Eczema-friendly Watch

I was conversing with a security guard about challenges he faces. He brought up to me how he is unable to wear normal watches due to his eczema. This got me thinking, how could I make a watch wearable for those with this condition? I made a 100% Cotton watch in order to refute this problem. Cotton is a much more breathable fabric than leather, (like most watch bands are made of) and is generally not considered an irritant to the skin. This matters because Eczema is very uncomfortable to those who have it due to the itching and dry and cracked skin. This deters them from wearing things that can cause it to flare up. However, sometimes, even with a clock in our pocket, we easily lose focus of the time/do not have access to being able to tell the time. An eczema-friendly watch fixes this issue.

100% Cotton fabric, cardboard, needle, thread, a watch head, 3D printed clasp.

Normal watches cause Eczema in individuals with the condition to flare up, what if there was a watch band attempting to avoid this?

As far as watch bands go, things that would cause Eczema to flare up would be wool, leather and synthetic fabrics, which means fabrics that go through a chemical process, such as nylon or polyester. Also, the heat/sweat that results from wearing these. To avoid this, cotton and bamboo fabrics are good alternatives. I then had to research what all would go into the making of a fabric watch band, the fabric is too flimsy on its own, and I learned I would need an elastic band in the center to be able to retain shape

First, I imagined the watch in cardboard. It gave me an idea of what clasp I believed would be easiest to 3D model, and gave me a design to base my product off of. Of course, I ran into some issues that I do not have time to fix. I did not assemble the model due to lack of time, a result of procrastination, and made part of the clasp way too short. I also did not put holes in the fabric. This is not a watch you could wear, my “final product” is but a prototype. I did not have the funds for, nor the means of, getting an elastic band, so there is a cardboard strip inside the fabric. These are my rough ideas/prototype. The first image is my brainstorming sketch, the second is my cardboard prototype, and the last image is what I based my watch structure off of.

Watch bands are adjustable so I did not necessarily have to worry about sizing. I did have to measure a watch that I own, that I was generally basing the length off of, to see what the sizing of the clasp that I was modelling should be. I kind of eyeballed the actual band length. If I had a redo, I’d make them longer for bigger wrists.

These are my technical drawings:

1. 4/17/2025
2. Began researching about what causes Eczema to flare up and fabrics that avoid that. Began constructing the prototype out of cardboard. (I started very, very late)
3. 4/22/2025
4. Completed the cardboard prototype and began sketching my idea on paper.
5. 4/23/2025
6. Received my prototype fabric and made no progress.
7. 4/24/2025
8. Began researching what to put in the fabric to give the band structure and brainstorming where to get such product.
9. 4/25/2025
10. Resumed brainstorming on the inner elastic band. Discussed with my mentor on possibilities before ultimately deciding against it (due to lack of attainability). We’d cross that bridge when I got there
11. 4/28/2025
12. Began measuring my previously owned watch and brainstorming how to go about my 3D model.
13. 4/29/2025
14. Began sketching my 3D model
15. 4/30/2025
16. Scrapped the previous 3D model because I was unsatisfied with the product.
17. 5/1/2025
18. Began working on new 3D model
19. 5/2/2025
20. Continued working on previous 3D model
21. 5/5/2025
22. Submitted 3D model on time crunch. Forgot to assemble.
23. 5/6/2025
24. The 3D model was printed. Clasp too short, but unable to reprint. Did not calculate what the needed length for the clasp would be.
25. 5/7/2025
26. Began hand sewing the band, stopped due to frustration when I realized I hadn’t yet solved the elastic band problem.
27. 5/8/2025
28. Realized I was running out of time, so I used cardboard on the inside. Measured and cut the cardboard along with the fabric.
29. 5/9/2025
30. Glued my clasp’s “axel” and generally goofed off.
31. 5/11/2025
32. Continued hand sewing the band (I never want to see a needle again, threading was my worst nightmare). Messed up and put the clasp UPSIDE DOWN so I had to start ALL OVER AGAIN.
33. 5/12/2025
34. Fixed yesterday’s mistake. Got frustrated, it was all I did.
35. 5/13/2025
36. Edited entries within my engineering notebook and worked on the different components.
37. 5/14/2025
38. Took photos of my product, process, and technical drawings.
39. 5/15/2025
40. Began working in Canva to give my trifold character and explain my ✨ wonderful ✨ process.
41. 5/16/2025
42. It is currently one A.M. but I was not finished with my engineering notebook or my product/photos completely and I had a lot of touch-ups to be doing. I am so tired. Presentation is today, everyone will get to hear about my eczema-friendly watch.

Eczema is a real hindrance on the lives of those suffering from the condition. This is just one example of something we can make more accessible to those with eczema. The clasp being modelled in our 3D modelling software gives it a 3D printed element and is a cheaper alternative. If I procrastinated less, or was given more time, there are many improvements I could make. Firstly, I’d reprint my clasp. It’s too short and I did give a file for an add-on, so that I could glue it to the existing clasp, to my mentor. However, as of writing this, I don’t know if it is printed, and I’d still like to make the original model correct. I’d also find a way to put holes in the fabric to give the clasp use. I wasn’t sure how, and I got too stuck on the idea that I needed one, that it just wasn’t healthy to stew on it too long. These are just some things, of many, I critique about this design. This is still very clearly in its development phase, considering my 3D modelled component doesn’t even work. I’d think of my final product as almost like another prototype, because there's always improvements to be made.