This project-based module, while exposing the learner

to the DNA of a fashion item, focuses on

understanding the semiotics related to different
attributes that defines the product itself. One of the
driven factors of the module is to encourage the
learner to achieve a good method of research by
investigating existing data and propose alternative
solutions (both in design and production)
according to the change in context. We will produce
evidence of being able to understand and analyse a
given context. A series of visual activities will allow us
to ideate fashion related outcomes for a hypothetical
client that belongs to a context different than the
assigned one. Exercises like Inspiration board -Collage
– juxtaposition – DE codification, will allow us to
ideate new innovative forms having in mind a realistic
target.
1.INTRODUCTION

2. RESEARCH & STUDY

3.RECONTENT INTRODUCTION

4.RECONTENT RESEARCH

5.MASHUP

6. CONCEPT BOARD

7.MOOD BOARD

8.COLOUR BOARD

9.CLIENT STUDY

10.EXPLORATIONS

11.FINAL OUTCOME

12.REFLECTIVE NOTE

13.REFERENCING
 EASY USE

DURABLE

SPACIOUS

LIGHT

USEFUL

MULTIPURPOS
E

STYLISH
 A bag is an accessory that holds
items like money , cards,
cosmetics and anything and
everything else.
Backpack is a bag with straps
fitting over shoulders so that it
can be worn on back.

A backpack is also called knapsack , rucksack or back

sack likewise. In it’s simplest form , it is a frameless cloth
sack carried on one’s back which is secured by 2 shoulder
straps. These bags are often used by hikers and students as
they are durable and make it easy to carry loads of stuff and
equipment in one go.

Large Backpacks are used to carry loads over 10KG &

smaller sports backpacks are usually used to offload the
largest part of their weight into a padded hip belt , leaving
the shoulder straps mainly for stabilizing the load. This
improves the potential to carry heavy
loads while also creating
balance & agility.

The word backpack was

coined in USA in 1910,
rucksack however is a German
loanword used
in UK,US & military forces

In German, Rūcken means

back & sack means bag, thus
suggesting the name rucksack.
It is almost unfathomable for modern readers to
believe that backpacks weren’t always tied to
academia. In fact before 1910s there wasn’t a word
‘backpacks’ . Long before students began adopting
this useful shoulder bag , it was simultaneously
created by ancient traveller all over the globe.

There is a painting of the earliest outdoorsmen to

wear backpacks. They are depicted travelling through
hostile terrain, Scandinavian voyagers often needed
to carry their possessions on their backs.

Across the world ,in a similarly frigid setting,

indigenous Arctic people also depend on backpacks
to haul their belongings. These two cultures provided
indispensable inspiration for later designers, whose
goal first & foremost was to engineer the most
practical & efficient mountaineering equipment.
 -The first step towards the
modern backpack came
from Henry Merriam. His
designs fused the two most
common designs : wood
frame & soft canvas. He
called his design knapsack
-Norwegian inventor Ole & had it patented in 1878.
Bergan had a eureka his designs were imperfect
moment while hunting in & showed the flaws of
1908.his soft sack was today’s bags although he
pressurising his shoulders. hoped that by using a metal
By bending a piece of sheet the bag can be kept
juniper wood into a away from the body .
keyhole shape following
the contours of his back,
Bergan hung his bag on his
shoulder while not
pressurising his back or
shoulders. Eventually he
transitioned to using light
tubular steel which became
popular & is still being
used.
Backpacks fall into 4 categories based on
their designs – Frameless , Sports , External
Frames & Internal Frames. A backpack
frame serves to support the pack and
distribute the weight of it’s contents across
the body more appropriately, by transferring
much of it’s weight to hips & legs. Most of
the weight is therefore taken off the shoulders
, reducing the chance of injury from shoulder
strap pressure as well as being less restrictive
of the upper body range of motion. Most
backpacks are capable of being closed with
either buckle mechanism , a zipper or a dry
bag type of closure while some have cords or
draw strings as well.
 1.The simplest backpack design is
the Frameless backpack with a bag
attached to a set of shoulder straps.
These bags are used for general
transportation of goods & have
variable capacities. They usually
have a main pocket with additional
pockets , straps & paddings.

