Some designers don’t just create,... they explore, question, and test their ideas in the real world. This field report by UNCERTAIN REGARD is one of those stories.
The design team behind Uncertain Regard embarked on a road trip across China’s Sichuan province, a self-initiated journey to test their products in unpredictable terrains, and to reconnect with the raw sources of functional design.
Words by Head Designer Aleung :
“We believe design is not just shaped in studios, but also in storms, on roads, and in silence."
Our goal was simple: to observe.
To see how our garments and footwear responded to environmental extremes: sudden rain, shifting altitudes, thick mud, and biting winds. We focused on waterproofing, grip, insulation, and wind resistance, not in theory, but in action. Each trail and climate became a testing ground.
Arriving in Xizang, the landscape shifted, visually, culturally, and spiritually.
The altitude made us hyper-aware of our own bodies. The rhythm of life slowed. Time felt older. It was in Xizang that we grasped how deeply beliefs, rituals, and the natural world are interlaced, and how that too should inform design.
But beyond the technical insights, we were also there to listen, to observe the way local communities live with and through their environment. In remote villages, we saw how clothing traditions evolved as tools for survival.
In the herding practices of highland nomads, we saw movement and resilience woven into every layer. These quiet lessons reminded us that true performance design has always existed, shaped by necessity, refined over generations.
This trip changed us. It reminded us that great design isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about understanding culture, listening to the environment, and pushing ourselves to create pieces that truly matter.
Explore the UNCERTAIN REGARD collection on VERSEAS.