Article of apparel with integrated harness for lift assistance

An article of apparel for lift assistance, comprising:

• a jacket body, wherein the jacket body is a ski jacket and comprises an outer shell and an inner lining;
• an integrated harness system positioned between the outer shell and the inner lining and secured to at least the outer shell of the jacket body, the integrated harness system comprising:
• a belt strap configured to extend around a waist area of the jacket body, wherein the front side of the jacket body comprises a pair of first openings, and the belt strap extends through the pair of first openings to provide an exposed portion of the belt strap that is outside of the jacket body, the exposed portion comprising a side-release buckle configured for fastening and unfastening and accessible from a front side of the jacket body;
• a pair of shoulder straps coupled to the belt strap and configured to extend over shoulders of a wearer;
• a pair of cross straps that interconnect the shoulder straps, the belt strap, and the rear strap, the pair of cross straps being secured to and extending between the pair of shoulder straps across the back, the pair of cross straps intersecting with each other at a vertical position that is between the belt strap and the rear strap;
• and
• a rear strap coupled to the shoulder straps and extending across a back of the jacket body, the rear strap comprising an inside portion that extends inside of the jacket body and an exposed portion that extends outside of the jacket body to define a handle for facilitating lift assistance, wherein a rear side of the jacket body comprises a pair of second openings, and the rear strap extends through the pair of second openings to define the exposed portion,
• wherein the pair of cross straps are secured to each other at the location where the pair of cross straps intersect, and each of the pair of cross straps is secured to the belt strap and the rear strap.