2.Sports & Hydration backpacks are

smaller with a profile closer to body,
wider straps, water compartments &
pockets to carry the equipment. They
are widely used by sports person &
cyclists. Average water backpack can
hold up to 6-10 litre of water.

3.External Frame packs are made

to carry heavy loads giving the
wearer more support ,protection &
better weight distribution. These
are used by mountaineers &
military. The frame is usually made
with a light weight alloy like
aluminium or plastic as well.

4.The Internal Frame packs is

newer compared to others as it was
made in 1967 by Greg Lowe. It has
a large fabric section over the frame
inside
with straps running over. This bag
has been used as a replacement for
external frame bags widely.
In 1920 , Lloyd Nelson got inspired by the sealskin &
wood packs used by indigenous people in Alaska &
attempted to create his own version. Unaware of the
advanced ergonomic designs of the Bergan company,
Nelson sought to do something similar, albeit with a
wood frame instead of metal one. Named the Trapper
Pack , it was one of the first mass-produced backpacks
& was even featured in the first ever REI catalogue in
1939.

Leather ,Canvas, Wood & sometimes light steel

implements were used. In 1938, Jerry Cunningham
was the first one to add zippers on backpacks , in 1950,
Ake Nordin founded Fjallraven when he made a small
canvas bag that sat high & tight on wearer’s back & in
1952, Dick & Nina Kelty created light weight frame
bags.

Jerry’s Teardrop backpack launched in 1967 which

paved the way for nylon bags. 3 years later, a new
company called JanSport by Jan Lewis released their
ski & hike bag which was a huge success.
 1.Cordura – for the water
resistant, durable, abrasion
resistance fabrics of backpacks
can do no worse that use this
fabric. It is heavy & bulky & is
used as a base for backpacks
instead. Another form of it
called Kordra ,made in Korea
may also be used.

2.Cotton Canvas – years ago

this fabric was the choice of
fabric to make backpacks. The
only flaw it had was that in
spite of all the waterproofing, it
couldn’t withstand abrasions &
rotted when stored. It is still
used to make kid’s backpacks
& special bags however, wax
isn’t used anymore.

3.Nylon – nylon packs are

made with a PVC ,
Polyurethane coating or is
treated with silicone. This
makes the fabric more stronger
, durable & water resistant. It
protects the contents from
being wet, however, due to it
being not breathable , the
contents may or may not be
prone to mildew.
 4.Polyester Pack- polyester
is not as strong as Nylon nor
Ripstop Nylon material but
has a high resistance to UV
light degradation. continued
exposure can cause cracks
or tears while this fabric
resists that from happening
& adds extra protection.

5.PVC – PVC fabric is

durable , colourful & can be
used in all types of
workwear & workwear
products. It is thus used in
backpacks for these reasons.
This fabric is waterproof,
flame retardant, tear-
resistant & light to use.
Variation in colour has been
also seen in it.

6.Polyester- since 1970, it

was used to make backpacks
due to it’s durability, water
resistance & it’s quality for
not reacting to many
chemical & quick drying.
This fabric is also wrinkle
free & light weight.
 7.Polypropylene –this isn’t
used as often although it is
easy to melt & moulded even
while having a high melting
point, water & chemical
resistant & extremely
durable. Despite these factors
it is used in specific
applications.

8.Kodra Nylon- this fabric is

alternative for Cordura & it
originates from Korea. It is
mainly manufactured by
Asian factories one
prominent being Kolon
International who have been
producing it since 1950. this
fabric like others is abrasion
free.

