The Waihou Jacket -GOLD Pin — Best Awards.
New Zealand has a rich history of clothing that represent its agricultural heritage, the iconic Swanndri and oilskin jackets being notable amongst these. However, the 21st century farm is a professional environment, with scientific, technological, commercial and lifestyle shifts giving rise to a new breed of farmer — one who is equally conversant with bank managers as they are with farm hands; equally as proficient on a smart phone as they are on a farm bike.
To date, there has been a lack of innovation in apparel that meets both the functional requirements of the contemporary farm while reflecting current-day ‘cool’. The Waihou Jacket responds to this need, using human-centred design to blend urban streetwear aesthetics with high-tech fabrication and functional integrity. The jacket was designed in response to a brief that required students to adopt a ‘blue sky’ approach to developing garments for global outdoor lifestyle brand, Kathmandu. Functionality was to be considered in conjunction with creative, fashion-forward design thinking to produce a detail-focused garment suited to the high-end urban streetwear market.
Constructed from a 3-layer bonded, 5000mm weatherproof rated Hydrotex, the Waihou Jacket is showerproof and windproof. The two-way stretch, soft-shell fabrication has a 3000gm breathability rating and can withstand light snowfall. The incorporation of an Aquaseal zip and seam-sealing technology provide additional protection from the elements.
The Waihou Jacket is non gender-specific, with a broad shoulder and tapered silhouette that is conducive to rain run-off. The hemline dips at the back to provide seat protection from dew-laden farm bikes, and the two-way zip allows the wearer to straddle a bike or fence with ease, without the need for opening the torso section. When fully zipped, the collar extends above the mouth, and coupled with the fully extended hood, provides weather protection to the face. The brim can be turned back to give the wearer optimal peripheral vision, and in moderate weather the entire hood is detachable.
UV protection is also considered, with the detachable inner lining containing sunglass pockets and elasticated chapstick/lipstick carriers. Business meetings are easily conducted on the farm, with the farmer able to have paperwork and smart devices contained in purpose-built pouches, the phone cleverly resting against the wearer’s forearm for easy ergonomic use. On the outer shell, prominent seams are stitched with reflective thread, providing visibility benefits in both rural and urban settings, but without compromising the understated aesthetic appeal that epitomises the Waihou Jacket.
BEST DESIGNS AWARDS - PRODUCT DESIGN: GOLD PIN
