‘Strange things’: Functional Clothing Lab’s DIY techwear
Athens-based Functional Clothing Lab, an online Make Your Own Gear (MYOG)-inspired label crafted in small quantities by designer Ksenia Sofianatos, recently released its first microcollection.
A quote from Ms Sofianatos, which appeared in an earlier interview by Techunter, captures and frames her design ethos: “The market doesn’t offer me what I want, mostly because I wish for very strange things. However, I am totally okay with that - I create those strange things for myself.”
The collection’s so-called “strange things” includes the ongoing presence of Ms Sofianatos’ open-back balaclava design (complete with Fidlock magnetic closure), intended to better facilitate easy ventilation while also allowing for a ponytail or bun hairstyle to be worn at various heights.
Another piece of all-season solutionwear is the Core Warmer (pictured), designed to protect the body’s core and chest area from wind and cold, especially when wearing a backpack (which already keeps the back warm, as the product’s description points out). The article’s main fabric is windproof nylon taffeta with 850 fill power goose down, complete with a Fidlock buckle, Velcro fastenings and a YKK #3 coil zipper.
The made-to-order Sarma 3-in-1 jacket, meanwhile, which weighs around 356 grams in total, is constructed from a lightweight ripstop nylon produced by Japan’s Toray (windproof, down proof and water repellent, with reportedly “excellent” breathability).
Its detachable vest, made in the UK, is filled with natural, organic goose down for “optimum thermal balance”, with other features such as convertible sleeves, a helmet-compatible adjustable hood, waist cinch cord, elasticated cuffs and two-way zipper rounding out the function-first design. The zippered compartment on the Sarma’s right external pocket (one of two) also serves as a “stuff sack”, meaning that the entire garment can easily be packed inside for quick and easy storage.
In a previous interview, Ms Sofianatos particularly praised textile suppliers Ripstop by the Roll (known as RBTR), especially its Membrane 10 taffeta nylon fabric, plus Schoeller’s Micro-double-ripstop-nylon down proof material (which she described herself as looking at “reverently … not daring to cut it yet”).
Image: Functional Clothing Lab.
