WHO ARE WE?

We are a group of 4 strong and independent women who are actively changing the world as we know it. Coming from 3 separate disciplines at university, Masters of design technology, industrial design and fashion design. We were paired together in a collaborative studio with RMIT University,  titled “Contre Culture - 2019 Bio-Design challenge.” Our mission and aim were to use living things, synthetic biology and nature, to solve a world problem, big or small. Through important design research, brainstorming and critical thinking, we decided our aim for this project was to solve an everyday problem we see more and more of on the streets of Melbourne, and that is a part of homelessness, which is rough sleepers, and their sleeping conditions.

Our goals and objectives with this exciting and innovative approach to this project included getting in direct contact with many Australian organisations who are in direct contact with the current population of homeless rough sleepers in the city of Melbourne's CBD. With the information, discussions, and various emails, we understood what the main problems they are facing, and began to directly brainstorm ways that we could begin to help the sleeping situation of these rough sleeping situation on the streets. Our idea: a hydrophobic sleeping bag, called the “bio-cocoon” a waterproof and warm new innovative textile, which is sewn into a sleeping bag to give anyone who gets in it, the best possible nights sleep. Keeping them dry and warm in the temperamental weather that Melbourne presents, as well as Australia and the rest of the world. We want this to be a revolutionary thing for those who are without a roof over their head not just in Melbourne but expand to Australia and the rest of the world to refugee shelters, and to all those who may need this.