Outdoor Retailer: Makin' It Work
Outdoor Retailer named the winner of their Project Runway spin-off competition, Project OR, on Monday. Margaret Mussman, a junior at the University of Cincinnati, was one of six student designers chosen to participate in the competition. In 48 hours, the former snowboarder designed and constructed a women's backcountry ski bib, which earned her first place, a trip to Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2012 and a profile in the publication Textile Insight.
The 48-hour design competition was filmed live at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market trade show, which was held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, from January 19-22.
This is the eighth time the show has hosted the contest, which can be viewed on the Project OR website.
Mussman won the judges’ votes with her understanding of the unique challenges faced by women who backcountry ski, her technical skills and by delivering a fully finished prototype garment.
She constructed a breathable, waterproof, and temperature regulating women's backcountry ski bib that featured a removable harness complete with safety whistle, avalanche beacon and quick zips along each leg for easy removal.
"Whether a technical or fashion-focused garment, a huge part of design is to help solve problems," she said. "I know women who backcountry ski and because of my background, I've often been a sounding board for them, listening to their frustrations with a garment's shortcomings. This competition allowed me to design a garment that solved some of those issues."
When designing, contestants must consider the garment's full life cycle, its care requirements and how to incorporate repurposed materials, and then justify their design to the judges.
The judges were impressed withMussman's understanding of the unique challenges faced by women in thebackcountry, her technical skills and for delivering a fully finishedprototype garment.
Mussman switched her focus to outdoor apparel after apprenticing as a marine seamstress and beginning her studies in fashion design and product development.
Outdoor Retailer is the known as the largest outdoor tradeshow in the U.S. It brings together industry retailers, manufacturers, and media twice a year for its Summer and Winter Markets in Salt Lake City.
