opted to buy her own hat, stole and hood but borrowed a gown. After the ceremony, she donated her hat to the Regalia Reuse program.

“The process was very easy, and it was greatly appreciated for people who just, you know, spent money to get our graduate degrees,” Hull said. “It’s really cool to have [regalia] the day of, but it’s gonna just end in a closet collecting dust.”

Ambor Bends didn’t learn that Project Dragonfly was starting the reuse program until a post-graduation celebration in December 2023. She saw the collection table but didn’t initially donate her own regalia.

“But then I got home and I was thinking about, ‘Why do I need this?’” Bends said. “And I just went through this whole program learning about recycling and reuse. There wasn’t any reason for me to hold on to it when somebody else could make use of it.”

Bends mailed her regalia back to the program after getting home, making her items some of the first ones available to be loaned out. In time, Malone said her goal is to have roughly 200 gowns in various sizes available to cover anyone who needs or wants to borrow instead of buying new. Someday, too, she hopes the program can scale up to all graduate students at Miami, not just Project Dragonfly.