Latest News
中文Campus Life
- Publish Date：2025-12-30
NYCU unveils new academic regalia designed by Paris Olympics fashion creator Justin Chou
By JUST IN XX
Edited by Chance Lai
______
National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (NYCU) has introduced a newly designed set of academic regalia, created by internationally acclaimed fashion designer Justin Chou (Just In XX) — the creative force behind the apparel of Taiwan’s national team for the Paris Olympics. Blending classical academic heritage with contemporary aesthetics, the refreshed regalia for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees brings modern design language and elegant visual symbolism into one of the university’s most meaningful traditions.
Instead of treating the campus as merely a backdrop for graduation photography, NYCU turned it into a full-scale fashion set. Current students modeled the new regalia in a series of editorial-style images, transforming the gown from a ceremonial garment into a refined expression of identity, confidence, and university spirit in the public eye.
A new symbol for a new era after the university merger
Following NYCU’s 2021 merger, the university has renewed key elements of its institutional identity — including its emblem, visual system, and school anthem. The debut of the new academic regalia on Christmas Eve 2025 marks another milestone in this evolution. Beginning in 2026, graduating students will celebrate life’s significant milestones wearing the newly designed gowns, preserving memories that are both ceremonial and contemporary.
The design draws inspiration from the merged university emblem and its guiding values — compassionate practice, truth in action, innovation, and forward-looking vision. Justin Chou combined the balanced proportions of classical academic attire with sleek modern lines, ensuring that the regalia remains dignified while expressing NYCU’s forward-thinking character. The color palette evokes blue skies and white clouds, symbolizing students freely exploring and soaring across the vast sky of knowledge.
The gear motif from the NYCU emblem is extended into the design as subtle accents along the stole and sleeve edges.
Design Details: Innovation, Heritage, and Movement
Chou translated the gear motif from the university emblem into subtle accents along the stole and sleeve edges, weaving the spirit of technological innovation and continuous exploration into the garment in a refined and understated way. The gear represents connection and momentum — honoring past achievements while pointing toward future breakthroughs. At the same time, the integrated motif of flight symbolizes graduates taking wing as they step forward with confidence into the next chapter of their lives.
Instead of treating the campus as merely a backdrop for graduation photography, NYCU turned it into a full-scale fashion set. Current students modeled the new regalia in a series of editorial-style images, transforming the gown from a ceremonial garment into a refined expression of identity, confidence, and university spirit in the public eye.
A new symbol for a new era after the university merger
Following NYCU’s 2021 merger, the university has renewed key elements of its institutional identity — including its emblem, visual system, and school anthem. The debut of the new academic regalia on Christmas Eve 2025 marks another milestone in this evolution. Beginning in 2026, graduating students will celebrate life’s significant milestones wearing the newly designed gowns, preserving memories that are both ceremonial and contemporary.
The design draws inspiration from the merged university emblem and its guiding values — compassionate practice, truth in action, innovation, and forward-looking vision. Justin Chou combined the balanced proportions of classical academic attire with sleek modern lines, ensuring that the regalia remains dignified while expressing NYCU’s forward-thinking character. The color palette evokes blue skies and white clouds, symbolizing students freely exploring and soaring across the vast sky of knowledge.
The gear motif from the NYCU emblem is extended into the design as subtle accents along the stole and sleeve edges.Design Details: Innovation, Heritage, and Movement
Chou translated the gear motif from the university emblem into subtle accents along the stole and sleeve edges, weaving the spirit of technological innovation and continuous exploration into the garment in a refined and understated way. The gear represents connection and momentum — honoring past achievements while pointing toward future breakthroughs. At the same time, the integrated motif of flight symbolizes graduates taking wing as they step forward with confidence into the next chapter of their lives.
The regalia is crafted from high-quality velvet and satin, creating layered visual depth and ceremonial presence. The soft yet weighty velvet reflects the warmth and legacy of academic heritage, while the satin’s luminous sheen represents the brilliance of knowledge and the bright futures ahead. Whether on stage or before the camera, the gown carries the pride of the institution and its hopes for every graduate.
In addition to creating Olympic-grade embroidered emblem patches, the team also developed a commemorative graduation stole.A design shaped through dialogue with students
To realize the design, NYCU worked with a world-class manufacturing team that includes the Paris Olympics apparel producer and leading ESG textile innovator Jenmei Woven Label. Together, they created Olympic-grade embroidered emblem patches and a commemorative graduation stole.
Production was carried out in partnership with the Ruentex Group, using sustainable, functional fabrics featuring antibacterial and odor-resistant properties, UV protection, moisture-wicking performance, and easy-clean durability. All bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral gowns are individually handcrafted, balancing ceremonial gravitas with long-term commemorative value.
Chou emphasized that the design process — from conceptual development to refinement — included extensive conversations and interviews with NYCU students. Their expectations, lived experiences, and emotional connection to graduation were incorporated into key design decisions. “For many students, the moment they put on the gown is more than a celebration of academic achievement,” Chou reflected. “It feels like wearing a blessing — carrying the spirit of NYCU with them as they move forward into the next stage of their journey.”
Related Image(s)：
