Wee Uharnesi Wekati by Shihchang Hsiao is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2025 Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award in Ukunakekelwa Kwezilwane Competition Category.

IsilivaUkunakekelwa Kwezilwane· 2025

Wee Uharnesi Wekati

by Shihchang Hsiao

Client: Hulumao

Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award Winner in Ukunakekelwa Kwezilwane Category

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Colors

The Design

About Wee Uharnesi Wekati

Lo harnesi wezilwane ezifuywayo wakhelwe amakati ukuze akwazi ukuhamba ngaphandle. Usebenzisa umchilo wenayiloni ongaziphazamisi, amaphedi amabili athambile, izivali ezimbili nendandatho eyinhlangothi. Awudingi msebenzi omningi wokuthunga ngoba kwakhiwa isixhobo esincane ukubumba nokubamba umchilo ngama-engeli ahlukahlukene ukwenzela ukwakha kalula. Uharnesi omphumela ulula kakhulu ngesisindo: ama-35g. Lokhu kufanelekile kumakati, adinga ukuthi uharnesi ube lula kangangokuthi kungenzeka. Uhlelo lokuvala loharnesi lusebenzisa ibhakele elityhalelayo lokukhulula ngokushesha esikhundleni sebhakele lokuvala phakathi elisetshenziswa kakhulu.

The Recognition

About the Umklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award

Wee Uharnesi Wekati iwinile uMklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award, ukwaziswa okuhloniphekile ngokungajwayelekile okunikezwa imiklamo esezingeni eliphezulu, ebukekayo nethinta kakhulu. Abawinile beSiliva yimisebenzi egqamile kakhulu nedala kakhulu ebonisa ubungcweti obuphawulekayo, italente nobuhlakani babaklami babo. Wee Uharnesi Wekati ilindeleke ukuba ibe ngumsebenzi omuhle wesibonelo, onobungcweti obuphawulekayo nezinto ezintsha ezijulile. Lo mklamo owinile uMklomelo Wesiliva we-A' Design Award uyinto entsha ebonakala kakhulu nethakazelisayo esiza futhi isunduza imingcele yobuciko, isayensi, ukuklama nobuchwepheshe. Wee Uharnesi Wekati iyinto enomhawu omkhulu kuyo evusa izifiso, ilethe imizwa emihle futhi ivuse ukumangala nokuxakeka.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: It mainly uses a continuous strip of nylon webbing and a few accessories to form this cat hardness and also provides one-size-fits-all approach. It requires almost no labor-intensive sewing. The resulting harness is very light weight: 35g or 1.2 oz. This is appropriate for cats, who need the harness to be as light as possible. The harness fastening system uses a slide buckle for instant release instead of the more common center release buckle.
Dimensions & Packaging: Length: 11cm
Weight: 35g
Tags: cat, cat harness, pet, dog, cat leash, hulumao, cat carrier, cat backpack, outdoor, traveling
Production Technology: Production of the harness is quite simple. The fasteners and webbing are sourced from available components on the market. The soft pads are custom-made using a computerized sewing machine. The webbing is threaded through pre-cut slots on the pads. Next, the fasteners are fixed onto the webbing. Finally, the harness is assembled with a little sewing.
Design Challenge: The biggest design challenge was how to utilize a continuous strip of webbing to construct a sturdy harness frame while avoiding laborious sewing. Eventually, the designer found that the webbing can be folded in different angles and shifted in other directions like the pipes inside of a building. Therefore, a small fixture was designed to form and hold the webbing at various angles to facilitate construction.
Research: Most pet harnesses on the market are designed with dogs in mind. Many involve complex construction and heavy duty sewing and are too heavy for cats to use. The webbing on some cheap harnesses is too thin and cannot prevent the cats from escaping. There are also a few holster- or vest-style harnesses available. These are better at preventing the cat from slipping out, but few cats are willing to have their bodies covered in so much material. Cats are sensitive animals. Therefore, the design emphasis of this harness is to be as light as possible, while being easy to put on and take off and preventing the cat from slipping out.
Inspiration: In urban areas, it is common to see dogs on a leash running outside to release their energy. By contrast, house cats usually sit by a window and look outside, seemingly in a daze. Although cats can be skittish, they might also enjoy being outside to satisfy their curiosity. Unfortunately, many pet harnesses on the market are designed only with dogs in mind. Cat owners have limited choices and often must settle for the smallest pet harness available for their cats.
Project Duration: The project started in March 2024 in Taipei and finished in July 2024 in Taipei.
Operation Flow: For initial use, one snap button on the front and one slide buckle on rear webbing loops are unfastened so there is enough space to slide the cat’s head through. After the harness is on, the fasteners are re-secured. Next, the webbing is adjusted to fit the cat’s neck and body. This adjustment only needs to be made once. Finally, the webbing on the cat’s chest is tightened by pulling on the strap. The harness is now ready to use
Team Members: Yuluen Huang
Image Credits: Image #1-5: photographer Shihchang Hsiao, 2024