Understanding the problem

Many garments are rigid or structured, even though activity and body shape vary throughout the day.

Clothes are meant to fit your body,
not the other way around.

Understanding benchmarks

Most adjustable pants have around 1-2 inches of adjustability before the fit of the garment is affected.  

Understanding benchmarks

How can a pair of pants accommodate larger changes in size while maximizing comfort?

Developing a brand

I developed the brand Freeform as framework for the garment. It aims to empower individuals to embrace their unique bodies.

The garment should feel

Comfortable, unrestrictive, and liberating

The garment should look

Simple, soft, relaxed

Ideation

To prioritize adjustability without compromising style, the final concept hides the adjustability system within pleats at the front of the pant.

Prototyping closures

Existing fasteners like buttons and snaps were obtrusive and distracting. A flexible hardware variation hidden inside the garment's waistband would look cleaner and maximize comfort.

Prototypes made from silicone, laser cut wood, and 3D printed TPU tested different shapes, sizes, and material hardnesses.

Patterning

I modified 7 patterns in order to test various locations for the pleat and levels of adjustability. The final pattern has 4 inches of adjustability, which covers around three standard US numerical pant sizes.

From the outside

The Freeform pant provides proper fit no matter the task at hand. It is tailored to the wearer and can be changed throughout the day by moving the buttons into different slots along the inside of the waistband.

Adjusting the pant

To adjust, the wearer grabs the plastic button on the outside of the pant, pinches the fabric near their waist, folds it over towards themselves, and inserts the button into the matching slots that are hidden inside the waistband.

How it works

The button press fits into the slots in the adjuster and the fabric holds them snug together.

How it fits

The pants follow US numerical sizing from a 00 to a 20. But, the adjustability system allows for fluctuation plus or minus one full size. For example, a size 10 would fit a size 8 when tightened and a size 12 when expanded.

Packaging

Many of the brand competitors have green business models or support sustainable practices. This recyclable paper bag by Vela ensures lightweight shipping while keeping the garment clean and protected.

Reflection

This project allowed me to investigate every part of the design process from ideation and physical prototyping to branding and web development. By trying each phase of the process, I learned how to implement a cohesive vision and even discovered a love for brand design!