9.PU Coated- PU or
Polyurethane coated fabric is
used to make the backpack
waterproof. One might see
the initials PU mentioned in
the specs after the material
name example : Nylon 500D
PU
 A hoodie is a sweatshirt or a
jacket with a hood. Hoodies
often include a muff sewn
onto the lower front, and a
drawstring to adjust the hood
opening. Hooded garments
have been a documented part
of men's and women's wear
for centuries. The word hood
derives from the Anglo-Saxon
word hōd, ultimately of the
Its appearance was known same root as an English hat.
in England at least as early The garment's style and form
as the 12th century, can be traced back to
possibly an import with the Medieval Europe when the
Norman conquest of normal clothing for monks
England, as the capa was a included a hood called a cowl
short hooded cloak which attached to a tunic or robes, &
was common in a chaperon or hooded cape
Normandy. was very commonly worn by
The hooded sweatshirt is a any outdoors worker.
utilitarian garment that
originated in the 1930s in
the US for workers in cold
New York warehouses.
The modern clothing style
was first produced by
Champion in the 1930s
and marketed to laborers
working in freezing
temperatures in upstate
New York. The term
hoodie entered popular
usage in the 1990s.
 The term celestial body is
as expansive as the entire
universe, both known &
unknown. A celestial body is
any natural body outside of
the Earth’s atmosphere
which includes stars, planets,
constellation & asteroid in
the space. The Kuiper belt
contains many a celestial
body. The Kuiper belt
contains many a celestial
body.

It is actually a disk-shaped
region in the outer solar
system lying beyond the
orbit of Neptune & extending
to a distance of about 50
astronomical units,
containing thousands of
small icy bodies , some of
which are on highly elliptical
orbits, periodically visiting
the inner solar system as
comets it is thought to be a
collection of the remnants of
the formation of the solar
system.
The hoodie took off in the 1970s, with several factors
contributing to its success. Hip hop culture developed in
New York City around this time and high fashion also
contributed during this era, as Norma Kamali & other
high-profile designers embraced and glamorized the new
clothing. Most critical to the hoodie's popularity during this
time was its iconic appearance in the blockbuster Rocky
film. At the same time, hoodies started emerging in the
Geek culture when Mark LoGiurato introduced them at
companies such as the Software Bottling Company. The rise
of hoodies with university logos began around this time. By
the 1990s, the hoodie had evolved into a symbol of
isolation, a statement of academic spirit, & several fashion
collections. The association with chavs or neds in the UK
developed around this time, as their popularity rose with
that specific demographic. Young men, often skateboarders
or surfers, sported the hoodie & spread the trend across the
western United States, most significantly in California.
Tommy Hilfiger, Giorgio Armani, & Ralph Lauren used
the hoodie as the primary component for many of their
collections in the 1990s. A crystal-studded hoodie made by
rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs was acquired by the Victoria
& Albert Museum in London.
 A star is a huge glowing ball of
hot gas, mainly of Hydrogen &
Helium. The temperature is so
high inn its core that nuclear
fusion occurs, producing energy.
The outward pressure of gas
heated by fusion is balanced by
the inward pull of gravity,
leaving the star in Hydrostatic equilibrium. This
balance of forces lasts for most of a star’s life,
maintaining its steady temperature. Radiation &
convection carry the energy from the core out
through a star’s atmosphere. When the energy gets
high enough in the atmosphere that the region
above it is transparent, it escapes out into space as
light of all wave-lengths as well as stellar wind.
Though stars may appear static, they rotate & vary
in luminosity. There are hundreds of billions of
stars in the Milky Way Galaxy alone. Among them
is sun, the closest star to Earth. There are different
types of constellations in these galaxies as well
that light up the universe & hold a mythical
significance likewise.
 A constellation is a group of
stars that forms an imaginary
outline or pattern on the
celestial sphere, typically
representing an animal,
mythological person or creature, god or an inanimate
object. The origins of the earliest constellations likely
go back to prehistory. People used them to relate
stories of their beliefs , experiences , creation or
mythology. Different cultures & countries adopted
their own constellations, some of which lasted into the
early 20th century before today’s constellations were
internationally recognized. The 48 traditional western
constellations are Greek. 12 ancient constellations
belong to the zodiac. Their origin however remains
uncertain. Ancient sky watchers imagined that
prominent arrangements of stars formed patterns
which they associated with particular aspects of nature
& their myths. 12 of these formations lay along the
band of ecliptic & became bases of astrology while
many more prominent ones were named mainly in
Arabic or Latin. Other patterns are called asterisms
are not constellations per se as they are used for
navigation.
 1. Leo: Leo is one of the
constellations of the zodiac,
lying between Cancer the crab
to the west and Virgo the
maiden to the east

