Rapha Proteam spring 2020 launch

MY ROLE: 

• Innovation and collaboration with footwear designers, developers and factory teams

• Textile / woven technique design and texture palettes

• Tech-packs and factory briefs

• Led teams in execution of sampling, approvals and QC and production management

• Material development and testing 

• Color merchandising and development

• Marketing story telling: technology and product narratives

I presented a selection of some of my newest technique samples that I thought might be a good fit for the Rapha team.

A sample aptly named “The Eclipse” caught the footwear designers' attention. This single weft yarn technique has multiple color positions in a strong light weigh breathable  fabrication. The first brief was created mapping out zones for power transfer, stabilization and abrasion.

I took the ideas back to the factory and brainstormed with the team on how to weave them all into one fabrication. I began to build my palettes of structures, textures color and finish as the first version of the artwork was created. Next, we planned the interior structure for the performance zones concealed within.

The final uppers begin to take shape. Nesting layouts to minimize waste are arranged and in some cases we will even modify the pattern to maximize efficient use of materials.   Tongues were from the scrap. (The final proprietary upper silhouette cannot be shown)

With every round of revisions made to the materials,  the prototypes were weighed to keep our weight loss goals in sight. 

Purple was easy, but the black and white (light grey) combos were really tough to nail.