(08/30) - INTERN Techwear's 30-Day Design Challenge Round 2 - MACS 2.0 Pouch Exploration

Hey all and welcome to Day 08!
 

Today we wanted to discuss the MACS pouches a little bit more as well as give a brief exploration of MACS 2.0; based also on user feedback.

When the MACS concept was initially created, the goal was to execute a no-waste pattern that utilized the full width of a roll of fabric. This was achieved by setting rules to the dimensions of each pouch in order for them to nest perfectly as grid within the full width of a fabric roll. We used a fabric that was 58” wide… however when it was sent to production, the roll width had changed without our knowledge, to 54”. The factory made updated samples that were approved by our collaborators, so we never actually caught that error; resulting in some discrepancies. Live, and learn.

The focus today was the re-draft MACS 2.0 off of updated roll widths of 1500mm from Dimension Polyant. Additionally, we tested updated zipper garages, and a few new material and hardware stories. To top it off, we braided some paracord as a fun test to create a Sacoche style bag. .

Overall, these were some early directions we’d still like to explore further.  What directions do you want to see MACS 2.0 go?

Ultra short project log today:

https://imgur.com/gallery/T9zF0jE

and todays Gallery:

https://imgur.com/gallery/1yQ3h9a

 

Check out the rest of the 30day challenge results so far on LinkTree:

https://linktr.ee/techwearintern

Thanks for the reply! Much appreciated.

I hear the request... and will show off some of the MACS 2.0 evolutions we've been cooking up lately.

 

Here's a little teaser... we'll cook something up for the challenge with this stuff later in the week for ya'll.

A new kevlar reinforced X-weave highstrength xpac, compatible with seam sealing and adhesives too finally!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

... awwe shucks... no-one wants to play? n chat? n explore? 

 

Greetings everyone... Ender here!

I've been busy busy these past couple years, busting ass trying to worm my way into industry so I can get access to the latest and greatest in technologies to share with all.

INTERN has taken a few dramatic pivots in order to sustain itself and meet industry expectations, what started off with the intention of making product has turned into more of a consultancy position between brands and their suppliers, vendors, and manufacturers. When I set out to make product I was stonewalled brutally by the realities of industry, so in order to get in we shifted our offering.

Now we're able to share some of the resources and experiences we've uncovered, and to begin we're launching a group-buy platform for materials. Taking on contracts with major mills and textile manufacturers has allowed us to argue the position that offering the coolest product to makers and small businesses is viable. Today we're pleased to say industry is finally listening, and is working with us to make available their spiciest of textiles with little to no MOQs.

As well starting tomorrow I'm going to dive into another 30-day diy design challenge! This time sharing the perspective of designing for production, sharing all the infrastructure we've established. A little over a year ago I incorporated officially as INTERN Techwear Corp. with 2 partners (fellow kids, broken toys like myself, in their mid 20s), and together we took on the lease for a 5000sq ft warehouse space, and began renovating it into perfect space for mischief and makery. No small feat, as the former tenants ran an illegal porn studio and it was a NIGHTMARE of haphazard construction. Everything down to the cement structure had to be demolished. INTERN HQ is now a fully armed and operational creative battle-station, complete even with 4 bedrooms to allow us to invite and host other makers looking to use our infrastructure, or join us as one INTERNs interns.

INTERN is composed of 2 branches. The outward facing INTERN where we share resources, inspo, patterns, and field whatever support comes across our inbox from makers. And the industry facing TARPA (Technical Apparel Research and Projects Administration) where we work with the companies that manufacture and supply some of the largest brands in the world, from designing product to the development of entirely new approaches to manufacture.

We get a lot of questions, demands, threats, asking us for product... and I would love to create a line with our own brand displayed proudly. Until such a time when we can afford to manufacture to the quality we demand we will continue our consultancy path... oneday! Until then I can very proudly say that there's a very good chance that you've already seen or maybe even own products from the brands you love with a little INTERN DNA in them (as our contracts expire we will share our clients and works on our new website).

I hope you've all been well.

I just wanted to pop in briefly and say hello... it's been a while, good to be back. Looking forward to the discourse!

-end

Lemme know the type of rubber and I can suggest a dye method to suit.

@EG562 - Dimension Polyant VS75 (~15$/yd) or "D40 w/ Transfer Metalized Aluminum" (~$35/yd) if they have it available. Both are made to order, or once per year otherwise. The other DP options are very flimsy.

@Marw - Slotted Loop, some brands call it a C-Hook. I use these ones: http://www.woojinplastic.com/products/detail/71/page:9/tag:bag

 

Sorry I haven't posted fabric analysis' yet. I've been super swamped and there's a good ~70+ fabrics to document at this point. Next week or two I'll have it all processed.

Oh boy, lots to take pics of today...

trimmers, system mag, fidlock and woojin buckles to name a few.

Fabrics from TomLong (makers of AC2) and Sixup (inventors of hypalon) have arrived as well... got some really exciting custom options from these companies.

Lots of stretch knits and laminates from Best Pacific (makers of CoolMax/Drifit).

Theres about a dozen vendors on board so-far... lots more still in discussion or pending shipping.

