It’s a clear indicator activewear is ‘in’ when non-sportswear companies try their hand at endurance apparel. This week the new player is Skyn Condoms and parent Ansell, who are collaborating with fashion designer Pauline Van Dongen to create an athletic concept garment under the moniker Skynfeel Apparel.
Right now Skynfeel will consist of a long jump suit for elite athletes, with the goal of minimizing weight and boosting airtime. The garment features dragonfly wing-inspired flaps located on the edge of the body, designed to stay flat during the run and open with the jump – with the hope to create an aerodynamic upward lift that could help jumpers stay in the air a little longer.
And yes, the material used will be the same Skyn condom polyisoprene (versus latex).
“In the world of competitive sports, athletes look for every advantage, and we knew our skynfeel condom material was revolutionary in our own industry; therefore we turned to the worlsd of performance athletics and decided to conduct an experiment in apparel,” said Jeyan Heper, President & GM, Sexual Wellness Global Business Unit at Ansell.
Seeing as the Skyn performance jump suit is a concept item only (won’t be sold in stores, online or anywhere for consumers), it will give designer Van Dongen a chance to experiment with the fabric and its applicability within the world of sports.
“Experiments like this can point the way to the future,” says Van Dongen. “For me, Skynfeel Apparel is about challenging the status quo, trying something totally new, daring to innovate, imagine and inspire.”
Who knows, Skyn might become the next Vibram, teaming with brands to create thinner, lighter, more aerodynamic apparel.
Photo courtesy Skyn
