Inspired by the MoMA exhibition Safe: Design Takes on Risk, Parsons’ students Alvaro Soto, John Paul Rangel, Justin Blanc take on the subject of how luxury brands can intelligently respond to emergencies or catastrophic events.
Melding modern luxury with utility, “This is Luxe” is a set of three chic handbags that address a spectrum of human fears and insecurities.
Armor
This first of the set, Armor, is a handbag that transforms into a couture gas mask in case of a bio-terror attack.
Shelter
The second, Shelter, is a new take on a safety box. It is designed as an “art de vivre” object that uses RFID technology to store vital data such as medical information (blood type, allergies, etc) and important physical documents such as a passport. In case of an emergency and need for a swift evacuation, Shelter, unlike a safety box, can easily be carried like a purse.
Various electronics used in prototypes
Scape
And lastly, Scape is a purse that contains a trench coat that, when needed, can turn into a life vest.
So the next time you grab your handbag, you may need to check the terrorist threat rating first.
