Sept. 21, 2009
Five students taking a Functional Clothing Design course at the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Menomonie designed a product that will help eliminate suspension trauma for individuals working in the construction industry.
Their design, which they call “suspension pants,” earned them first place honors in the 2009 Safety Products Student Design Challenge, sponsored by the Industrial Fabrics Association International and the Narrow Fabrics Institute.
The five students, who are studying apparel design and development at the university, are Amy Alderete of Minneapolis, Deanna Badman of Lake Elmo, Minn., Stephanie Fitzgerald of Winfield, Ill., Sarah Lafata of Chicago and Laura Schannach of Eagan, Minn.
Another team of UW-Stout apparel design and development students placed third. Their design, which they call “Aegis Seal,” is a coat with an incorporated flotation system, which can be worn by commercial fishermen.
The team members are Tanya Hribal of Menomonie, Sara Houghtaling of Menomonie, Stephanie McKenna, Ellie Rivkin of Menomonie and Jenna Stobbe of Berlin, Wis.
A team from the University of Illinois Mechanical Engineering Department placed second in the competition.
For more information, contact Gindy Neidermyer, program director and assistant professor of apparel design and development, at neidermyerg@uwstout.edu or 715-232-1106.