I'll have a whole bunch of things to share later this week. Expecting a few more deliveries on friday.

I've been cookin up a bunch of new opportunities this past month, the one that has me most excited is a partnership with a local R&D facility here in Vancity.

Syte Industies was in need of some assistance setting up a new showroom/product demo area for their Framis Italia bonding and taping machines, so I'll be helping them with the demos in exchange for access to nearly the entire Framis catalogue of welding machines! Next couple weeks I'll be sharing my early experiments.

Also super stoked to announce that I've added a couple new members to my team!!! I've stolen Lulu lemons engineered and 3d knit design developer and together we're working alongside one of design directors for Veilance/ArcTeryx on some kick-ass new technical outerwear experiments... The Intern Techwear Group is starting to form together!  

 

I think you've all missed the reason for my complaint. It's a price of webbing with a buckle... and it was added to the product line to fill out an easy cash grab with a low-cost item in a market that's known to sell reliably. If it had some 'design' to it, i'd be there championing it with you all... but it's about 6cents in webbing attached to a 6$ buckle... designed and executed in a few minutes time. I love DSPTCH, own a good amount of it too... but seeing things like this low hanging crap added to a product line sadden me.

 

(for those of you not familiar with the Fidlock V-buckle, it locks and cannot disconnect when under load. So in an application like this the quick disconnect function is lost, as you'll need to loosen before disconnecting)

 

@emenel - If what you say were the case, then it would make sense for the price of this item to be more than the belt:

https://www.dsptch.com/collections/key/products/fidlock-shoe-straps

Higher materials + labour cost, as well as more 'design' yet with a lower price... arbitrary pricing = cash grab.

Holy hell... 62$?!?!? That's under 8$ in cost there.

Never heard of TERG before, looks like some really cool designs, and I agree entirely 1680D is far too much D. hehe

brands supporting hoodrattery is a movement i can get behind! lmao

 

[edit]

further thinking... they likely just robbed a warehouse earlier that week.

[/edit]

....and on that note:

I love this idea @danii you should really formalize this movement. I'm currently mustering together responses from about 50 textiles/hardware/trim suppliers from all across the industry to see whose interested in offering sales to makers and the diy crowd, also facilitate group buys and the such. Let's talk!

Inspired by  @danii amazeballs illustration works and a NASA badge concept I stumbled across on Pinterest...

Also, Danii... come to Vancouver and lets go crush out an epic mural here in the city!

Happy to say that Intern Series 2 dropped yesterday! Just the laptop sleeves for now, the phone cases and slingpacks will drop as well very soon!

Available on Massdrop.com

 

 

 

I'm excited about this coat... moreso the textile within it. The brothers behind Vollebak seem to be really pushing it, hugely inspired by them. Also worth crediting is HST Creative (https://www.hstcreative.co.uk/) who are responsible for bringing all their wild ideas to life.

I have my reservations however... their kevlar hoody isnt gunna last me near 100years... likely wont make it to Christmas. Kevlar is really sensitive, doesn't like temp changes, humidity or UV, and actually breaks down very quickly losing much of its strength in short periods of exposure. It's also a very coarse and abrasive fiber and when paired with things like nylon or poly will physically slice through the fibers it's knit against. Very tricky to make long wearing stretchy kevlar knits, cost/benefit/risk/reward is not in line.

@solo1 - i didn't know the dood when i made the post, and now there's a whole discussion around it and it would be odd to delete. At the time of the post I just just awoke to a large volume of messages from supporters in the community who were alerting me of this kickstarter... even kickstarter contacted me over DCMA complaints. Alls been smoothed over now, and i hope this thread only serves a redirect to CJ's sales page for further support at this point, as ample clarity has been made now that he's a cool cat methinks.

@GUNDAM @solo1 - I'm working on a collab with the cloudburst team right now. Really great people! Love their enthusiasm. I've got one of their jumpsuits and some tyvek pants here in my studio... scheduled for deconstruction later this week!

The materials and hardware is all decent, no major issues with the construction quality. However the drop crotch on the pants is a little extreme on the jumpsuit and makes it hard to move in for someone like me whose never owned any dropcrotch pants before.

I'll be working with the cloudburst team throughout the fall to help them level-up patterns, construction, pricing, and materials sources. Really excited about this one... these guys are super willing to explore some radical shit!!

In about a week or so I'll post project log of  my deconstruction and rebuild of the jumpsuit, will discuss the piece thoroughly before i take razors to it.

@nigel1 ...read first sentence above.

@brainerd666 - CJ and I have spoken in recent days -since this post- and I agree, dood seems pretty cool! I have no beef, he genuinely seems committed to doing better in the future, and I hope for him all the success. This early release, albeit mildly frustrating, could be the beginnings of a really great brand. I've extended out to him whatever support I am able to offer in the form of suppliers or vendors should he want to spare a headache in the future. I've received a pile of messages, including from kickstarter, about this possible copyright overlap - I've no intent of making action against it, just a little disappointed in the initial shock. As said above I've since spoken with the creator and alls well, he's chill and full of enthusiasm. (also technically my designs belong to massdrop, so im just sorta along for the ride here anyhow )

...not me