Fashion Designer – Firefighter Safety & Innovation Project (Volunteer)

Fashion Designer – Firefighter Safety & Innovation Project (Volunteer)

Organization: Mentor A Promise (MAP)

Division: Thread & Promise / Community Impact Lab

Project: The Fire We Carry – Cancer-Safe Firefighter Equipment Initiative

Location: New York City and/or Remote via Google Meet

Type: Volunteer (Unpaid)

About Mentor A Promise

Mentor A Promise (MAP) is a New York City nonprofit dedicated to supporting children and youth ages 5–18 experiencing housing instability through mentorship, education, creative expression, and community-centered innovation.

Through Thread & Promise and MAP’s Community Impact Lab, we bring together designers, engineers, scientists, and storytellers to address real-world challenges that affect families, first responders, and communities. One of our most urgent initiatives—The Fire We Carry Project—focuses on reimagining firefighter gear to reduce cancer risk, eliminate toxic materials, and prioritize long-term health and dignity for first responders.

Why This Role Matters

Firefighters face disproportionately high cancer rates due to prolonged exposure to toxic chemicals, PFAS, and hazardous materials embedded in traditional turnout gear. This role exists to ensure that design, function, safety, and humanity are never in conflict.

The Fashion Designer – Firefighter Safety & Innovation Project brings a design-led, human-centered approach to protective equipment—balancing performance, ergonomics, durability, and comfort with toxin-free, cancer-safe materials.

This is not fashion for aesthetics. It is design as protection, care, and justice.

What You’ll Do

• Design firefighter turnout gear components (coats, pants, base layers, accessories) with a focus on safety, comfort, and long-term health.
• Collaborate with material scientists, engineers, occupational therapists, and firefighters to translate safety requirements into functional design.
• Develop design concepts, sketches, and technical drawings aligned with performance and safety standards.
• Consider ergonomics, mobility, heat stress, breathability, and usability in high-risk environments.
• Support prototyping and iteration of new gear concepts using toxin-free and PFAS-free materials.
• Participate in design reviews and feedback sessions with cross-disciplinary teams.
• Ensure designs reflect dignity, respect, and real-world firefighter experience.
• Document design rationale and revisions clearly for collaboration and research purposes.
• Check and respond to emails daily, with responses within 48 hours.
• Take responsibility for performance improvement by refining designs based on testing and feedback.

How MAP Supports You

• Clear role scope and collaborative leadership
• Respect for time, capacity, and boundaries
• Cross-disciplinary mentorship with scientists, engineers, and clinicians
• Ethical, mission-driven design environment
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• Recognition of your work as life-protective, not speculative or extractive

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in fashion design, technical apparel, or functional garment design.
• Strong understanding of garment construction, fit, and material behavior.
• Ability to design for function, safety, and durability—not trend cycles.
• Comfort collaborating across disciplines (engineering, science, health, safety).
• Strong communication and documentation skills.
• Commitment to ethical, safety-first, and human-centered design.

Bonus (Not Required)

• Experience with technical or protective apparel (PPE, workwear, sportswear).
• Knowledge of sustainability, non-toxic materials, or textile innovation.
• Familiarity with NFPA standards or firefighter equipment (helpful but not required).
• Experience working with first responders or safety professionals.

Commitment

• Volunteer role, approximately 5–10 hours per week
• Minimum 6-month commitment preferred
• Hybrid: New York City and/or remote via Google Meet
• MAP prioritizes care, precision, and sustainability over speed

What You’ll Gain

• Portfolio-worthy work in life-saving design and innovation
• Experience collaborating on a real-world public health and safety initiative
• Exposure to materials science, human factors, and occupational safety design
• Professional references and letters of recommendation
• The opportunity to contribute to equipment that protects those who protect others

How to Apply

Please send your resume, LinkedIn profile, and design portfolio (technical or functional work preferred) to

hr@mentorapromise.org

Subject line: Fashion Designer – Firefighter Safety Project

You may also apply directly here:

https://forms.gle/ptgy2zBZXJB1q7GV8

Design with responsibility — help reimagine firefighter gear that prioritizes health, dignity, and long-term safety.