UNRAVEL: Alterations for Adventurewear, a combined product/service concept dedicated to alleviating the environmental stresses and impacts from textiles for the outdoors industry.

1. Alyssa Yatabe | Sustainable Design M.A. Student | SD6500: Introduction to Sustainability

2. INTRODUCTION
WHAT GETS YOU OUTSIDE?

3. INTRODUCTION
WHAT GETS YOU OUTSIDE?
backpacking. rock climbing. snowboarding.
cycling. hiking. running. skiing. camping.
(all of the above?)

4. INTRODUCTION
what protects you outside?

5. INTRODUCTION
what protects you outside?
from hot. from cold. from wind.
from rain. from sun. from snow.
(all of the above?)

6. INTRODUCTION
what protects you outside?
your outerwear
No matter what adventure style, type or intensity,
nylon and polyester are the dominant fabric choices for
textiles used in garments for outdoor activities.

7. INTRODUCTION
what protects you outside?
your outerwear
Nylon and polyester are both incredibly versatile and durable
synthetic fabrics that provide excellent weatherproofing,
good insulation and temperature control, and dry much more
quickly than natural fibers do.

8. INTRODUCTION
snowbowl, Arizona
Photo: A Random Stranger

9. INTRODUCTION
THE PROBLEM?

10. INTRODUCTION
THE PROBLEM?
nylon & polyester
Nylon and polyester are derived from petroleum,
which requires drilling, mining and damage to the
earth’s crust to access and collect.

11. INTRODUCTION
THE PROBLEM?
nylon & polyester
The manufacturing process of the actual material
then releases incredible amounts of nitrous oxides
(powerful greenhouse gases) into the atmosphere that damage
both the ozone and the health of the environment.

12. INTRODUCTION
THE solution.

13. INTRODUCTION
THE SOLUTION.
UNRAVEL is combined service/product
concept dedicated to alleviating the
environmental stresses and impacts from
textiles for the outdoors industry.

14. INTRODUCTION
THE SOLUTION.
responsibility
Rather than encouraging the manufacturing of more materials for
brand new garments, UNRAVEL aims to encourage responsibility
and sustainability in the outdoors industry by promoting the utilization
of existing materials from used apparel that would otherwise be
landfill-bound to create restored and refurbished garments for
seasoned veterans and rookie explorers alike.

15. INTRODUCTION
THE SOLUTION.
three components
Encourages consumers to shift their habits and help to cease
the unabiding flow of high-quality outerwear ending
in the waste cycle through three key developed programs
— Fix, Find and Fund.

16. components
custom refurbishing & alterations
Fix, UNRAVEL’s custom refurbishing and alterations service,
is for adventurers who already own a used outerwear garment
in need of repair or modification.

17. components
custom refurbishing & alterations
Any amount of creativity can be used here as
individual consumers can choose to restore the original
functionality of pre-loved outerwear or have a garment
redesigned to better suit their specific needs.

18. components
upcycled outerwear market
If you do not already own the outerwear you need
for your adventures, you can purchase original “one-off”
refurbished and upcycled clothing creations made from
repurposed outerwear apparel, such as jackets, parkas,
windbreakers and vests.

19. components
upcycled outerwear market
Skilled tailors will break down convert donated garments into
brand new creations, ready to be taken out on new adventures.
Adventurers of all experience levels will be able to get the high
quality gear all without increasing their carbon footprints from
the manufacturing processes involved in outerwear textiles.

20. components
outerwear donations & collection
You can donate your pre-loved gear to any UNRAVEL
store where you will receive store credit for future
custom alterations or for making store purchases.

21. components
outerwear donations & collection
If you no longer have a need for those jackets hiding
in the back of your closet, you can take them in to the
UNRAVEL store, where they can be properly reused
and stay far away from any landfills.

22. components
vintage modified
In both Fix and Find, if there is an opportunity to restore a
vintage garment to its original aesthetics while improving its
functionality, UNRAVEL will partner with reputable brands
such as Patagonia, Marmot and The North Face to co-brand the
garment as a “Vintage Modified.” Classic outerwear fashions are
revived and brought back to adventure glory.

23. COMPONENTS
implementation
brick-and-mortar stores
UNRAVEL will implement brick-and-mortar store locations
in several key western US cities such as Portland, Seattle,
Denver/Boulder, and Salt Lake City where the outdoors and
adventure crowd is more prevalent and concentrated. This ensures
that each store has easier access to higher quantities of different
material types, uses and quality to work with.

24. COMPONENTS
implementation
brick-and-mortar stores
Additionally, UNRAVEL will develop an online marketplace
for those not local to regions with brick-and-mortar store
access. You will be able to donate your goods and purchase
new garments either in-person at your local store or online by
sending your garments to the nearest local area.

25. COMPONENTS
implementation
tailor network
In each UNRAVEL city, tailors will be hired through a contract
network to allow for case-by-case basis assignments. The tailors
will be able to handle the custom refurbishings requested by
consumers as well as be able to modify and assemble the garments
that are donated to then be sold in the UNRAVEL stores.

26. COMPONENTS
implementation
tailor network
A city manager will maintain the contacts and relationships
with the tailors, ensure the products meet high standards of
quality, and help to delegate the ways the garments should be
modified based on market need for the area.

