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Elbert Girón
Elbert Girón
Information
Industrial Design:
Nube Work Suit
Repairable Sneakers
Botas No.001 & No.000
Overnight Bag
Assorted Softgoods
District Vision Trim
Barritas de Piña
Surco Meditation Seat
Graphic Design:
Experimental Books
Emotional // Durable

Spatial Design:
District Vision Paris
Aptive Next Chapter
︎Are.na
︎Email
︎Instagram
Forever Under Construction

Nube Work Suit
Workwear for Migrant Farmworkers

Overview:

Nube is a workwear set designed for migrant farmworkers and the harsh high heat and lengthy sun exposed conditions they work in. Leveraging the fiber properties of hemp, as well as a vent system and intentional fit, Nuve looks to help migrant farmworkers regulate temperature and protect against prolonged UV exposure.

This project was born from the brief to design an apparel set for a heritage workwear company using sustainable materials. The sustainable materials were to serve a functional purpose for a work demographic of the designer’s choice. The design language were to be utilitarian, but keep worker dignity as a priority.

Identifying Approach:

In looking at how materials are implemented in apparel/softgoods, I noticed a common thread. The audience is almost always upper middle class, and hardly considers working people. With the brief centered around heritage workwear, I took the opporuntity to design for a worker that is rarely considered in legacy design, politics, etc.


Intended Client:

I identified migrant farmworkers as my key user, as they are overlooked as a demographic in design, politics, and elsewhere. Of the roughly 3 million migrant farmworkers in the United States, an estimated 30-50% are undocumented. Farmwork itself has often been excluded from labor rights movements. Between immigration status and labor issues, migrant farmworkers see little protection from harsh working conditions.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the heavy essential work of migrant farmworkers continued largely uninterrupted with few accomodations, even during record heatwaves and constant wildfire smoke. Seeing that farmworkers are 20 times more likely to die from heat related illness than the average worker, I decided to focus primarily on helping farmworkers manage high heat and extended sun exposure.

Design Language:

Considering exclusion and socioeconomic belittlement, I decided to approach the design of the form as if I were desiging a high-end apparel item to reinforce the importance of these works. In this case, my market research was focused on looking at how high-end performance athletic wear and upper-tier apparel companies communicated value. I opted to use fit, construction, and hardware to communicate this from the information that I gleaned. 




Features:


12 Ounce Indigo Dyed Hemp Denim
—Hemp allows for better thermoregulation compared to cotton, and has UV-blocking properties.

French Seams
—Provides appealing strong reinforcement and protection from irritation.

Vent System ​(Jacket)
—Bartack breaks across the chest and back allow for airflow while moving.

Boxy Fit (Jacket)
—Allows for airflow, layering, and ease of movement

Two-Way Zipper (Jacket)
—Affords movement while maintaining coverage

Harvesting Loops (Pant)
—Reinforced loops for harvesting tools

2 Button Closure (Pant)
—Adjustable fit to accomodate tool weight

Tapered Fit (Pant)
—Accomodates boots, movement