Backpack Inspired Shirt
Wearing a backpack is one of the best ways to carry objects without back pain, however it is often seen as less stylish than other bags. This project started from the idea of working with backpack straps as a formal element, and transforming them into a upscale design detail.
Here you can see my initial sketches for a full line of clothing featuring the backpack straps. I decided to lean into the idea that the backpack straps were interwoven into the fabric of the shirt as the designs in which the straps were more physically present were generally the more successful ones.
The final piece was also the first piece of apparel I ever made. There are a few issues with the sizing of the sleeves, as well as the bottom edge of the zipper but overall I think that it came out great. I tested quite a few different attachment methods for the squares (example above) and ended up using an applique method to make sure that the squares were flat enough to the fabric to not interrupt the fit.