Churchill Gowns UK

Table of
contents

01 | WHO WE ARE

About us
Meet the team

03 | PROduct OvERviEW

Bachelor & Masters Gowns
Mortarboards
Hoods & Stoles
Phd Attire
custom Attire & Memorabilia

09 | OtHER SERvicES

Before the day
On the day

11 | SOciAl RESPOnSiBility

Our mission
Manufacturing

13 | tEStiMOniAlS

Who we’ve worked with
contact us
case Study

WHAt WE dO

About us

Churchill Gowns is a supplier of high-quality graduation
services to educational institutions and university
students throughout the UK. We provide services
that are more flexible and affordable than those of
traditional suppliers, while maintaining focus on our
core beliefs: ethical manufacturing, environmental
sustainability and social responsibility.

We work closely with universities and academic dress
experts to ensure the patterns, fabrics and colours
we use match traditional designs. What’s more, every
graduation gown that we make is manufactured
entirely from recycled plastic, saving the equivalent
of 28 plastic bottles from ending up in landfill or
polluting the ocean.

01 |

WHO WE ARE

Meet
the team

ExEcutivE tEAM (uK)

OlivER AdKinS, Managing director RutH nicHOllS, director of Operations dR SAndRA WEARdEn, non-Executive director
Oliver established churchill Gowns in the Since graduating from the university of Sandra is a leading expert in degree
uK in 2017 and has a wealth of knowledge cambridge with a BA in law, Ruth has ceremonies. Her doctoral research and
with regards to students’ needs, academic worked primarily in managerial roles in the publications are concerned with the history
dress design and graduation ceremonies. education sector. She was Managing director and traditions of these ceremonial occasions,
His role now focuses on sales, client account of tech education programme young Rewired as well as contemporary aspects of them.
management and marketing. Oliver has a State and the commercial Projects Manager As a trustee of the Burgon Society she is
postgraduate diploma in Entrepreneurship at Ravensbourne university london. Her involved in promoting education about
from the university of cambridge and now insight into the university sector and project academic dress in the uK and internationally.
holds a seat on the Advisory committee to the management experience have proved Previously she has worked as a diplomat
cambridge Judge Business School. invaluable during her time at churchill Gowns. and management consultant.

ExEcutivE tEAM (AuStRAliA) EvEntS tEAM

AlEc RAMSEy, director of Sales and Marketing StEfAn Muff, director of Operations the core churchill Gowns team are supported
in 2013 Alec co-founded churchill Gowns in 2013 Stefan co-founded churchill Gowns by a friendly and professional team of event
Australia, to tackle the rising costs of Australia. He has extensive experience staff, who will be on hand to ensure your
graduation. With a student-first focus, he implementing systems to efficiently students have a seamless gowning experience
has helped grow the company to be one of coordinate supply chain. two years living in on their graduation day.
the largest graduation suppliers in Australia, china means Stefan is well versed in all facets
directly serving students from almost of procurement, ensuring churchill Gowns
every university in the country through a consistently delivers high quality garments at
streamlined online portal. an affordable price.

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PROduct OvERviEW

Bachelor
& masters
gowns

fABRicS StylES dEtAilS

Our gowns are made from high We manufacture all of the common We place great importance on the
quality matte black 100% recycled styles of bachelors and masters finish of our gowns and pay close
polyester weave. The soft fabric looks gowns used by universities and attention to the finer details. The
and feels like any other gown yet colleges in the uK. for larger orders yolk of every gown is pleated tightly
saves plastic waste from ending up we can manufacture any gown and spaced evenly, and our hems are
in landfill. For bespoke orders our variation to meet your specific built to last. We offer our gowns in
gown fabric can be custom dyed to requirements. a range of sizes so every student
any colour. gets a perfect fit.

