A Peek into student life – Student overall etiquette

In Finland, the first students to don overalls were likely technical university students from the Helsinki metropolitan area, also known as "teekkari," (tech student). Tech students are still prominent representatives of overall culture with diverse traditions and customs related to student overalls and events. Nowadays, overalls have spread across nearly every university, university of applied sciences, and corner of Finland. However, each school often has its unique features and nuances in overall etiquette and colors. 

Student overalls are worn at most student events. These overalls come in almost every color of the rainbow, with the color determined by the field of study. However, there is no national color code, as each higher education institution has its own colors for different fields of study.  

In the culture of universities of applied sciences, it is customary to wear overalls with sleeves tied around the waist, ensuring that the organization’s logo on the back remains visible. 
 

Kuva

Overall patches 

Patches must be sewn on by hand: glueing patches on is publicly frowned upon, though some may resort to glue guns due to acute needle and thread phobia. Patches should primarily be sewn below the waist. However, if you accumulate so many patches that they no longer fit below the waistline, many students continue sewing patches onto the upper part of the overalls, provided their association's overall etiquette allows it. 

Patches can be purchased at student events, from LAB's student union KOE or student associations, and online stores. 

What do multicolored overalls symbolize? 

Some overalls are two-toned, like the red and black overalls of engineering students in Lappeenranta, where the front is red, and the back is black. In Lappeenranta, fine arts students also wear two-toned overalls, with the front being white and the back black. Lahti also features two-toned overalls: the hospitality management students wear black overalls with pink pockets. 

Some students modify their overalls to be two-toned themselves: if a student already holds a previous higher education degree or has switched fields, they can combine their old and new overalls by sewing halves together, creating a completely unique and personal pair of overalls.  

Students can also swap pant legs with their partner and sleeves with a friend or sibling. Overalls are often adorned with signatures or drawings from fellow students. You might also spot jackets made from overalls, with the letters "PJ" on them. This indicates that the wearer is the chairperson of a student organization, guild, or association. 

Pimp My Student Overalls 

You can customize your overalls by attaching all sorts of useful (or less useful) items: it’s common to see wristbands or lanyards from events, bottle openers, champagne and shot glasses, or rubber ducks hanging from them – only your imagination sets the limit! However, it’s crucial to remember that once an item is attached to your overalls, it can never be removed. 

Hox! This is Important: Overalls can only be washed while you’re still in them. Period. In practice, this usually means taking a dip in natural waters or fountains. 

Please remember, this text describes overall culture from the perspective of the LAB University of Applied Sciences: practices and customs may vary at different institutions and in different cities. When you come to LAB to study, your student association will provide you with a complete introduction to overall etiquette for your field of study.