Description I focus on designing functional yet everyday-appropriate cycling apparel for urban women commuters. As the number of female cyclists in cities around the world continues to grow, I’ve noticed that many brands still approach women’s cycling wear by simply scaling down men’s designs or overly emphasizing competitive performance—overlooking the practical clothing needs of women in office and daily life settings.
Inspired by the book *Bikes and Bloomers* and my own cycling experiences, I drew from natural landscapes to develop a fall and winter color palette, incorporating the lightweight, packable concept of parachutes into the design.I selected nylon, polyester, and knit fabrics to ensure elasticity and durability while achieving foldable, compact storage. The final design retains essential cycling functions—such as breathability and a snug fit—while integrating everyday trouser silhouettes through tailored shaping, enabling women to transition seamlessly from office to ride.
Innovation The core innovation of this project lies in: integrating functional sportswear with the design of everyday clothing types.
Specifically manifested as follows:
The integration experience of daily and sports wear:
Through the cutting and fabric layout, the clothing can seamlessly switch between cycling and daily wear without relying on a distinct sporty appearance.
Reusable System (Packable Design):
Inspired by the structure of a parachute, the clothing can be folded and stored in a compact form, meeting the demand for portability in urban commuting.
Mixed Structural Design:
Combining woven functional fabric with knitted structure, achieving a balance between "supportiveness, elasticity and comfort".
Aesthetic Integration:
Different from traditional cycling suits that emphasize competitive performance, this design incorporates a suit pants-like structure and simple lines, making it suitable for various scenarios such as office work and commuting.
Product Detail In my clothing design, I use a combination of various functional fabrics to strike a balance between performance and daily wearability. Main fabric: Lightweight recycled nylon, which has excellent wind resistance and durability, and presents a matte texture, making the overall appearance closer to everyday clothing rather than traditional sports gear. Auxiliary fabrics: Polyester blended stretch fabric combined with knitted patches.
In terms of structure, the clothing adopts ergonomic cutting that conforms to the riding posture, including a three-dimensional knee structure and a slightly raised back waist design, to accommodate the body posture during riding. At the same time, through simple lines and cutting methods, it draws on the styling language of everyday suit pants, enabling the clothing to naturally blend into commuting and office settings.
In addition, the design incorporates a parachute-inspired retractable structure, allowing the garment to be folded into a compact size, making it easy to carry and store.
Specification Target audience: Urban female cyclists who commute by bike
Size range: XS – L (conforming to the standard women's clothing sizing system)
Fit: Slim-tapered silhouette , combined with ergonomic cutting
Color options: Black, slate gray, deep olive green, moss green
Weight: Lightweight
Seasons: Autumn/Spring
Functionalities: Breathable and sweat-wicking, windproof, reflective details for low-light environments
