Students design inclusive toolbelts for tradies

Students design inclusive toolbelts for tradies

RMIT fashion design and trades students have collaborated to design a series of gender diverse toolbelts, addressing the need for more inclusive trade wear for women and gender diverse people.

If you’re looking for a toolbelt for women, you’d be lucky not to get a slew of standard toolbelts in pink. One step up from that are the toolbelts simply manufactured in a smaller size.

Only about 3% of tradies are women and there are many barriers to women entering this sector, including flexibility for women with caring responsibilities, women’s toilets in TAFEs and uniforms that fit. While issues like this may seem small, they can be a daily, major irritant to women in trades.

Melissa Tinetti, Director, Built Environment and Sustainability at RMIT has personal experience of this. 

“From my experience as a woman in the construction industry it has always been a challenge to find suitable toolbelts and, at times, even clothing,” Tinetti said.

27 March 2023

Share

toolbelt-1 Close-up of the toolbelt which was inspired by the straps on a hiking backpack.

RMIT fashion student Charlotte Hunter, who designed a toolbelt inspired by the straps on a hiking backpack, added as the trade industry becomes more gender diverse so too must the workwear.

“Coming from a female perspective, toolbelts currently available in the market are not designed for my type of figure,” Hunter said. 

“Their anchor points are predominantly around the hips and slide down with any excess weight.”  

For non-male bodies, this uneven weight distribution could cause injury if worn for long periods of time.

To mitigate the potential for injury and design a toolbelt that works on a wider array of figures, Hunter decided to work with two major anchor points on the shoulders and waist. 

“The symmetric design allows for even weight distribution and by anchoring around the waist of a feminine figure, the belt will not slide down and potentially cause injury.”

toolbelt-8 The symmetric design of the belt allows for even weight distribution, helping to prevent injury.

As part of the project, fashion design and plumbing trades students discussed their ideas. 

Sebastian La Rocca, Program Manager for Plumbing and Carpentry, was blown away by the innovative designs.

“The students really captured the essence of a toolbelt and reimagined it in so many different ways, I would love to see some of these concepts become reality,” La Rocca said. 

While there are no plans to take these designs to market yet, it has pushed the students to think differently about how our everyday tools and clothes can be better designed with diversity in mind.

“This has shown me we don’t have to just accept what already exists, we can adapt and change products to make people’s lives easier and more productive,” Hunter said. 

“By paying attention to the needs of the wearer, a new and necessary product can be created. With this fresh lens on design, I can bring initiative to my final year of study and hopefully solve problems and fill gaps in any market.”

 

Story: Thomas Odell

27 March 2023

Share

  • Design
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
  • fashion
  • Property & Construction
Engage

Related News

streaming-industries-genres-network-1220x732.jpg

10 Years of Netflix in Australia

Netflix launched 10 years ago.

Female student holding screwdriver and examining machine

What is RMIT’s new ‘Earn and Learn’ model?

RMIT has begun delivering a unique 'Earn and Learn’ model, where students gain their qualification while working full-time with an industry partner.

Panel members on stage at the Capitol.

RMIT University brings together industry and government to address Australia’s skills crisis

This week, RMIT hosted an industry forum 'Addressing the Skills Crisis with Innovative Education Models', bringing together industry, government and civil society to discuss how the tertiary education sector can help meet Australia’s workforce challenges now and into the future.

Close up of person in yellow smock sitting in wheelchair with purple paint on its wheels

Exploring accessibility and allyship through art

A 4.2-meter-long textured fabric artwork with accompanying vinyl decal has been installed at the City campus as an expression of accessibility, belonging and allyship through the lens of students who are d/Deaf, Disabled, and living with disability.

Show more
aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information