03 |

PROduct OvERviEW

Mortarboards

MAtERiAlS fit StORAGE

Our uK mortarboards are made from Errors in measurement can often All of our mortarboards have a soft
a lightly brushed wool and polyester result in sizing issues with traditional collapsible skull, meaning they can
felt blend. for bespoke orders we hard cup mortarboards. that’s why be stored flat to save storage space.
can produce mortarboards in a we have introduced an adjustable All of our hired mortarboards come
range of colours and can also offer secure-fit elastic into all of our with their own dust-bag, keeping
customised tassels as a memento of mortarboards, giving a wider margin them clean during storage.
the day. for error and solving the problem of
ill-fitting caps at your ceremony.

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PROduct OvERviEW

The
hoods

fully cuStOMiSE yOuR HOOd in tHREE EASy StEPS

123

StylES cOlOuRS fABRicS

We make our hoods in all the With access to a broad range of off We have strong partnerships with
common shapes used by universities the shelf fabrics, and the ability to a range of fabric manufacturers,
and colleges in the uK, including the custom dye fabrics for larger orders, giving us access to a variety of fabrics
Burgon shape, the Oxford simple we can design hoods to any colour commonly used in hoods, including
shape, the cambridge full shape and specification. Many customers opt duchess satins, taffetas, wools, silks
the Aberdeen full shape. for a colour scheme that reflects and velvets.
their brand colours.

05 |

StEP

1 cHOOSE yOuR StylE

cAMBRidGE ABERdEEn OxfORd
full SHAPE SHAPE SiMPlE SHAPE

StEP 4

2 cHOOSE yOuR cOlOuRS

PARtS Of A HOOd

Each one can be a 1 Rim 4 lining
different colour 2 Body 3 Hood

3

ExAMPlES

2

1 cOlOuR 2 cOlOuRS 1

3 cOlOuRS 4 cOlOuRS

StEP cHOOSE yOuR fABRicS

3 During the design process we will offer you a broad range of fabric
choices, available from trusted manufacturers. traditionally a matte
fabric such as wool or polyester would be used for the outer shell on
the hood, which would then be lined with a silk or satin.

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PROduct OvERviEW

Doctoral regalia

GOWnS BOnnEtS HOOdS

Phd gowns are traditionally more Our doctoral bonnets are made from Phd hoods are similar in style to
colourful than those used by velvet and feature a soft cap and stiff, those used by bachelors and masters
bachelors and masters students, circular brim. the velvet and tassel students. traditionally the colours
and include a variety of fabrics such detailing are available in a wide and fabrics chosen would coordinate
as duchess satins and velvets. We range of colour combinations and with the colourful Phd gowns, and
can design and tailor Phd gowns to can be customised for larger orders. we are happy to help you design a
match your colour scheme. cohesive scheme across all products.

07 |

PROduct OvERviEW

Custom attire
& memorabilia

fRAMES GiftS cuStOM
AccESSORiES
Our certificate and photo frames We have a broad selection of
are a fantastic way for students to graduation gifts to suit every price increasingly students are looking
display their achievements. Our point, which can be added to orders for ways to personalise their
frames come in a range of sizes to give students a special memento academic dress to reflect their
and our cardboard mounts can be of their day. for larger orders we can cultural heritage or incorporate a
customised to match your colour offer customised gifts that feature crested keepsake of the day. We
scheme or feature your crest or logo. your logo or academic dress designs. work closely with institutions to
identify what products would work
best for their student body.

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OtHER SERvicES

Before
the day

GOWn ORdERinG

Whether you are looking to buy or hire gowns in bulk, or you would like your students to
individually order their own products, we offer a wide range of solutions and can even create a
fully customised and branded online ordering portal. Our top rated customer service team will
also be on hand throughout the process.

ticKEtinG “

Our online ordering facilities allow for integration with Arranging gown hire was made
popular ticketing sites, such as Eventbrite, so that we can straightforward and stress-free
provide a ‘one stop shop’ for your ceremony attendees. by the Churchill website. The team
Our tech team will be available in the run up to your provided excellent service in the
ceremony to ensure our services are tailored to the needs lead-up and on the day,”
of you and your students.
cEM AtES cAliSKAn,
ROyAl cOllEGE Of
PA E d i At R i cS & c H i l d H E A lt H

09 |

OtHER SERvicES

On
the day

ROBinG ROOM

Take the pressure off on the day of your ceremony
by having us provide a comprehensive ‘robing room’
service. Our expert team will liaise directly with your
venue, take care of logistics, and bring all the necessary
equipment to provide your ceremony attendees with a
seamless and professional gowning service.
Our well-trained and friendly staff will also assist your
students with putting on the gowns, caps and hoods, to
ensure everyone looks their best for their special day.

