How do you start figuring out how to tackle a problem? For me, it usually begins with taking things apart.
As a kid, I had a knack for “fixing” things—though, to be fair, many of my attempts ended with toys, appliances, and other household items left in pieces. My dad had the patience of a saint, letting me explore the mechanical world around me, even if it meant sacrificing a few gadgets along the way. That curiosity eventually led me to become an engineer, and it’s also how I solved the zip-up hoodie problem that kickstarted Constant Mountain.
Taking Things Apart to Put Them Back Together
The Infinity Pocket started with one key challenge: creating a dual-separating zipper slide that could engage two zippers simultaneously. While the concept for this type of zipper was patented back in 1941, no one had ever made it commercially available. So, I did what I’ve always done—took something apart to build something new.
Armed with a Dremel rotary tool and epoxy adhesive, I modified two YKK #5 nylon coil zipper slides. By grinding the top off one slide and attaching it to the bottom of another, I created a functional dual zipper for my prototype. It wasn’t perfect, but it worked—and that was enough to take the next step.
Learning to Sew (The Hard Way)
With the zipper problem solved, it was time to make the actual jacket. So, I bought a $99 sewing machine from Amazon and set out to learn how to sew. Lessons usually took place late at night, and let’s just say the seams weren’t straight, but they held.
JoAnn Fabrics became my second home. I started with a paper pattern for a zip-up hoodie but couldn’t make sense of it. Instead, I deconstructed an old hoodie piece by piece, using a seam ripper to uncover its secrets. Replicating those pieces for my prototype taught me more than I ever thought I’d know about garment construction—and welt pockets? That’s a story for another time.
The First Prototype: A Frankenstein Jacket
When I finally stitched everything together, the first scratch-built prototype looked like Frankenstein’s monster. But it worked. The Infinity Pocket was real.
Here’s the thing: creating something new often means breaking something first. Sometimes it’s a literal object, like a zipper. Other times, it’s a mindset or belief about what’s possible. Either way, innovation begins when you push the boundaries of what you think can be done.
What Boundaries Have You Pushed?
I’m a firm believer that nothing gets created or improved without a problem and a struggle to solve it. Every solution starts with breaking something down—whether it’s a mindset, a process, or even an old hoodie—to make room for something better.
What about you? Have you ever had to shift your mindset or push past your own boundaries to create something new? I’d love to hear about it.
