SAFE:
Secure Apparel For Essentials

by Annabelle Sghabi

Abstract

The SAFE (Secure Apparel for Essentials) project emerges a creative solution inspired by the realities of daily life as a young refugee. Founded in a strong commitment to provide a sense of security, ownership and cognitive dignity for the individual, this design concept attempts to go beyond simply aesthetics. Instead, it explores the multiple avenues of psychological reasoning and understanding, finding a suitable material choice and creating a product which can be used in multiple ways to suit multiple people’s needs.

A design-led research approach was adopted, further informing the direction, design decisions and outcomes. Understanding the psychological reasoning behind human behaviors under stress and traumatic experiences was used as a catalyst to ideate design solutions to combat this issue and help individuals feel a sense of belonging and positive mental well-being. Through further research, a holistic understanding of the day-to-day lives of both refugee and homeless individuals was obtained, and this was used to inspire the physical requirements of the design solution through an innovative range of textile outcomes. Adopting fabric as the primary material allowed for quick iterative design and user testing, combatting issues surrounding the security of personal belongings by putting them on the body. High numbers of displaced young people are often left to figure out life independently. Implementing the SAFE design concept will be one step closer to improving the lives of those struggling.

Design Intent

Secure Apparel For Essentials- Designed for refugees and young displaced individuals, ‘SAFE’ is a range of apparel and accessories to house personal belongings and keep them secure on the body, improving a sense of ownership, well-being and cognitive dignity.

Inspired by the turmoil and chaos of the current refugee crisis going on in the world, this design-led research project aims to start a conversation about designing for those in immediate need and removing the barrier between stereotypes and understanding the needs of displaced people who need support. This project intends to recognise the link between the psychological needs of individuals in crisis and a creative design solution to provide a cohesive product which could be used and improve the lives of people whose lives have been changed forever. This project also highlights the need for creating conversation surrounding this need and the possible design intervention for displaced people and how innovative textile practices can create solutions to the needs of people struggling all across the world. By keeping innovative practices in mind, adopting the use of the CLO3D software created an opportunity for quick textile iterations and renders, creating a stronger relevance of the project to the industrial design industry and providing a precedence for further soft goods design through using fashion software’s.

Young individual’s face further adverse effects from becoming a refugee and fleeing their home, the inclusion of small personal belongings mean so much more and create a sense of purpose and belonging. Through the chaos of fleeing and living in a refugee camp, items can be lost easily which creates a higher stress and anxiety around the entire situation, leading to adverse overall health effects.

This design intervention of secure pouches, apparel and the SAFE bag is intended to improve a sense of belonging and cognitive dignity by keeping important and sentimental items secure and safe on the body.

“Today, 1.5% of the world’s population is displaced (UNHCR. 2024). By comparison, Australia makes up only 0.33% of the global population. There are five times as many displaced people worldwide than there are people in Australia. These are the highest numbers of displacement in recorded history – a significant call for justice and compassion that demands our attention.”

“Their objects are expressions of their lived experiences and personal narrative” (Masego Katisi et al., 2024)

Bio

Annabelle is a product designer who is passionate about human centred design that will make a difference in people lives. She believes design is a unique tool to help better people’s lives through innovative and creative skills including problem solving and attention to detail. Annabelle is a designer who is committed to utilising her technical design skills as well as empathetic communication skills to find opportunities to bring together a fully realised and beautifully designed products. Her design experience in ceramics, woodwork, recycled plastics and textiles creates further opportunity for multi-material and a variety of design outcomes.

Annabelle is very passionate about helping others and using design as a vessel for good in the world, using technical applications and problem-solving skills to find solutions for issues surrounding refugees and displaced peoples and applying sustainable practices. Through her love for volunteering and giving back to the community, Annabelle is determined to show others that design is a powerful tool for those who are struggling.

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