Earthy, timeless, and deeply symbolic, brown is the traditional graduation stole color for students graduating with degrees in the Fine Arts and Architecture. It may be subtler than some of the more vibrant academic colors, but brown carries with it a rich legacy of creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural influence.

From painters and sculptors to architects and designers, those who wear the brown stole represent the dreamers and builders who shape the world through form, space, and expression.

Why Brown? The Color of Materials, Mediums, and Mastery

In the academic regalia system, brown was chosen to represent Fine Arts and Architecture because it reflects the organic roots of art—the raw materials from which creativity springs: clay, wood, canvas, earth, stone. Brown speaks to both the physicality of artistic creation and the permanence of artistic legacy.

It also represents structure, texture, and the enduring presence of handcrafted work—especially fitting for fields that merge aesthetics with functionality.

Who Wears the Brown Stole?

Graduates in the following fields often wear brown stoles:

• Fine Arts (BFA, MFA)

• Studio Art

• Architecture

• Interior Design

• Visual Arts

• Graphic Design

• Art History

• Landscape Architecture

• Industrial Design

These graduates often spend years honing their craft—whether sketching in studios, designing spaces, sculpting forms, or studying the visual language of history.

Creativity Woven into Tradition

Wearing a brown stole isn’t just about honoring a field of study—it’s about celebrating imagination, technical skill, and cultural impact. Artists and architects do more than create; they challenge perceptions, document time, and build the spaces we live in.

A brown stole symbolizes a deep understanding of design principles, art theory, and creative process. It honors the balance between concept and execution.

Celebrate the Art of Your Achievement

At The Sash Company, we offer custom brown graduation stoles that beautifully represent graduates in the visual and design arts. Personalize your stole with your name, degree, or institution’s emblem and showcase your creativity with pride.

Art is forever—so is this milestone.
Explore our graduation stole collection to customize your brown stole today.