Portrait Felicia

Portrait: Felicia

We continue our series on our products and the people who have had a model named after them. They are not presented in chronological order, but we don’t think that really matters.

This time, it’s all about Felicia – one of the most important people in Operose’s history.

I had been working alone for a few years, dreaming of a colleague who could complement me and be a sounding board. Someone who was driven, meticulous, young, knowledgeable, with strong values, skilled in textiles and digitally fearless. Additionally, they needed to be smart, quick, enjoy variety, and most of all, be someone I liked working with and could laugh with. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they also had to be able to commute to a small town in Sörmland.

As you can imagine, this was basically a utopia. But then, three years ago, I received an email from Felicia.

She wrote that she was training to become a design technician in Borås but was moving to Stallarholmen and needed a placement. I told her I wasn’t sure if I could offer her what she needed since it would be during peak season with very little product development happening. Still, she was eager to do her internship with us.

And then she stayed – because she was that utopia!

Background

After having developed several work trousers, all with stretch and a slimmer fit, it was time for a looser model that would suit both curvier and straighter body shapes! The model also had to be extra stylish.

When Felicia started her internship here, I had already begun sketching the model, and the design and overall look of the trousers were almost finalised. So, we sped up the product development process—from sketch to pattern to first and second samples—so that she would have something meaningful to work on during her internship. We worked on the model together, and it turned out even better in reality than in sketches and imagination!

Fit

The work trousers have a high waist with a straight and sturdy waistband. The fit is generous overall, providing ample room over the hips, seat, and thighs for those with a curvier shape. A common comment from customers who often struggle to find well-fitting trousers is: “They feel like they were made just for me!” The knees are shaped to allow for excellent mobility.

However, just because they work well for curvier bodies doesn’t mean they don’t suit those with a straighter shape. Instead, they simply offer a more relaxed fit around the hips and legs. Ultimately, it’s a matter of personal taste, but in our opinion, these trousers have a really elegant drape, no matter how much or little you fill them out!

Details & Design

As mentioned earlier, when designing this model, we placed extra emphasis on style and design. For example, we chose to make the seams in a contrasting colour—slightly lighter than the fabric—purely because we thought it was beautiful!

All our work trousers have a high waist, as we find this the most practical option—especially in professions where you frequently bend down! However, when developing FELICIA, we put extra effort into the design details of the waistband. For instance, above the waistband, there is a shaped top band that dips into a V at the back and meets two belt loops in a cross. This design feature often receives a lot of compliments! 🌟

P.S. If you have a better word than "top band" for the decorative pattern pieces above the waistband, which serve no practical function other than looking great, please leave a comment with your suggestion!

P.S. 2. In the first sample we received from production, these pattern pieces had actually been placed upside down. We had to fix this by improving the notches on the pattern! Since then, they have always turned out both correct and stylish. :D

Practical Features

Regardless of what you might think after reading our previous post, the FELICIA trousers are, first and foremost, work trousers, meaning practicality is their main priority.

We didn’t just spend time on design choices—we spent at least (!) as much time perfecting the practical details. We had help from a local company full of female gardeners, who came to our studio (which also served as a warehouse and office at the time) for fittings, provided feedback on details and fit, and even tested working in the trousers.

As a result, the front pockets of the FELICIA work trousers are extra deep—without being too deep. The same pattern piece extends into a curved pocket at the back of the leg. Browse through the pictures, and you’ll see what we mean! The curved shape of the back pocket provides extra space for tools, gloves, or anything else you need to carry with you.

For this model, you can also use one or more of our detachable pockets if you want even more storage options. Naturally, the trousers have loops for attaching knee pad pockets, and the knees are shaped to make kneeling comfortable and practical!

The FELICIA trousers are ankle-length, and over time, we’ve introduced both a longer version and dungarees—both based on the Felicia model!

But we’ll talk more about that in the future 😊