2. Virgo: Virgo is one of the

constellations of the zodiac. Its
name is Latin for virgin.

3. Libra: Libra is a
constellation of the zodiac. Its
name is Latin for weighing
scales, and its symbol is too.

4. Scorpius : Scorpius is one

of the constellations of the
zodiac. Its name is Latin for
scorpion, and its symbol is
too.
 5. Aries: Aries is one of the
constellations of the zodiac. It
is located in the northern
celestial hemisphere.

6. Taurus: Taurus is one of the

constellations of the zodiac,
which means it is crossed by
the plane of the ecliptic.

7. Gemini: Gemini is one of

the constellations of the zodiac.
It was one of the 48
constellations described by the
2nd century AD astronomer
Ptolemy.

8. Cancer: Cancer is one

of the twelve
constellations of the
zodiac. Its name is Latin
for crab and it is
commonly represented as
one.
 9. Sagittarius: Sagittarius is
one of the constellations of the
zodiac. Its name is Latin for the
archer, & its symbol is, a
stylized arrow.

10. Capricornus: Capricornus is

one of the constellations of the
zodiac. Its name is Latin for
"horned goat“.

11. Aquarius: Aquarius is a

constellation of the zodiac,
situated between Capricornus
& Pisces. Its name is Latin for
water-carrier.

12. Pisces: Pisces is a

constellation of the zodiac. Its
name is the Latin plural for
fish.
An aurora referred to as polar lights, northern lights -
aurora borealis ,southern lights - aurora australis. It’s a
natural light display in the Earth's sky, mainly seen in the
high-latitude regions which are the result of disturbance in
the magnetosphere due to solar wind. This disturbance is
sometimes strong enough to alter the trajectories of charged
particles in both solar wind & magnetospheric plasma.
Particles of electrons & protons, precipitate into the upper
atmosphere. The resulting ionization & excitation of
atmospheric constituents emit light of varying colour &
complexity. The form of the aurora is also dependent on the
amount of acceleration imparted to the precipitating
particles. Precipitating protons generally produce optical
emissions as incident hydrogen atoms after gaining
electrons from the atmosphere. Proton auroras occur at
lower latitudes. Most auroras occur in a band known as the
auroral zone. A region that currently displays an aurora is
called the auroral oval.
The varying intensity of the solar wind produces effects of
different magnitudes but includes one or more of the
following physical scenarios. The details of these
phenomena are not fully understood. However, it is clear
that the prime source of auroral particles is the solar wind
feeding the magnetosphere, the reservoir containing the
radiation zones and temporarily magnetically-trapped
particles confined by the geomagnetic field, coupled with
particle acceleration processes. According to Clark (2007),
there are four main forms that can be seen from the ground,
from least to most visible. The colours of these Auroras
may also vary depending on different factors likewise.
 1. Red: excited atomic
oxygen emits at low
concentration of atoms &
lower sensitivity of eyes at
this wavelength make this
colour visible only under
more intense solar activity.
The low number of oxygen
atoms & their gradient is
responsible for the faint
appearance of the top parts of
the curtains.