27. COMPONENTS
hueco tanks, texas
Photo: Alyssa Yatabe

28. COMPONENTS
who IS UNRAVEL FOR?

29. COMPONENTS
who IS UNRAVEL FOR?
backpackers. rock climbers. snowboarders.
cyclers. hikers. runners. skiers. campers.
(all of the above.)

30. COMPONENTS
who IS UNRAVEL FOR?
consumer market
Consists of both experienced outdoors adventurers
and those who have not yet acquired their own
gear for various activities or weather types.

31. COMPONENTS
who IS UNRAVEL FOR?
experienced consumers
Those who are experienced generally already own a variety of their
own outerwear gear, even some they might have owned or loved
for a long time. The “Vintage Modified” branded garments will
definitely appeal to vintage lovers and collectors, either for the
visual aesthetics or for the intrinsic value of having something that
has been around for a long time, similar to a family heirloom.

32. COMPONENTS
who IS UNRAVEL FOR?
new consumers
Those who are newer to the market need to be educated on
making decisions when purchasing new gear for the first time.
UNRAVEL presents the perfect opportunity to encourage
potential customers that the importance in choosing gear does
not lie in making sure that it is brand new or flawless, but that
the overall quality and functionality is suitable to withstand the
environment that they will be adventuring in.

33. INTRODUCTION
grand canyon, Arizona
Photo: Alyssa Yatabe

34. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?

35. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
people. planet. public. profits.
(all of the above.)

36. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
people
Memories of various adventures and trips have become embedded
within the fabrics of some particular garments and it can mean a lot
for someone to continue using their truly “favorite” gear.

37. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
people
Some people are also very attracted to vintage and restored gear,
either due to the aesthetics or the value that item might have.

38. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
people
People love knowing that the actions and decisions they make,
contribute to the positive changes that benefit our planet and our people.

39. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
planet
With nylon being one of the predominant materials in outerwear,
the textiles in the industry require a great deal of petroleum mining.
Aside from nylon’s manufacturing process releasing large amounts
of nitrous oxide into the atmosphere, nylon also has a very slow decay
rate once products made with nylon make it to the landfill.

40. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
planet
UNRAVEL’s components all promote the reuse of existing gear,
helping to avert outerwear from ending up in the landfill.

41. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
planet
Additionally, UNRAVEL will recycle leftover material scraps
which can be used in UNRAVEL products. Eventually those products
could be easily recycled again and combined with overall reduced
CO2 emissions, UNRAVEL works to create a continually looping
system for outerwear manufacturing.

42. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
public
Benefits the public by creating a strong feeling of
community involvement through the sharing and
swapping of gear at UNRAVEL stores.

43. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
public
UNRAVEL provides other public benefits by educating
the consumers, local and otherwise, on options for
handling their existing gear or purchasing new gear.

44. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
public
The UNRAVEL tailor network will be based in
the local areas where each UNRAVEL city store is,
enriching the communities surrounding it.

45. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
profits
The fabric costs go down as the supplies required for
the garments will either be donated by or purchased
inexpensively from fellow adventurers.

46. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
profits
Manufacturing costs are significantly reduced as only
recycled or reused materials will be utilized in the
assembly of each garment.

47. sustainability
challenge
HOW DOES IT HELP?
profits
Lastly, the UNRAVEL tailor network will be
based within each local UNRAVEL city community,
reducing transportation costs and allowing the
tailors to earn fair living wages.

48. INTRODUCTION
Browns Peak, Arizona
Photo: Alyssa Yatabe

49. next steps
What are the next steps?

50. next steps
What are the next steps?
place. program. production. party.

51. next steps
What are the next steps?
place
The first step is to determine which western
United States cities are the most suitable for developing
brick-and-mortar stores and tailor networks in.

52. next steps
What are the next steps?
program
The next phase is seeking out and establishing a
network of qualified tailors capable of taking on
UNRAVEL garment assignments in each location.

53. next steps
What are the next steps?
produce
UNRAVEL will then begin to collect donations
and outerwear garments to build the initial supply
of stock materials.

54. next steps
What are the next steps?
party
In each UNRAVEL city, the stores could launch an
opening campaign for educating new and existing
market consumers on the importance of responsibility
and the possibilities of reusing or purchasing gear that
isn’t sourced from virgin manufactured materials.

55. next steps
What are the next steps?
party
UNRAVEL would invite consumers to participate in
donation of garments for store credit (customer loyalty) and
add more material options to the stock. UNRAVEL could
publicize the information about each store opening on the
website and allow non-local consumers to participate in the
education and the donation or purchase programs.

56. INTRODUCTION
mount humphreys, Arizona
Photo: Nick Cote

57. CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION.
alter your state of mind
As a society, we have become so affixed to the stigma of always
having the best and the newest right now. UNRAVEL dismisses this
thinking by altering and modifying landfill-bound outerwear,
giving it a second chance at adventure and alleviating the resulting
environmental stresses from manufacturing textiles.

58. CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION.
alter your state of mind
Perhaps the next time the air becomes brisk and you
hear the mountains calling, you’ll think of UNRAVEL
when it’s time to bundle up and get outside.