Parents complain that children outgrow their clothes so fast that it costs a fortune(£12, 000 on average per year), going through seven different sizes in the space of their first two years. There could now be a solution:a new high-tech fabric(织物)that expands as the wearer grows.
Ryan Yasin, who is studying for a master's degree at the London Royal College of Art, came up with the idea after purchasing clothes for his newborn nephew, only to find the baby had outgrown them by the time they arrived. In addition to the expense Yasin was also concerned about the environmental influence. The process of making and distributing just l kilogram, or 2. 2 pounds, of new fabric results in an average of 23 kg, or 50 pounds of greenhouse gases. To make matters worse, the “fast fashion” trend worldwide has caused garment production to double since 2000, with more than half of the clothing ending up in landfills annually!
To find a solution, Yasin used his previous experience designing satellites to invent a way to fold synthetic(合成的)material such that it stretches in all directions.
The first design, a pair of tiny pants, not only fit his baby nephew, but also his 2-year-old niece! After spending a lot of time perfecting the process and testing the design, Yasin is now awaiting a patent for his design and seeking investors(投资者)to bring the clothing to market.
For his new line of Petit Pli, the designer plans to produce outerwear that is both waterproof(防水的)and windproof. The clothing will be machine washable and fold small enough to fit in a jacket or pant pocket. Yasin plans to establish a take-back system so that worn-out Petit Pli clothing can be recycled into new fabric.
The designer does not expect parents to dress their children only in his expandable clothing, particularly since the current designs use synthetic materials. But he plans to soon produce the wear in “a wider variety of garments” and hopes that Petit Pli will be able to have an “influence on over-consumption. ”We surely hope he succeeds!