The Talus Pants

︎How might we blend current fashion aesthetics with current performance tech?

Designing the Talus Pants was an exploration in merging nostalgic outdoor style with modern functionality. I began by studying early-2000s outdoor silhouettes—baggy, utilitarian, and abrasion-resistant—then refined them with technical updates for today’s climbers. Forward-tapered seams, gusseted structure, and low-profile pockets brought performance, while a nylon belt closure and tonal colorblocking drew from heritage aesthetics. Prototyping revealed how small shifts in waistband shaping, ankle adjustments, and material weight could balance comfort with durability. Through iteration, I answered the question by creating pants that honour retro outdoor culture while performing to current technical standards—bridging past and present in a single garment.

︎Research

︎Exploration of Key Features Found in Leading Climbing/Hiking Pants

Each aspect was scored on a scale of 0-5

︎Example of Pockets Being Blocked on Original G Pants by Gramicci

︎ Competitor Analysis

︎ Exploration in Body Movement in Climbing

︎ Mood Board

︎Ideation/Prototypes

︎Thumbnail Sketches

Pen, Marker & Paper.

︎In-House Sewn Prototypes

Patern Made from Scratch

After sewing these prototypes, they were rigorously tested, climbing in the Bugaboos Provincial Park, BC, and canyoneering in Escalante. After this, I felt ready to combine them into a tech pack. (Use Scroll Bar On Right For PDF)

︎Results from Initial Tech Pack Sent to 4 Factories

Factories Selected Using Alibaba B2B Platform

︎Proceeding With Factory A

Sample 2 Was Rigerously Field Tested:
100miles of the AZT, North Rim Yosemite 5-day, Climbing in Squamish ~25Days

︎Factory A Sample 3

Closing in on Final Features

Colour analysis from 3.4 Ropstop Nylon Taslan Suplex Cards

*No tech pack or spec sheet was needed; only slight changes were communicated over WhatsApp to the factory.