Katherine West - Portfolio 

​As part of the Verus Activewear Collection and Research Project, the design service concept 'Verus Customised Triathlon Apparel' was explored and trialled with 'Age Group' Triathlete, Nini Ruttanaporn.

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Outfit 5 of the collection was a fully customisable Short Course Triathlon Suit with integral bust support. It was based on Outfit 3, a Short Course Triathlon Suit, to be worn with with the Swim/Sports Bra from Outfit 2. However, it could be designed and customised to the wearer's needs and preferences. It also incorporated an integral bust support, which could be customised to a certain bra/bust size, to give the correct amount of bust support for the wearer. 

 

In Outfit 3, the suit was designed to be able to give the potential to accommodate a range of bust sizes, by being able to give more or less volume in the upper section/bust area of the garment design. Several design options were explored before selecting to develop the chosen design/style for the final Triathlon Suit. (Some design development of the style can be seen below).

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Several emotional and physical durability approaches were built into the the Verus collection, such as the selection of durable fabrics (and their durable colours and printed patterns) that performed well in water or on land and the design and cut of the garments to give comfort and to flatter and support the female form, during exercise. This approach of co-design through customisation, with the athlete who is going to wear and race in the Triathlon Suit, aimed to further enhance emotional durability of the outfit, in that the wearer would desire to keep wearing the outfit as it was 'customised to be perfect for the wearer and its use'.

 

In Outfit 5, the Short Course Triathlon Suit (Outfit 3) could be customised in terms of adding additional panels (within existing panels/pattern pieces), panel colours or patterns, trim colours and the application of athlete name and country code, application of race logo and/or sponsor logos and the inclusion of an internal, fitted, bust support section (in the wearer's size).  

 

In this case, Nini was going to be representing Thailand for the first time, at the ITU Triathlon World 'Age Group' Championships in London, in early September. So that the colours of the Thailand national flag (dark blue, red and white) could be incorporated into the design with striking visual effect, panels in the body and the legs of the suit were further divided. This was to allow dark navy in the main body, white in the 'new' panel areas and red in the trims. Red and white were also in the 'Verus' floral pattern.

 

The integral bust support was further developed, shaped and fitted to support Nini's bust and fit her back size, following a garment fitting session. Her name and country code were added (by using a vinyl print technique) to the panel/pattern pieces, in white to stand out against the blue and to aid the incorporation of all 3 colours into the design. The final customised detail was that for all ITU races the logo must appear on the upper right chest. It was supplied in a variety of colourways, with this colourway being selected to stand out on the white panel.

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Based on the distance of the specific race (the Olympic distance) a specially made, lightly padded cycling insert (made with highly breathable and quick drying spacer foam, in an ergonomic design that contoured to the body) was included to aid comfort during the cycle stage, but to not hinder/cause discomfort during the swim and run stages.