Central Michigan and Reebok Team Up to Design Athletic Apparel
Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Rather than rushing out and buying the latest athletic gear, students at Central Michigan University are helping design it. Reebok, one of the leading athletic apparel companies in the world, is teaming up with students from CMU’s apparel design and engineering programs to conceive and create protective gear for the athletes of the future.
The project gives the students the freedom to design any type of garment, using any kind of material, with no budgetary concerns. Reebok, who makes the uniforms and apparel worn by players and coaches in the NFL, NBA and NHL, has opened the project to any athletic pastime.
“We’re challenging you to come up with something crazy,” Reebok senior designer Boris Esterkes told students during a presentation. “Think about protective, breathable clothing, using the garment while playing sports as well as traveling, driving or something completely different. Go outside the box and think about it.”
As part of the project, CMU students will have access to the university’s body scanner. The only one of its kind in the state, the scanner measure’s 300,000 data points on the human body, creating a three-dimensional image in a matter of seconds. The image can then be used to design customized clothing.
“We’re combining aesthetics with technology in a way to make the clothing functional and still marketable,” says Mitzi Cook, the assistant professor who will be teaching the functional apparel design course.
“It’s great that Reebok sees our program as having something unique to offer,” adds Dr. Maureen MacGillivray, a professor in the apparel merchandising department. “We are one of only a few schools that integrate cutting-edge technology in an undergraduate curriculum. This is a great opportunity for the design students to work with the engineering students to create innovative solutions for Reebok.”
