The Opportunity
The number of female producers has increased 27% from 2012 to 2017 (USDA Census 2017). However, women still feel a lack of representation in the apparel industry.
The Objective
Design a "soft good for social good" for a specific demographic that serves for the betterment of a community.
01
Auditing the
current experience
Tough Conditions, Minimal Protection
Farmers working long days are exposed to lots of sun, heat and humidity which results in dehydration, skin damage, and overall fatigue. Farmers also experience pain in their joints and low back from kneeling constantly and lifting heavy objects.
User Interviews
I conducted over the phone interviews with 7 people. My sister, a farmer, connected me with her farming community in New York. I created a user persona based on interview data.
02
Synthesis
Design Opportunities
- Insight 1 //
Most farmers carry with them carry with them their phone, knives, clippers, and rubber bands
- Insight 2 //
Some farmers want to wear shorts when its hot, but experience skin damage from hot soil, bugs, sharp plants
- Insight 3 //
Female farmers like to use clothing to express themselves, but want high performing materials.
03
Inspiration
Blending Fashion and Function
I start by understanding the core user need of female farmers: the desire to express themselves while wearing high-quality garments that offer protection. I designed with the idea of embracing individuality while ensuring they have the durable, reliable outerwear they need to thrive in their demanding work environments.
Crop Rows
Texture Inspiration
Looking to nature for inspiration was essential and informed my material and form decisions. An aerial view of this amazing geometric pattern. I was drawn to this texture because of the color difference in the depth between the greenery and the dirt. My design will mimic a pattern like the crops rows in the materiality
The Silver Ant
Form/Function Inspiration
I studied how animals self regulate temperature. The silver ant dissipates heat through a triangular shape of the hair. 3D texture allows for more heat dissipation. My design will utilize surface area to increase breathability, moisture absorption, and mobility.
Feminine Overalls
The Final Concept
Not only do these overalls add more shape to accentuate the female body, but it allows for more functional pockets than your typical overall design. Key to this design is adding ventilation and padding to the necessary high impact locations like the knees.
Final Form Sketch Render
Demeter overalls brings a feminine silhouette to a classic farming style - designing the cross body front pocket specifically for women.
04
Prototype
1st Iteration
These designs were the initial output in 2022. I knew little about 3d garments and texturing. These skills were crucial to convey my design, and I was also battling with the constraints of creating a physical model. The flow and pattern of the garment was not cohesive, the materials were not accurate, so I decided to redesign.
Fitting to Model in Scale
Taking scraps from my old garments to get the general form of the overalls. A focus on the cross body top and how it falls on the chest. This gave me a starting pattern for the final model.
05
Modeling
Final Design
I circled back 2 years later to do a redesign of the garment, creating flowing patterns for more dimension of the female silhoutte.
What I learned
I still have much to improve within the texturing of the garment to visually express performance wear. The idea, at its core, the intersection between farming and technical fashion, holds so much promise and I hope to learn more about technicallity of soft goods/materials.
Skill Gained
User interviews, Material Study, Patterning, Sewing, Clo3D, Rendering, Texturing (Substance).
