When I thought about the mission or OrtaBlue to design uniforms for children in Sierra Leone I really felt like I was contributing to a wonderful cause. I had to think of a number of things when designing them and had to remember key elements. I wanted the uniforms to be able to be worn by various age groups and sizes. They had to be durable, easy to put on, easy to breathe, and also to grow in. I added many elements of pockets and drawstrings to help with this. The drawstrings allow the uniforms to be worn by a child for many years and to pass on to another child if need be. This way the child can grow into it, and then keep it for longer. I also added drawstrings at the bottom of pants so that they can convert to shorts so that they can be worn in all types of weather. Pockets were also added in many places for safe keeping of all types of handy school gear.
My goal in designing these uniforms was to provide a fresh look for a necessary item. I added pops of color and the reverse side of the denim on the collars and piping. The little details brighten up the looks and add something different to the uniform. I was inspired by the children of Sierra Leone and different types of childrens’ wear and uniforms. I wanted to produce something that can really be useful but be aesthetically pleasing to wear and look at.