The Concept

Kris Cottrell conceived the Headstone Wrap while walking through a cemetery and considering how families decorate and honor the gravesites of loved ones for holidays and other special occasions. The idea was to create a simpler, more universal decorative covering that could be personalized with meaningful colors and graphics while fitting a variety of headstone forms.

The Initial Prototype

Kris brought the concept to Utah Contract Sewing as a basic fabric wrap without a finished attachment or adjustment system. His team had also fabricated detailed foam headstone forms that provided UCS with useful physical references for developing, fitting, and testing the wrap.

The Design Challenge

The product needed to accommodate variations in headstone size and shape while remaining secure, visually clean, and easy to install and adjust. The material also needed the right combination of stretch, recovery, fit, durability, and compatibility with dye-sublimation printing.

Our Approach

UCS refined the original concept and developed a double-ring closure system that improved both the appearance and function of the wrap. The closure allowed the wrap to be adjusted and secured while maintaining a simple, intentional visual presentation.

Prototyping and Field Testing

The product progressed through several prototype iterations and field trials at local cemeteries. These tests allowed the team to evaluate fit, adjustment, appearance, and installation on different headstone forms. UCS used the results to refine the closure, construction, proportions, and overall performance of the wrap.

Material Development

UCS evaluated and sourced materials to identify a fabric with the appropriate stretch, recovery, fit, and surface quality for dye-sublimation printing. The selected fabric provided the performance needed for the wrap while allowing Kris’s team to create personalized graphic designs for different occasions and memorial applications.

Production Preparation

Kris’s team completed the graphic designs while UCS finalized additional material sourcing and prepared the product specification sheets. With the design, closure system, material selection, and production documentation established, the Headstone Wrap is prepared to move into local production.

The Result

The Headstone Wrap developed from a basic fabric concept into an adjustable, tested, and production-ready memorial product. Through closure development, prototyping, cemetery trials, material selection, and detailed specifications, the project established a clear foundation for consistent local production.