Tote Bag Design
Congo Clothing Company
Background
Congo Clothing Company
Fashion company looking to bring awareness to sexual violence happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The company is partnered with Panzi Hospital which runs sewing classes for the survivors to help them learn skills and gain financial freedom. A third of the profits from the Congo Clothing Company goes to buying sewing machines for the survivors. Currently, all the apparel for the company is made in Columbia but they are looking to have at least one item created by the survivors in the Democratic Republic of Congo that they can sell. We have now partnered with them to help determine and design what this new item will be.
Stakeholders & Target Users
User Profile
Design Requirements
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Original/Unique
How is it different than other tote bags?
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Functional/Utitlitarian
Still must be something people want to use, not just fashionable.
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Easily Producible
Survivors must be able to make quality tote bags.
Prototyping/Analysis
Initial Prototype
This was one of our first tote bag designs based on the survey data we received. We wanted to test the pocket within the bag as well as if the bag could be reversible. Our client requested that the bag could be reversible so that the interior could have a pattern native to the Congo while the outside could be a more neutral design. The initial comments were that the bag was too small and the handles were too short. We hope to address these concerns in the next iteration as well as testing how a different interior pattern may look.
Survey Data
We surveyed 153 people to determine the needs and desires someone has when shopping for a tote bag. We asked a variety of different things but the two main things we learned were that people really wanted a pocket with their tote bag, and the tote bag shape (Number 4) is by far the most desirable.
Testing Various Prototypes
We then did in-person testing with a variety of different tote bag prototypes we had made as well as purchased tote bags. We wanted to get opinions on sizing, handle strap length, color, texture, reversibility, and pockets. People wanted a longer strap than initial prototype and a larger bag in general, specifically to accommodate their laptop. Black and Plain Canvas were the most popular choices but the idea of having a colorful interior was very well received. We took these responses to help develop our final design and then make a tote bag as a proof of concept.
Final Survey
During our final survey, we wanted to get as many opinions on which colors, styles, and patterns people preferred. We polled 181 people and came to the conclusion that the most preferred bag design would be a black canvas with a colorful pattern on the inside. The results from this survey can be seen below.
Proof of Concept
We were unable to get the materials needed to make our preferred design with the correct fabric, however, we still made a tote bag with the same features as a proof of concept. This bag has longer handles than before, a patterned inside, a larger interior pocket, and it is reversible. There is also a variation of the DRC Flag which is on everything sold by the Congo Clothing Company. This is the exact bag that will be manufactured by the survivors in the DRC, except different materials will be used. The final design can be seen in the next section along with the final sewing manual which we have generated to help teach the survivors the process to make this bag.