The earthquake that struck Myanmar in March 2025 left a huge impact on Yoon Myat Su Lin. The death, destruction, and fallout from that tragedy stuck with the 22-year-old Myanmar fashion student studying at Esmod Tokyo. So, Lin started thinking outside of the box — way outside of it — and began designing an outfit she’s calling the “Adaptable Shelterwear Collection.”
“Seeing how suddenly people can lose their homes made me think about clothing not just as fashion, but as something that could protect and support people in emergency situations,” Lin told GearJunkie. “I wanted to imagine clothing as a portable shelter — something you already have on your body that can transform when you need it.”
This project was for the YKK Fastening Awards, a contest focused on fastening products, like zippers, snaps, hooks, buckles, and buttons. It has become one of the premier fashion contests in Japan. Lin said that students were given 2 months to finalize designs.
At the end of that period, she had created something that even we at GearJunkie have never seen before. And for it, she won a Special Award at the YKK fashion event.
“I hope it makes people rethink what clothing can do,” Lin said. “I wanted to explore new possibilities and new functions for garments beyond their traditional role.”
Adaptable Shelterwear: Part Function, Part Fashion
The Adaptable Shelterwear Collection comprises several pieces. The garment itself is made from ripstop nylon, just like a lot of outdoor apparel and outerwear.
The backpack sleeves attach to the arms via zippers, Lin explained, and can be removed and used like regular backpacks. The tent stores inside the jacket’s pockets and can be detached from the jacket if you don’t want to wear it.
To deploy the tent, remove the panels, connect them with zippers, insert the tent poles, and voilà! You’re wearing a tent.
“The functionality itself is quite simple and easy to use, so I believe anyone could use it,” Lin said. “However, at this stage, the garment is still a bit heavy because of the design details and embellishments. Right now, it sits somewhere between functional wear and an experimental fashion piece.”
Experimental, indeed. The Adaptable Shelterwear Collection takes convertible zip-off pants 10 steps further. It combines the concept of an avalanche airbag with a tent. It allows you to wear shelter and use your luggage as apparel.
Lin’s design turns everything about gear and fashion on its head — which was exactly what she was hoping to achieve.
“As a student, I created this project by myself to turn my imagination into reality and to express my thoughts to the world. It may not be perfect, but it represents my ideas, concerns, and dreams as a designer.”
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