Special Agent Jamie Harvey’s Research and process

journal

For M’s eyes only

Year 11 Home Economics

The outfit

OBJECTIVE:After years of service in the British secret intelligence agency, Military Intelligence Section 6 (MI6), your superior ‘M’ has recently promoted you. You are now the field agent textile relations manager and you are responsible for all double ‘O’ agent apparel when they are on top secret missions. Textile relations is often shunned by operatives for trinkets and toys from the gadget laboratory of agent ‘Q’ but your passion for textiles and desire to save the world has given you an opportunity of a lifetime. MI6 has ordered you to produce the ultimate spy apparel for its most valuable asset, Bond… James Bond, 007. To create the piece you must develop an understanding of the requirements of a secret agent and the challenges they face. The fabrics and construction methods used must be suitable for the task at hand and clearly justified to ‘M’. It would be beneficial to evaluate what is currently used by Special Forces and how it can be applied to the spy world. Good luck agent….This message will self-destruct in 10…9…8…

Key aspects given in the design brief……- This must be the ULTIMATE spy apparel- I must find out what 007 is required to do- Find all challenges he may face and consequently the challenges

for the product- Decisions I make must be justifiable to ‘M’- Examine what is currently being used and make it spy worthy

Other things I think I need to consider……- What will the outfit look like- What will it be made of

- What resources will I have available to me- EXACTLY who is 007???

Who is James Bond????

He isn’t a man he is a concept conceived in 1953. an anonymous, blunt instrument wielded by a government department. A handsome man with a boring name, an addictive personality, be it women or gambling, and a licence……to kill. It seems that Mr Bond values his ability to be somebody and nobody at the same time.

Predominantly sporting a plain black suit allows him to fit in at almost any scenario, be it at an office or at a ball Bond’s new look must be universal.The challenges 007 and I will faceCombined satellite and hidden video footage located in sealed files of MI6 show just a small portion of the rigours Bond and his clothes face on assignment.

Being shot, stabbed, beaten to a pulp or slowly sinking to the bottom of the ocean are common

pitfalls that Mr Bond must face on a regular occurrence. Designing an outfit that can compete with these circumstances will be no small achievement.Bulletproof BondMiguel Caballero is a world leader in bulletproof clothing with heavy duty military applications down to lightweight casual clothing. A lot of his collection is very light flexible but still has maximum stopping power. The following video shows someone being shot only inches away. Caballero already provides inconspicuous bulletproof clothing to world leaders

and movie stars and no one can tell. Adopting his collection should provide the protection, concealment and movement 007 requires.Stab proof secret agentStab vests are already present in military and police application. However they are considered quite bulky and cumbersome. Modern textile advances have led to the development of Cut-Tex PRO a unique blend of complex fibres that is one of the best cut and stab resistant fabrics in the world. As displayed in this video the stab protection goes unnoticed until

attacked. If I Incorporate Cut-Tex Pro in 007’s new spy apparel the only cut he will have to worry about is a paper cut. It’s Bond… not Pond (waterproofing)Yes raincoats already exist and an umbrella is a convenient place for a secret agent to hide a blade but neither of these articles are of interest to James. Currently super hydrophobic nanotechnology is being used to make nearly anything waterproof. Something that has Ultra-Ever Dry applied to it becomes more than waterproof it becomes water repellent actually forcing water away from it. The

above video shows the magnificence of a simple coating that when utilised in the new garment will leave its wearer high and dry.What the military is usingCurrent military clothing is primarily based on moisture management. Being able to draw sweat away from the body faster than it can make it and also preventing external water from contacting the skin. A full protective combat uniform can have up to sixteen garments and allows soldiers to operate in temperatures ranging from well below freezing to temperate climates. This is effective for the army but will prove labour some for 007. It’s hard to fit in having to wear four shirts as well as a suit jacket. I

believe the options I have chosen will prove very helpful in mission success and the preservation of MI6’s greatest asset.Final RecommendationsThe garment I have decided to develop for agent 007 will consist of a long sleeve shirt and boxer briefs made from Cut-Tex PRO material to protect vital arteries from knife attacks. As well as Suit Jacket and pants utilising Caballero’s fluid armour technology for protection from gunshots and finally the whole outfit will be coated with Ultra-Ever Dry thus making the entire piece water repellent. Given the importance placed on the life of Mr Bond and the fact MI6 is a

government agency cost will not be a determining factor for the development of James’ new uniform.

Inspiration: Suit Jacket

- Although the tie is more everyday a bowtie is required in more formal affairs. (Go with bow tie)

- Bond always seems to be wearing plain black. Although it is classic and timeless it is a bit harsh for every day. Ultimately I wish

bond to have a wardrobe full uf my suits but for the first prototype I think I will go for a dark blue suit maybe with a pinstripe.Suit Pants

007’s occupation, at times, requires him to be able to perform very physical tasks that may be difficult to do

in flairs or skinny jeans. To keep his image professional, well-tailored suit pants will be required.

Shirt

A plain white shirt is the simple option however the adition of black buttons along with a bow tie creates a unique look. As for Mr Bond’s undergarments let’s leave it at BYO.Fabric typeWool Cotton

Cashmere

Linen Silk

KevlarVelvet Polyester

Many different fabrics can be used to construct the suit each with its pros & cons

FABRIC TYPE POSITIVES NEGATIVESWool Natural fibre

Breathes wellCan be heavyNon slimming

Cotton LightweightNatural fibres

Less luxuriousCan wrinkle

Linen Super lightIdeal for heat

Will wrinkleStains easily

Velvet Luxury feelUnique look

Won’t breathe

Polyester SyntheticCheap

Looks shinyWon’t breathe

silk BreathableHot or cold

expensive

Cashmere Very luxuriousSoftest feel

Can look shinyExpensive

Kevlar Bullet proofStrong

ExpensiveMaterial breaks down

Fabric Continued…Given the positive and negative aspects of all the different possible suit fabrics I have chosen wool. It is breathable, durable and keeps it’s silhouette,

especially if Worsted wool is used. Worsted is a wool derivative that boasts a high durability which in 007’s day to day is a must. As well fabric type fabric weight must be considered. For the prototype I will use a medium weight fabric for application in a number of climates.

Construction

Working with such cutting edge technologies required much patience and care when stitching. Considering I have developed an indestructible suit it would be madness to risk it falling apart because of poor craftsmanship. Every effort was taken to have no visible stitches and transition from Cut-Tex Pro to Worsted wool is seamless

Designing!

ConclusionAfter many many hours of trial and error and continual evaluation I have created the ultimate secret agent uniform. Waterproof thanks to Ultra-Ever Dry, stab proof because of Cut-Tex Pro and bulletproof as a result of integrating Miguel Caballero’s world class armour. Durable enough for any dangerous mission but sophisticated enough to fit in at any office, or dinner party.

Please don’t tell 007 I wore it……Agent Harvey out