Minimalist packing utility

Elena from Osàre! Editions and senscommon designer, Laura, had met numerous times at parties and shared an intuitive understanding - aka the sens-common about the lack of modular and durable storage accessories for the night birds and anyone who has grown out of a bumbag.

Taking advantage of all the time on their hands while social life and clubbing were at a halt, Laura and Elena got together in Amsterdam and went through an exciting ideation process where both - the movement and performance of the cross-over modules were studied.

They asked themselves: what can grown-up ravers, including themselves, wear? What makes an elegant storage accessory? Is blue the new black? How can utility be solved through modularity?

They decided to work with a unique dart and fabric-gathering technique that allows the cross-over modules fit all sorts of objects while appear compact and light when not filled. Instead of narrowing down the ideas to one design, the project became as modular as offering you a choice of 3 different sets of modules as well as the possibility to wear them with two different belts - one sturdy and one elastic.

The safety aspect was solved by the innovative construction as well as the size of the modules. And while smart packing is an essential part of going out, it is by no means exclusive — the cross-over modules, as a solution, make sense on a daily commute and travel too.

As with all senscommon creations, the right textile was the crucial point of departure. Whether you are commuting in the rain or raving at a festival, any bag will see a fair share of wear. Laura and Elena knew the cross-body modules required a truly life-resistant, technical material so they went for a waterproof, soft and matte recycled 3-layer polyester, providing a responsible alternative to virgin synthetics, without compromising on performance and durability.

Coated with Teflon - a PFOA and PFOS-free repellent to fend-off any sort of drinks and liquids and protect your belongings during your wildest adventures.

As the chosen textile for the cross-over modules was sourced from Taiwan, the project’s manufacturing was decided to be kept “local”. With this project, senscommon intentionally highlights the prejudice regarding “Made in China”.

Since the effects of globalisation have let a handful of Asian countries specialise in synthetics, their manufacturing and recycling, it is a region that concentrates the relevant technology and manual expertise of technical garments and accessories.

Remember how the entire world was dependent on China for PPE during the pandemic? That was not because masks and gloves are of lesser quality than other textile products, but because since about 4 decades, China is simply the biggest supplier of virgin synthetics, their manufacturing and currently practically the only region in the world specialising in recycling synthetics at scale. Working with both virgin and recycled synthetics is a complex science and craft, demanding testing and expertise - something senscommon likes to reward.

So senscommon + Osàre! Editions, Laura and Elena, decided to leave it to the experts and reached out to a friend in Hong Kong - a Central St Martins graduate and techwear designer himself, who's factory Ningwoo Ltd. in Quanzhou City, China, specialises in technical products. With his expertise and feedback during product testing at the factory, the cross-over modules were assembled with best practice and quality standards you’d expect from the brand.