If you’ve ever lamented the uncomfortable feeling of being on train that’s stuffed to capacity, this new invention might be just for you. Originally from Singapore, designer Siew Ming Cheng decided to take matters into her own hands. Cheng created a spiked vest, designed to keep others at bay and to allow for a little bit more breathing room when on a train.
In her own words, Cheng explained, “Trains are usually crowded during peak hours. Everybody will push each other to try and get onto the train. How can I protect my personal space? The idea was then conceived. “What if I wear a vest that is full of spikes?”.
The vest is comprised of two long panels which rest on the person’s chest, several panels stretch down the front and back, while two strips hang down at the person’s sides. Cheng’s design is created from plastic materials, most of which are usually used to keep animals away from eating plants.
While there’s still no official word about buying these vests for public use, you can always create one of our own using a DIY approach. We’ve got plenty of various stud and spike accents available on our website here at MJTrends.
Matching Products:
Hematite tall cone Spikes
$0.99
Silver Cone Tall Spikes
$0.99
Silver tiger claw Spikes
$0.99
Her quote about people pushing to get on trains really hits home, and the hanging side strips sound like they’d create a decent personal buffer without being too bulky.
A DIY version using MJTrends studs sounds doable, but I’d probably tone down the length of the spikes so it’s more about signaling space than actually poking anyone.
The idea of using plant-protection spikes is clever, especially since they’re lightweight plastic, though I’m not convinced transit authorities would allow something like that during rush hour.
Interesting concept, especially with the chest and back panels extending coverage, though it feels more like a statement piece than something you could realistically wear every weekday commute.
I can totally picture those two long front panels making a difference on packed trains, but I wonder how commuters would react to plastic garden spikes brushing past them.