Academic Scarf Definition | Apparel Search

In many British colleges and universities, sets of two or more colors have traditionally formed part of the institution's distinctive visual identity. Those colors appear in clothing and symbols of all kinds, from ties to trophies, but most notably in the long woollen winter scarves students wear to show pride in their institution. This page explains the academic scarf tradition, which began with students of the constituent colleges of the University of London and became synonymous with Oxford, Cambridge and traditional secondary schools, including the special non-collegiate scarves used within Oxbridge.

In many British colleges and universities, sets of two or more colors have traditionally been used as part of the distinctive visual identity of the institution. These colors are used in clothing and symbols of all kinds, from ties to trophies, but notably in the long woollen winter scarves that students often wear to show their pride in their Institution. Initially sported by students from the Constituent Colleges of the University of London, they have become synonymous with Oxbridge, and more traditional secondary schools.

Oxbridge

Within the Universites of Oxford and Cambridge, in addition to collegiate scarves, there are also several non-collegiate scarves which have a well established meaning. For example, those representing the University in sport may be entitled to wear a particular scarf, depending on their level of achievement, or a university department or club may have its own scarf.

External links

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Clothing Definitions

The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/academic_scarf ). 5/27/06

Colors as Institutional Identity

The academic scarf works because institutional colors are a complete identity system in miniature. A college's pairing or set of colors appears across its life — on ties, on trophies, on sports kit and on scarves — so that members can recognize one another and signal belonging at a glance. The scarf became the most visible carrier of that identity simply because of how and where it is worn: a long woollen scarf is winter clothing, worn outdoors, in crowds, and at sporting fixtures, exactly the settings where students of different colleges mix and where institutional pride is most on display.

At Oxford and Cambridge the system is layered. Alongside the collegiate scarves of the individual colleges sit non-collegiate scarves whose meanings are just as well established: a scarf can mark representation of the university in sport, with entitlement depending on the level of achievement, or belong to a university department or club. Reading a scarf correctly therefore means reading both its colors and its context — college, university, sporting honor or society — a small heraldry that students absorb as part of university life.

Wearing and Choosing an Academic Scarf

An academic scarf is, in construction, a straightforward long woollen scarf, chosen in the colors the wearer is entitled to wear rather than as a fashion accessory in matching colors. Wool gives it the warmth and weight expected of a winter scarf, and the striped arrangement of the institutional colors along its length is what makes it recognizable from a distance. For students and alumni it functions as both practical dress and keepsake: it is worn through the winter terms, appears in photographs and at matches, and is commonly kept after graduation as a durable token of the institution — the same role played by the academic dress of gown and hood, in an everyday, informal form.

Common Questions

What is an academic scarf?

An academic scarf is a long woollen winter scarf woven in the two or more colors of a British college or university. Students wear the scarf as a visible sign of pride in, and membership of, their institution, much as they might wear its tie.

Where did academic scarves originate?

The scarves were initially sported by students from the constituent colleges of the University of London. They have since become synonymous with Oxbridge — the universities of Oxford and Cambridge — and with more traditional secondary schools in Britain.

Are all academic scarves college scarves?

No. Within Oxford and Cambridge there are also several non-collegiate scarves with well established meanings. Students who represent the university in sport may be entitled to a particular scarf depending on their level of achievement, and departments or clubs may have their own scarves.

Academic Scarf