GOWn cOllEctiOn And dElivERy

As part of our robing room service, students are able to collect and return their gowns on
the day of their ceremony. Alternatively we can deliver gowns directly to students’ houses in
advance of their ceremony date which is a popular option with many students as it allows them
more time with the gown to take additional photographs.

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SOciAl RESPOnSiBility

Our
mission

OuR cOMMitMEnt

Our long-standing commitment to sustainability sets us apart from other gown suppliers and
has been fundamental to our business model since we founded churchill Gowns. Every single
graduation gown we make is manufactured entirely from recycled plastic, saving the equivalent of
28 plastic bottles from ending up in landfill or polluting the ocean. To date we have transformed
over 60,000 bottles into gowns. Better yet, our fabric is soft, smooth and indistinguishable from
any other gown… you would never know it once used to be plastic!

HOW WE MAKE OuR GOWnS fROM PlAStic BOttlES

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

1. Plastic waste is collected 4. the chips are extruded into a polyester yarn
2. Recycled plastic waste is cleaned 5. The yarn is woven into soft polyester fabric
6. the fabric is dyed and sewn into gowns
and labels removed
3. the plastic is broken down into tiny chips

11 |

SOciAl RESPOnSiBility

Manufacturing

Over the years we have refined and improved the look on all of our hoods. Our mortarboards are manufactured
and feel of our gowns, hoods and mortarboards with the in Krakow by the leading graduation cap manufacturer
help of academic dress experts in london, Krakow and in Europe, and our smaller bespoke orders are made by
Shanghai. As a result we are confident that our products hand in a studio in london.
offer high quality manufacturing for a great price.
to ensure high standards of manufacturing and ethical
Our gowns and hoods are manufactured in Shanghai, practices, members of the churchill Gowns board have
where their advanced machinery ensures we achieve an visited our key manufacturers and personally vetted the
even, tight pleating on the gowns and hard-wearing finish production processes and working conditions.

SOciAl RESPOnSiBility

Our commitment to being a socially conscious business doesn’t end with recycled gowns but
extends into all areas of our business. We offset all the carbon used for importing our stock, pay all
of our staff a living wage, and personally vet the working conditions at our factories.

Our efforts to be a socially responsible business have been recognised by the following accolades:

50 East London Innovators

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MORE ABOut uS

Testimonials from
wholesale customers

“

I found Churchill Gowns’ service
quick, efficient and professional…
It was significantly more straightforward
and affordable than other options.”

tAMzin ByRnE,
univERSity Of cAMBRidGE

WHO WE’vE WORKEd WitH

13 |

cASE Study

Royal College of Paediatrics
& Child Health

AdMiSSiOnS cEREMOniES “

The RCPCH host three ceremonies per year in different parts of Thanks for your excellent
the uK for the admission of fellows and Members. this year they gowning service. The
wanted to introduce gowns for the first time. members and fellows
seemed really pleased and
churchill Gowns worked with the RcPcH to design a new fellows I was amazed how quickly
gown, which reflected their brand colours. We also created a you got everybody sorted!”
custom online ordering portal where members could order and pay
for their gowns in advance,. finally, we provided a full robing room SiMOn MORGAn,
service at the ceremonies, including taking orders on the day and RcPcH
dressing attendees.

rated ‘ExcELLEnt’ on

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Thank you for
your interest

Please do get in touch to discuss your gowning
and ceremony requirements and we would be
happy to provide you with a custom quotation
to meet your needs.
[email protected]
www.churchillgowns.com/gb

15 |

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[email protected]
www.churchillgowns.com