Opinions expressed by Digital Journal contributors are their own.
The production and sale of sports products is an industry unto itself, with countless individuals and businesses partaking in it and seeking to profit from it. Yet, with all these different contributors, sportswear and products for plus-size athletes sorely lack substantial development. Seewoo Hann is looking to change all of that on a fundamental level.
Seewoo is a product developer from South Korea with over a decade of international professional experience. This includes project management, supply chain management, and sourcing/costing. Seewoo was involved in the automotive industry as a BMW project manager, in the music industry, and also in supply chain management. His experience as a project manager in the automotive industry with brands like BMW gave him a strong foundation in quality control, precision, and large-scale logistics.
From his prior role in high-stakes automotive projects to his personal health challenges, Seewoo’s work and history uniquely position him to create sports products catering to plus-size athletes that promote body positivity.
Personal drive
Inspired by his struggles with weight and injuries, Seewoo is committed to creating sports products that support athletes with similar challenges—particularly plus-size individuals.
Seewoo has struggled with rehabilitation and injuries for most of his life. Having weighed a “maximum of 350 pounds during adolescence,” Seewoo has been consistently passionate about lowering the barrier to access to physical activity through sports products so more athletes can live healthy lives both mentally and physically. In this way, he seeks to end the perpetual cycle of fitness. If no sports products are being made for plus-size individuals, it discourages them from partaking in physical activity at all, only worsening the issue.
“I still have a dislocated meniscus in my left knee, as well as a collapsed arch in both of my feet as a result of excessive weight on my feet. Additionally, I have degenerative tendons in both of my ankles as a result of numerous ankle injuries caused by my being overweight,” Seewoo says.
Over the course of his own personal struggles, Seewoo was also able to cultivate an enhanced capacity for empathy and comprehension toward athletes, which has served him incredibly well professionally. Integrating the wants and needs of athletes into products with greater efficacy and efficiency led to Seewoo getting his start in the sports product industry with Nike.
Inclusive product development
Seewoo’s mission is to develop sportswear that allows plus-size athletes to feel comfortable and confident, helping them overcome physical barriers to fitness.
Seewoo is determined to offer footwear and apparel that supports the body shape of so-called plus-size athletes and obscures any flaws they wish to conceal. By not highlighting elements of their body that they may be more self-conscious of, such as bellies or chests, Seewoo’s design work inspires plus-size athletes to participate in more physical activities, even if it is a brief five-minute stroll outside their home.
In addition, with his Korean heritage, Seewoo brings a global perspective to the sportswear market. He understands the cultural and consumer needs of the rapidly expanding Korean audience and can tap into the international sales market more precisely.
Vision for the future
Seewoo aims to lead positive changes in sportswear by continuing to design products that cater to diverse body types, enabling everyone to embrace a healthier and more active lifestyle.
Seewoo Hann is redefining the sportswear industry by designing apparel that prioritizes inclusivity and quality, drawing from his extensive automotive project management experience and personal fitness journey.