A new language for rainwear
Weather Underground was an independent rainwear label founded by Verena Michels. Its first product, CAPEBAG, brought together the ease of a rain poncho and the silhouette of an oversized fashion piece. Made from a plant-based film, it folded into its own hood and could be carried like a bag.
I developed CAPEBAG from material research through prototyping, production and launch. Working with a German packaging manufacturer, I translated a material usually used outside fashion into a wearable product. Ultrasonically welded seams provided rain protection, while custom-made compostable stickers offered a simple way to repair small punctures.
The first collection appeared in monochrome black and white and a graphic two-tone edition. Designed for repeated use, CAPEBAG challenged the idea that practical rain protection had to look disposable.
Weather Underground also became a way to test what it takes to bring an alternative material to market. Building the label meant working across design, sourcing, manufacturing, certification, e-commerce and communication. The film held certifications for industrial composting and biodegradation in soil under specified conditions, which made precise communication about its use and disposal essential.
Production has since ended. As an archive, Weather Underground documents both a distinctive product and the entrepreneurial work behind it: turning material research into a manufactured, photographed and sold fashion object.
Founder and designer: Verena Michels
Photography: Max Weise
Models: Christian Alborz Oldham and Xiao Lan
Logo: Janina Vöcklinghaus
Illustrations: Xiao Lan