2. Ultraviolet: UV radiation
from auroras (within the optical
window but not visible to
virtually all humans) has been
observed with the requisite
equipment. Ultraviolet auroras
have also been seen on Mars,
Jupiter & Saturn.

3. Green: A high
concentration of atomic
oxygen & higher eye
sensitivity in green make
green auroras the most
common. The excited
molecular nitrogen transfers
energy by colliding to an
oxygen atom radiating it at
green wavelength.
 4. Infrared: Infrared
radiation, in wavelengths that
are within the optical
window, is also part of many
auroras.

5. Blue: on lower altitudes,

atomic oxygen is uncommon,
& nitrogen & ionized
nitrogen take over in
producing visible light
emission, radiating large
number of wavelengths in
both red & blue parts of the
spectrum. Blue and purple
emissions ,typically at the
lower edges of the curtains
show up at the highest levels
of solar activity much faster.

6. Yellow & pink: these are a

mix of red & green or blue.
yellow-green is moderately
common. This is a
combination of primary
coloured auroras.
 +

=
For the mashup I decided to take the hood part from
hoodies & the pattern inspired from zodiac constellations
& fuse it all on a backpack. The pattern will be made from
motifs which will be developed , generated & inspired
from the constellations while the colour scheme will be
taken from the Northern Lights – Auroras. This project is
an amalgamation of three ideas on one pre existing
content to make something which is fairly new to the
market. I took hoodies, zodiac constellations & Auroras as
my re-content because I personally connect to the subject.
With this fusion I tried to justify the needs of a modern
day student with a busy fast track life.
1.what is your age? *
•13-19
•20-28
•28 above
2. what do you do? *
•student
•professional
•business
•Other:
3.do you/ have you use backpacks *
•yes
•no
4.how frequently do you use a backpack? *
•regularly - frequently
•sometimes - rarely
•never
5.while buying a backpack what do you keep in mind?
*
•usage and utility
•style and trends
•colors , prints and purpose
6.according to you how many types of backpacks are
there? *
•only 1
•2-5
•more than 5
•indecisive/don't know
7.how much are you willing to pay for a multipurpose
backpack? *
•500-2000
•2000-5000
•more than 5000
•depends on brand
8.according to you what should a backpack's purpose
be? *
• easy to carry for wearer
• resourceful and to be able to carry the stuff
• to be durable and not easy wear and tear
• should be trendy and stylish
• all of the above

