Impakt Beanies

Hidden head protection that saves lives with style. Skaters don't want to be seen in helmets, so I created discreet head protection that looks and feels like an everyday beanie.

Each year, there are over 6,000 traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the US alone. These injuries are life-threatening and often result in permanent brain damage. While many of these injuries are preventable through the use of a helmet, under 5% of skateboarders choose to wear helmets when skating.

The fundamental problem is that traditional, bulky helmets don't fit with skate culture, which centers around style, a rebellious attitude, and the confrontation of danger. Wearing a big, goofy helmet clashes with all three.

I started Impakt Beanies in 2021 to create an alternative to the traditional helmet. The Impakt Beanie serves as discreet protective headwear that skaters can wear without standing out. It looks just like a regular beanie, but its inner layer contains an impact-absorbing material that cushions a fall to the head—and could be the difference between a life-changing TBI and a mild injury.

Impakt Beanies began as an alternative to the traditional helmet: protective headwear that skaters could choose without feeling like they were stepping outside skate culture.

Impakt Beanies look like any other beanie on the market, and remain just as flexible and compact. They use Shocktec® technology as a flexible protective layer that cushions impact and helps prevent lifelong head trauma.

01

Ideation

Advised by numerous material science and creative professionals, I created many design concepts for the protective and stylish beanie I imagined.

02

Prototyping

I created high-fidelity prototypes using dozens of different materials, testing each design for protection and feasibility.

03

Testing

Once the final designs were created, beanies were sent to local skaters for testing and feedback.

I entered several student entrepreneurship competitions and gained funding to support ongoing research and development and refine my designs.

New Venture Seed Competition

$7,500 · Concept Prize Winner

Global Student Entrepreneurship Awards — LA Chapter

$2,000 · First Place

SEP Demo Day

Demo Day Winner