Apparel Design: Bike Kit

Custom Bike Kit Cycling Uniform Prototype / Sampling Exercise, 2024 Project Story This custom bike kit channels the flash-warning palette of poison-dart frogs into a road-ready statement. A high-vis gradient of neon green dissolves into ultraviolet purple across a matte-black field, echoing the amphibians’ “back-off” markings while boosting rider visibility. Dart-shaped side panels streamline airflow, and a tonal frog-skin texture—applied via sublimation—emerges under shifting light. Matching bib shorts mirror the jersey geometry, with reflective micro-piping and silicone grippers that stay put at race cadence. My Contribution Concept & Design – Sketched jersey and bib silhouettes; engineered the gradient to track key muscle groups for a purposeful flow. Material & Trim Spec – Chose Italian 250 g/m² compression Lycra, open-mesh underarms, a YKK semi-auto–lock zipper, and low-profile elastic grippers. Tech Pack Creation – Built a 14-page pack detailing Pantone refs, print placements, flatlock stitch diagrams, graded sizing, and BOM. Manufacturer Liaison – Partnered with a Shenzhen cycling factory, managed dye-sub strike-offs, and directed two fit-sample rounds (one Blackout, one Indigo). Photography & Art Direction – Shot both prototypes—golden-hour road session plus studio close-ups—handling lighting, retouching, and color fidelity. Result Delivered two production-quality samples for a friend, gaining hands-on experience in the full sampling pipeline and building a proof-of-concept piece that’s ready for small-batch release or brand partnership pitches.