9.which one of these categories of backpack would you

prefer to buy? *
• waterproof
• strong and durable
• eye catchy and different
10.would you consider backpacks as the best bag style
for daily usage? *
• Yes
• No
 The trend that began on
college campuses eventually
spread to much younger
students. It’s hard to believe,
but before the dawn of the
book bag, students had far fewer options when it came to
transporting their books and possessions to school. Book
straps or grownup briefcases were the best bets for a
student who didn’t want to just carry their stuff freehand.
Caribou & L.L. Bean both released backpacks to
compete with the early success of JanSport’s first
offering, but by the early 2000s, it was all JanSport.
Mainly, it was models based on the above “Spring
Break” which was first released in 1984 & modified over
the years. They used to be carried by the slightly
awkward-looking kids in the school playground or hikers
& were much more likely to be sported by men than
women. Fashion searches for rucksacks are up 37%
month-on-month, according to global fashion search
platform List. In the UK the annual amount spent on
backpacks has risen every year since 2014 when,
according to global market research company
Euromonitor International, the retail spend was £112m &
in 2019 figure is £219.5m.
Everyone knows a bit of astronomy. Indeed, amongst
all the sciences, astronomy has more followers than
any other field. As a subject of no direct utility, this
is an impressive achievement. Astronomy is
certainly fascinating. To think beyond ourselves and
our Earth, to reach the truly unreachable has a
certain fascination. Galileo showed the moons of
Jupiter’s going around Jupiter and angered a lot of
people by suggesting that the Earth may not be the
centre of the Universe. Astronomy in the 21st
century is, of course, very different. Using
electromagnetic radiation, radio waves and gamma
rays, and beyond that to neutrinos and particles, the
insights that we have gained into the zoo of celestial
bodies in our universe is very different. These
gigantic objects with their own control on space and
time, their beginning and their end, make the story
of astronomy today far more exciting.
The aurora borealis – otherwise known as the
northern lights – is a vivid demonstration of the
Earth's magnetic field interacting with charged
particles from the sun. It's also beautiful, and worth
braving a cold night out when visiting the high
northern (or southern) latitudes. They have a
magical and mythical significance likewise thus
making them very intriguing and fascinating. It is like
a light show put up by the earth with colours,
movements & sounds as well. Thus, it is extremely
fascinating to see how nature & Earth can play
together with science to bring such amusement to life.
While hoodies did have couch-comfy connotations to them
for a long time, they’ve worked their way up to become a
fashion staple. From celebrities to regular Joes, everyone
loves a funky hoodie. In fact, hoodies are now more than just
a fashion choice; they’ve also become a symbol of self-
expression & personal style. People can express their views
through statement hoodies while making a style choice.
Seeing its potential, designers and sellers are expanding on
the different styles & designs of hoodies, thus adding to its
popularity. Having come a long way, it’d be difficult to find
someone who doesn’t have a hoodie as part of their
wardrobe. One of the reasons why everyone perpetually loves
hoodies is because they’re so ultra-cozy & comfortable.
Having a soft hoodie completely engulf upper body can
instantly make feel pampered and warm. As far as comfort is
concerned, hoodies top the list, making it incredibly popular
amongst all. Since hoodies are available in a wide variety of
different designs, they’re the ultimate versatile and multi-
functional clothing choice. A hoodie can complement a
number of outfits. Whether you’re going to a basketball
match, to the gym, running some errands, or even for a night
out in town, hoodies can work well with different options.
This module & project helped me learn how to study a
subject in depth & change little things about it to
formulate a new subject. This also enabled me to explore
how to combine two pre-existing ideas to make a new
idea. While working on this project I got an opportunity
to dwell into the places & ideas I did not before & it also
made me explore my options & how I can work with
three different subject to amalgamate into one.
Due to this project I got to work with the products &
phenomenon that I am fascinated about & connect to as
hoodies & backpacks both are very much my aesthetics.
I tried to redefine two most comfortable things in my
own way by compounding two completely different
topics.
During this research I learnt a lot about backpacks,
hoodies & our universe. Coming to the re-content was a
process of brainstorming a lot as I had a lot of thoughts I
wanted to work with but I settled for top picks. I got a
chance to explore areas & challenge my skills up to
which I could work & study. I developed motifs, made
patterns & made the swatches using heat transfer. In my
explorations I tried to experiment with placements &
colours of the pattern.
While working on this project was exciting & intriguing,
it was not a cake walk throughout. I had to face a few
challenges & hurdles as well. I faced creative block at so
many times however, because of these situations I also
got to hone my brainstorming, problem solving &
management skills.
Overall it was a great experience working on this subject
& I would like to thank our mentor for mentoring me
throughout the project.
Websites & articles:

1.www.google.com
2.www.googleimages.com
3.www.googledocuments.com
4.www.Wikipedia.com
5.www.hoodies-galore.com
6.www.popoptiq.com
7.www.nasa.gov
8.www.quora.com
9.www.learnastronomyhq.com
10.www.dnaindia.com
11.www.khanacademy.org
12.www.universetoday.com
13.www.backpacks.com
14.www.expertworldtravel.com
15.www.theguardian.com
16.www.handbags.lovetoknow.cm
17.www.materials.eng
18.www.paccana.com
19.www.travelaway.com
20.www.medium.com
21.www.theatlantic.com
22.www.urby.com

Books :
1.Handbags through ages
2.Handbag Mania
3.Accessories Dictionary