All of the collections in this section were created for school projects during my senior year at Kent State University. All imagery is for inspiration only, and I do not own it. I only own my illustrations and sketches at the end of the projects.
Abeona: The Total Immersion Jacket was collaborative project between 2 apparel designers and 3 engineers who came together for 36 hours to create the prototype for a smart hiking jacket for the Kent State University 2017 Fashion Tech Hackathon. The goal was to develop a hiking jacket with integrated hiking aid technology so that the wearer could immerse themself in nature without the distractions of a phone. We won the grand prize for Best Creation of New Technology at the Hackaton and then took the project to the Kent State University Launch Net Idea Olympics where we won 1st place.
The jacket we created had a built in screen which attached to various sensors. There was a heart rate monitor, thermometer, barometer, and compass, all of which showed on a digital display. We also added a Peltier electric generator battery pack that was attached to the pocket lining on the chest, so that the wearer’s body heat from exertion could be harnessed to power the electronics. Given more time and resources, we planned to add hand warmers into the lining of the pockets, and flexible solar panels onto the hood and shoulders for additional power. The jacket itself had a water resistant hood and shoulders as well as mesh panels across the mid back and under the arms to help the wearer keep cool.
Due to the rapid evolution of technology, Abeona was conceived with the intention of being a rental service. The consumer would not want to invest in an expensive jacket that would be outdated in just a year or two, so instead they could rent a jacket for a trip at a lower price and then return it, after which it would be cleaned and then rented to the next hiker. Once the technology became outdated, Abeona would recycle the fabric and the tech so that nothing was wasted. Updating to the next model of the Total Immersion Jacket would allow customers to always be able to rent jackets with the newest technology.
This is a men’s spring/summer activewear collection that was inspired by anatomy, specifically the musculoskeletal system. It uses seam lines that mimic and interpret the lines of the muscles, mostly of the legs and torso, and also reflective tape that references the spine. The fibers of the muscles also were used as inspiration for the print. In addition, there is a capsule collection of running shoes which draws detail from the bones of the feet.
This is a men's and women's ski/snowboard collection with a focus on prints and accessory design. For this collection, I was inspired by the mountains of my home state, Vermont, where I grew up with skiing as a big part of my life. I used the state's mountain ranges on the horizon, topography, and leaves, to develop my prints.
This is a spring/summer menswear urban commuter cycling collection with a focus on print and graphics. It was designed to be comfortable and practical for casual cyclists who do not wish to look as though they are clearly wearing cycling specific clothing. As many people who commute via bicycle are environmentally conscious, the prints and graphics are of the three most prominent forms of alternative energy: wind, solar, and geothermal.
This fall collection was designed with Patagonia in mind, and is a men's active-casual line. It was inspired by the concept of "exploration", and took two routes: natural and urban. On the natural side, I was inspired by simple human structures in nature, such as hiking trails and old railways. On the urban side, I was inspired by abandoned buildings that were being reclaimed by nature. One other importance aspect of this project was the concept to develop a method of using natural dyes on synthetic active jackets that would be sustainable and not lessen the strength of the fabric.
