From March to June, 15 students from ENSCI – Les Ateliers, the institution leading the study project, took part in the UPWEARS project workshop, a student design exploration developed in partnership with INRAE, acting as ENSCI’s partner and initiator of the research theme. Supervised by Niels Heymans and Justyna Swat, and coordinated by Christine Moriceau, the project brought together students from diverse backgrounds and all years of study.
Over the first three months, students were engaged 50% of their time, developing research-driven concepts through experimentation with materials, forms and uses. During the final month, they worked full-time, refining their proposals into functional prototypes and speculative design scenarios.
Their projects question conventional sportswear codes and open new perspectives on cycling apparel, accessories and systems : from urban mobility to off-road practices, from individual experience to environmental responsibility. Together, these works illustrate the richness of design-led research within UPWEARS, where creativity, sustainability and technical exploration come together to imagine the future of bio-based performance wear.
This project has received funding from the Horizon Europe programme under grant agreement No 101130741. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, the Horizon Europe or the HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
