Blog: Animal instincts

Leonie Barrie | 17 February 2005

Here’s an interesting idea for a clothing application, and one that’s unashamedly gleaned from the visual warning signs - chameleons change colour and porcupines erect their spines for example - that animals give out to each other when they feel threatened.
 
The prototype coat design incorporates warning strips of fur that become electro-statically charged and start to stand on end in situations where the wearer feels uncomfortable. I don’t know how legal the next two stages would be though: tingling skin sensations if you invade the wearer’s space followed by a 100,000 volt electro-static charge. But with some modification I’m sure someone out there will be able to find numerous commercial applications for clothing that bites back.