Gardening Gloves
Rosalind Sutkowski
Staff, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
I grew a vegetable garden to reduce my visits to the grocery store during the pandemic. What started as a novel idea became a rewarding experience. I wore these gloves at some point every day from April to November while cultivating the ground and harvesting the crops. The garden was a source to nourish my family and my soul.
Hat
Shell Myers
Staff, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
I bought this hat at the 2019 Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference from people representing Trans Lifeline, an emergency hotline run by trans people for trans people. I called the Trans Lifeline in Spring 2020 when battling depression and dysphoria. I rediscovered the hat at the bottom of my closet in November. It reminded me of making that call and that I don't have to struggle alone, even in a pandemic. Someone is always a phone call away.
Tie
John Fry
University President, Drexel University
I always wear a black or navy suit and a tie (my favorite is a Gucci tie given to me by my daughter Phoebe) every day to work. And I wasn't going to abandon this tradition because of covid. I wanted to reassure our colleagues with my physical presence on campus and the way in which I dressed was a purposeful choice to lend a sense of normalcy to these uncertain times. I showed up to Drexel every day, parked in F-lot, and carried on the work as I always had done, alongside our teams from Public Safety, Facilities, IT, Dining and all the other groups that make this university run so well. The suit and tie remain a sartorial anchor for me.
Cloak
Rashidah A-Salam
Faculty, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
The one size fits all reversible hooded cloak is made using Christmas tree skirt, shower curtain, embellished with bronze beaded chain, the transparent flowers filled with moveable coconut shells beads at the center. The cloak symbolizes hope, peace and call for unity and respect for all people of different color, race, ethnicity, faith, social, economic, cultural and gender parity. The cloak was significant to me as it symbolizes a wrap to heal the sorrow, pain and grief of losing my little sister in the year 2020, and as a symbolic gesture to move on with my journey in life.
Pajamas
Rachel Pepper
Staff, LeBow College of Business
This is a pair of PJs my daughter wore on our first day of lockdown. She was almost 6 months old. Looking at them now, it's crazy to see how much she has grown since then. We thought we'd be home with her for a few weeks.
Leggings
Jennifer Sontchi
Staff, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
Dear Cotton Leggings,
Thank you for comforting and supporting me through 2020. You are the perfect pandemic partner; soft and comforting on the days I cried, accepting of my sedentary weight gain, flexible for "zoom back" chair squirming, and absolutely professional looking under a soft dress or tunic.
All my love, Jen
XOXO
Sweater
Rebecca Oswald
Alumni, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
The oil stains. With being home so much due to Covid-19 and making more meals from home, the stains reflect how much time was spent in my kitchen.
Shawl
Sarah Newhouse
Staff, Drexel University Archives
I knit this shawl during summer 2020, when I was bracing myself for a long, cold, dark winter. Giving myself something to look forward to in the winter (wearing the shawl) was as important as giving myself something productive to do (knitting the shawl).
Yoga Pants
Rebecca Weidensaul
Staff, Enrollment Management
Before the Pandemic, I thought yoga pants were for yoga or other active moments. Otherwise. wearing yoga pants seems too casual and joked that "Yoga pants where the downfall of society" having grown up with very structured norms about when/where and how to dress.... "school clothes", "work clothes", "church clothes" and "play clothes" (born in late 60's). But, one day, in the middle of the pandemic when I realized that we were going to remain remote and working from home, I realized that yoga pants were one of the specific clothing items that "uplifted humanity". I for one, needed comfort, functionality, durability to multitask and traverse zoom meetings and home life with ease and agility! I no longer judge those who wear yoga pants and have joined the ranks of proud owners...whatever brand...
T-Shirt
Anna Myers
Staff, Instructional Technology
This item carried me through the coldest, windiest line to vote in November. I don't think it's a year EITHER party would recommend. Also, it's groovy because of tie-dye. We should all try to stay in our groove to be sane, don't let others knock that out. Instead let's bring our colors together to carry us through.
T-Shirt
Denise Marie Snow
Staff, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
RBG and Biggie were iconic game-changers whose connection transcended racial and generational differences. When RBG passed away, her death – like Biggie’s – shook me to the core and inspired me to leap into action. Wearing the t-shirt was a reminder for me to use my voice to challenge the status quo and speak truth to power in every moment. Ashe!
