A warm fuzzy padded bra may sound a bit like the fantasy of a spotty adolescent boy, but this particular undergarment is all too real. It’s lingerie designed to fight Climate Change through energy conservation… or at least to make headlines for Tokyo-based underwear manufacturer Triumph International.
The bra — revealed to the fashion press on November 9th in Tokyo — has long furry straps that can be wrapped around the neck like a scarf, as well as removable heating pads to be warmed in a microwave oven. Matching furry shorts are optional.
The inspiration for this fashion invention is “Warm Biz,” the Japanese national campaign to conserve energy by setting back thermostats in government and corporate offices to 19-20°C (66-68°F) this winter. Japan’s “Cool Biz” campaign, which encouraged a relaxed business dress-code in order to cut down on air conditioning, saved 210 million kilowatt hours in June-August 2005. That is enough electricity to power 720,000 households for a month.
Don’t you just have to laugh? But then, here’s me in my “woolies” already. By January I might be looking for a Japanese merchant to ship me a set of those fuzzy undies by Air Express — or wearing one of the barn cats inside my shirt.
That is so wild! Now if they could only make an AC version for consumers in warmer climates.
I like your site! And I will bookmark it and provide a link on my site.
Sharon Harvey Rosenberg:
The Frugal Duchess
http://www.sharonhr.blogspot.com
Thanks! Take care.