RDL4EVER Closet: Duke Commemorative Class of ’65 Sweater, 3.7.18
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Growing up, I loved dressing myself. Ever since I can remember, my mom would let me pick out shirts I wanted to wear. I used to wear Small Soldiers shirts because I was a fan of the movie, and being the encouraging person my mother is, she let me pick out my clothes whenever we would go shopping, even from an early age. These last few years, I’ve been more on the comfort tip. I like being comfortable. I also like finding pieces of clothing I can wear every day. I’ve worn the same boots for almost 6 years. I have a pair of black denim jeans I’ve worn for the past 4 years. I’ve been wearing the same beanie for the last 2 years, interchangeable with the classic Bass Pro caps I’ve been rocking since 2012. Consistency is important in my life. Finding what I like and why I like certain things helps me learn about myself, which in turn helps me become a better person to those around me.
Too much of fashion in recent memory has become more about how expensive items are or how different things can make you look, which is ironic because the more people who attempt to be different are really the same. Originality has no choice, but that’s just my opinion. Fashion should give a glimpse into who you are without any explanation. Fashion at it’s core is expression through textile. Of course as a society, we have dress codes for different occasions and clothing standards to abide by in times of fitting. What makes fashion personal, almost like an artform, is how you put together these pieces or how you wear certain articles. That’s the gist of it.
Lately I’ve been buying clothing items of teams I love. I can’t say it enough, sports is a beautiful thing. It brings people together and it makes memories to last a life time. One of my favorite sports teams, perhaps my favorite, is the Duke Blue Devils. The culture there is incredible, and the heritage is truly something special. Coach K, the only coach for the last 38 years? Assistant coaches who’ve played for The Brotherhood? It’s all in the family. My father went to Duke and one day I hope I can follow in his footsteps.
On a mission to find vintage Duke clothing on eBay a year and a half ago, I came across a vintage commemorative sweater. It was buy-it-now for $20.72 cents. I saw it and immediately purchased it. What a steal. This is one of my favorite pieces I have in my closet bar none. It is a beautiful off-white bone color. Very heavy and weighted, just how I like my sweaters. In the middle of the chest, there is an embroidered emblem with the famous Duke Chapel in the center. On the outskirts, on the top half of the inner circle, the words ‘universitas Dukiana’ is written which translates to Duke University. On the bottom half it reads ‘Erudiot et Religio’ which translates to ‘Knowledge and Religion.’ The craftsmanship on this sweater is top notch, not to mention the thread for the circle and the crescent is gold, not yellow, but gold with a shimmer!
Under the armpits, the sweatshirt is ribbed vertically for horizontal stretching. On the left shoulder, there is additional embroidery which reads ‘National Champions….Basketball 1991.’ Shout out Bobby Hurley, Cherokee Parks, Grant Hill, and let’s not forget Christina Laettner! 1991 would not only be Coach K’s, but also Duke University’s first NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. I’m telling you, the details on this sweater are CRAZY.
My favorite detail has to be on the right wrist. As you probably can guess, more quality embroidery. This time, inside the shimmering gold circle, it reads ‘OFFICIALCOMMEMORATIVE EDITION, DUKE ALUMNI.’ Inside of the inner circle reads ‘CLASS OF 65.’ Class of ’65?! I wonder who would give this away much less sell it. When I received the sweater, it looked brand new. It looked as if it hadn’t seen a wash cycle. This sweater was well taken care of over the years, as it should’ve been. I kept it in plastic for almost a year before I brought it out. I’ve only worn this sweater once, and it was in January of 2018 to my first Duke game. Duke was playing N.C. State at the PNC Arena, which they lost. Snow was clearing up, but temperatures were around freezing and were dropping as the night went on so I chose to wear the commemorative sweater for the first time. Strange thing is when we got to our seats, it was very stuffy. I took the sweater off immediately and didn’t put it back on until after the game on the way to the parking lot. Haven’t worn it since, but damnit do I love this sweater.
65’ was 28 years before I was born. Let’s say whoever received this sweater graduated with their bachelor’s degree on time in 1965. They would be 22, 1965-22= 1943. 2018-1943=75. They would be approximately 75 years old today. I hope wherever they are, they are still bleeding blue and cheering for the greatest college in the world: Duke. And if they at times are wondering where their sweater is, I hope they can feel comforted in the hope it ended in someone’s hands who’s as big as a fan as they are.
Because it did, go Blue Devils!