Fleece
Robert Lloyd
Faculty, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
I had to choose what to care about, and it wasn't clothes. I have an entire closet filled with things I haven't worn in ages. Dress slacks, collared shirts, real shoes, etc. My wardrobe has been a rotating collection of the same jeans, henleys, and a red fleece zip-up (I wore colorful polos in the summer, but it feels like forever-winter now). The red fleece and my snow-white pandemic beard prompts my partner to call me "Santa" a little too often. I may retire the red fleece, so this could be its swan-song.
T-Shirt
Elizabeth Milroy
Faculty, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
My wife, Diana, and I purchased these by mistake in Fall 2020 — thinking they were a larger size. So we bought a second set in the correct size and kept these for fun. Diana used to regularly compete in the Broad Street Run, so we loved the “Fraud Street Run” up to Four Seasons Landscaping Co. (the scene of Giuliani’s infamous press conference). The shirts were designed and sold by Junk Miles.
T-Shirt
Blaise Tobia
Faculty, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
These t-shirts were made by myself and my wife to encourage people to observe Covid safety guidelines. The term "knucklehead" was often used by NJ governor Phil Murphy to admonish rule breakers. We sent the "selfie" of us in the t-shirts and masks to various local officials. Mayor Kenney responded personally
Headband
Casey Marsella Brogan
Staff, Institutional Advancement
The pandemic altered my daily routine, and in doing so, changed my entire wardrobe. I went from pencil skirts and statement jewelry to loungewear and Ugg boots. My knotted leopard-print headband was easy, classic, and chic. It made me feel at-ease and more confident when chasing my infant/toddler son, participating in Zoom meetings, or running errands in a mask. It made me feel like me again.
Boots
Johanna Casale
Faculty, College of Engineering
My mother in law passed away from cancer in the fall of 2020. She LOVED these boots. I get to wear them more than usual since I am working from home and not wearing dress shoes everyday.
Underwear
Jacqueline Genovesi
Staff, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
School Uniform-- The struggle is real, and for parents of children who suffered from anxiety and depression before the pandemic, the last year has been hell. This has been my child’s school uniform. On a good day he attends class (camera off). On a bad day he just lays in bed unable to face the world. I’m sure you will get cute, knitted garments from people who took up a new hobby. But for many, this year was about pain, survival, and maybe, just maybe, having people truly understand anxiety and depression.
Shirt and Mask
Mali O’Neal
Student, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
I bought these pieces in Minneapolis a few weeks after George Floyd was murdered. The man I bought them from was raising money for Floyd’s family, just like a lot of people in the months following the murder. The first time I wore the mask was to Floyd’s memorial at the intersection where he was killed. I’ll never forgot the feeling of being there with so many other black people, mourning the death of yet another African American man unjustly murdered by the police.
Dress and Mask
Pamela Yau
Faculty, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Ever since I can remember, my mother has made dresses for me to wear, especially because I have always loved cotton patterned dresses with sleeves, which are quite hard to find these days! She initially made this oak leaf and acorn patterned cotton dress for me back in 2015, and so I was so surprised when she said she was able to make me a mask to match it from the fabric remnants that she had saved. After sheltering at home for several months, I remember feeling that I wanted to wear something that would give me more confidence and courage to go back out into the world. That is why I decided to wear this matching set on one of the first occasions I had left the house since the pandemic began when I went vinyl record shopping on South Street in Philadelphia.
Tote Bag
Rachel Weidner
Staff, Drexel University Libraries
By artist Newton James, a former art therapy graduate student at Drexel, this bag is a valuable reflection of 2020. Even more significant than the beauty of the art or the practicality of the tote, is its critical message and call to action. Proceeds from the sale of this bag benefited Philadelphia’s RHD Morris Home.
Scarf
Nicole Feller-Johnson
Alumni, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
I wore this scarf in 2020, while working as the first US Embroidery Specialist at Hermès of Paris, during the COVID-19 pandemic. My role was completely readjusted during lockdown, as many of my primary responsibilities previously had been based on travel and demonstration. This scarf was worn when presenting remote client education and craftsman services via Zoom and other digital presence, and while designing future service expansions. It served as a bright and hopeful reminder to me that luxury is relevant even in times of great stress, because of the joy that true artistry brings.