Barebag Series
Fashionable Prosthetics for BareBag
BareBag is a series of wearable accessories for people with limited use of their arms or hands, like those who've had an injury or amputation. BareBag's innovatively engineered anti-swing hook imperceptibly integrates into a fashion accessory, allowing users to hang any bag right at their waist without using their hands. Its ButterSlide technology also enables users to adjust the strap with just one hand effortlessly. BareBag is designed to make life easier for anyone who needs their hands free, offering a smart way to boost independence and improve the quality of life for its users.
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Barebag Series by Ke Zheng
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Fashionable Prosthetics by Ke Zheng
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Ke Zheng Barebag Series
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Ke Zheng Fashionable Prosthetics
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BareBagBrand Logo
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Unique Properties
BareBag represents a universal, integrated solution for limited mobility and functionality for the millions of upper limb injured/amputees, who often struggle to carry their belongings and perform daily tasks with one hand. With versatile bag hooks integrated into cross-body fashion accessories, users can comfortably carry all types of bags at their waist hands-free. By solving a universal problem of busy hands, BareBag promotes social equity and improves the life quality for its users.
Tags
Bag, Prosthetic, Fashion, Lifestyle, Assistive, Wallet, Amputee, Inclusive, Adaptive
Production Technology
BareBag is modularly assembled with a soft leather exterior and hard 3D-printed recycled PLA hook prosthetics. The modularity allows quick adaptation to configuration, and separate cleaning and recycling at the end of its life cycle. Its sustainable rPET strap is equipped with a 3D-printed slider specially engineered to enable smooth adjustment with one hand.
Design Challenge
The two main challenges during BareBag's development are maintaining the balance and stability of both BareBag and the carried bags, and inventing a strap slider mechanism for smooth one-hand adjustment. The wide-body hooks minimize bag-swinging or escaping while allowing the bag to slide in easily. BareBag's slider is re-engineered with a butterfly locking mechanism that allows the user to unlock with a simple pull, effortlessly adjust with one hand, and lock with a simple pinch. We iterated more than 50 prototypes to perfect the user experience.
Project Duration
BareBag started in January 2023 in New York City and finished in December 2023 in New York City
Operation Flow
By putting BareBag on like a cross-body bag, it blends into your style while being a prosthetic. With only one hand, unlock the strap slider by folding it up, and effortlessly slide it to adjust the strap length to fit your body. When you have bags to carry, simply hook the bag onto the integrated hook and let it grab the bags for you at waist level comfortably and stably, so your hands can be free to do more.
Research
BareBag is a novel integration that differentiates itself from both fashion accessories and prosthetics. The research for active annual demand from disabled users resulted in more than 3.77 million people in the US alone. BareBag's development went through a 6-month user testing phase with more than 50 prototypes, optimizing the reliability, stability, ease of use, aesthetics, and sustainability.
Inspiration
BareBag started with a bike accident that broke one of its founder's arms. This sudden shift in life quality made him realize how inconvenient it is to do everything with only one hand. Especially when doing dumb labor like carrying bags, he had no hands to even use a phone. However, all the bag carriers on the market are bulky and make the user's disability more visible. BareBag's mission is then set to be an everyday fashion accessory that imperceptively becomes the user's additional hand.
Project Overview
Barebag Series Fashionable Prosthetics has been a Silver winner in the Fashion and Travel Accessories Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.
Image Credits
For design images and photos please credit Ke Zheng.
Silver Recognition
Ke Zheng was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Barebag Series Fashionable Prosthetics.
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