HanesBrands | Project No Wash

Keith Amboya, Nenfot Goyol, Noelle Arpea, Shannon Sefton

To help combat the environmental impacts of home laundering, Hanesbrands Inc. and Champion tasked our group with modifying the Champion Powerblend hoodie to withstand being worn longer between washes.

Because the Powerblend hoodie is such an iconic staple item in the Champion brand, we had to ensure that the essence of the classic Powerblend hoodie was left intact. That meant maintaining the comfort, aesthetic and price of the existing product.

As a result, some of our proposed changes, such as detachable parts of the hoodie or a cuff taper to reduce the possibility of staining on the sleeves, were ruled out due an increase in production costs or a decrease in comfort of the hoodie. We had to learn to simultaneously prioritize form and function. Throughout our project, we not only performed testing to ensure the efficacy of our changes in decreasing the need for washing – such as stain resistance, reduced bacterial content and increased breathability – but also to ensure that the comfort and durability of the garment remained uncompromised.

Our final prototype is a hoodie treated with BacShield antimicrobial finish on the inside and Daikin Unidyne XF 5003 stain resistant finish on the outside. We added a breathable underarm panel constructed from a knitted mock mesh. We also placed a decorative tag prominently on the garment to remind the wearer of the “wash less” capabilities of the hoodie. The resulting prototype will not need to be washed as frequently as the existing Powerblend hoodie, while still maintaining the product’s reputation for comfort and affordability.