Designed By Students

The official plaid of the University of Kentucky was designed by students from the UK College of Agriculture School of Human Environmental Science's Department of Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles (MAT). In the spring of 2008, over 12,000 UK students, fans, alumni and friends voted online to select the winning plaid.

UK Plaid is the University's tailored tradition. The seven stripes in the plaid represent the seven NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships won by UK and the blue background is the pride the Commonwealth has for its flagship University.

Your purchase of this product supports MAT students in their educational endeavors. The first products will be launched in the fall of 2009 and will include silk ties, quilted totes, duffels and cosmetic bags, table linens for tailgating and picture frames.

Official UK Plaid products are brought to you by Kentucky’s own, Pomegranate Inc. For more information about Pomegranate, visit www.pomegranateinc.com.

The Cooper Collection

The Cooper Collection is comprised of the finest wearable accessories in the UK Plaid family. The Cooper Collection is named in tribute of the UK College of Agriculture's first dean, Thomas Poe Cooper. The first product being launched as part of the Cooper Collection is a 100% silk, handmade tie.

Thomas Poe Cooper was the dean of the College of Agriculture from 1918 until 1951. Under his leadership, enrollment in the college grew from 125 students to over 1,000 students. Overall, facilities and staff saw great improvement. The campus Experiment Station Farm grew to twice its original size under his administration, and two substations came into being. Indirectly then he encouraged development of new and better crop strains. He had 33 years of service to agriculture (as dean of the college) and to farmers in all, and became the college of agriculture's Dean Emeritus. Dean Cooper also served as acting president of the University in 1940 and 1941.

This silk, handmade tie is named in honor of Dean Cooper and his lasting contribution to the advancement of agriculture in Kentucky.

LINKS

Read more about the Plaid Project

Merchandising Apparel and Textiles Department

School of Human Environmental Sciences

The Erickson Collection

The Erickson Collection is full of UK Plaid pride to take on the road with you! These travel accessories include a roomy duffle bag, a campus carrier bag perfect for your laptop and plastic lined cosmetic bags in two sizes!

The Erickson Collection honors Dr. Statie Erikson, the first woman to earn a doctorate at the University of California, Berkeley. In 1929, Erikson was named head of the Department of Home Economics at UK and served in this capacity until 1956. Among her many achievements was the establishment of a home economics research program, construction of the Home Economics Building using Public Works Administration funds in 1940 and designation of school status in 1953. The Home Economics building was renamed Erikson Hall in her honor in 1956 and today is the home to the School of Human Environmental Sciences.

All travel products are 100% cotton and machine washable.

The Wildcat Tailgating Collection

Your big blue spirit doesn't just have to be on your clothes. UK Plaid products take you from the parking lot to the stadium with the Wildcat Tailgating Collection.

These 100% cotton tablecloths and napkins bear the official plaid of the University of Kentucky with a bold black border around the edge. Each tablecloth is embroidered with the interlocking UK logo on all four corners. Two tablecloth sizes are available; 55 inches by 55 inches is perfect for a card table, small round table or your vehicle's tailgate while the 68 inches by 108 inches tablecloth fits a standard banquet or buffet table. Napkins are sold as a set of four with the interlocking UK logo embroidered on each piece.

Products in the Wildcat Tailgating Collection are machine washable and tumble dry on low. Products may be warm ironed as needed.

About the Kentucky Plaid Project

The Kentucky Plaid Project is a unique experiential education project engaging students in the UK College of Agriculture School of Human Environmental Science's Department of Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles (MAT) in product development from creative inception to finished product. The project is led by Rita Smart, advisory board chairperson and coordinator, and Dr. Scarlett Wesley, assistant professor. University of Kentucky First Lady Patsy Todd serves as honorary chairperson.

The project began during the spring 2008 semester in two courses in the MAT department. Students in "Problem Solving in Merchandising" designed 35 plaid patterns from which 4 finalists were selected for consideration to be the official University of Kentucky plaid. Through online voting, the official plaid was selected in May 2008. Approximately 12,000 votes were cast during the two-week process.

The official plaid was designed by Christina Criollo and Jena Everhard. The seven stripes in the plaid represent the seven NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships won by UK and the blue background is the pride the Commonwealth has for its flagship University and its far-reaching impact across Kentucky.

The proceeds from all purchases of UK Plaid products return to the MAT department to help students in their academic endeavors.