Tired of bulky, unmanageable gas masks in dreary army green? Worried that when the apocalypse comes, you’re going to look like a dork? Israeli industrial designer Zlil Lazarovich is out to change all that. She’s created the world’s first ‘Social Gas Mask’ which not only looks sleek and stylish, but also allows for seamless social interactions. With the Social Gas Mask, you can pretty much carry on as you normally do during an alien siege or a nuclear fallout, while still looking FABULOUS.
“The large window allows to show a greater range of facial expressions by exposing the upper cheeks, eyebrows and full width of the eyes area,” Lazarovich says. “The wide, cheeky shape of the filters gives the impression of a wide, healthy and happy face instead of a long, skeleton-like one. As opposed to current masks that often hide the user’s face, restrict communication and facial expressions, and look like an alien, the Social Gas Mask has a number of features designed to offer an empowering image and a positive experience.”
From Vocativ:
Although the gas mask has been around since World War I, it’s surprising that nobody’s ever really tried to improve on the way they look. Lazarovich was inspired to take up the project after her childhood experiences during the Gulf War of 1991. “I remember the alarms, the panic, my parents putting on my mask and sitting for long periods of time in the chemically sealed room we prepared at home,” she said. “These events and memories, which are not unique to myself but are also a part of the collective memory of all Israelis, made me realize how important it is to maintain a sense of normality even in the most stressful times.”
Lazorvich has no plans as of yet to market her prototype, but I have a feeling if there’s a big enough demand for it, she will. GoFundMe perhaps, Zlil? (via Oddity Central)
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