Last year in celebration of 15 years of business TAXI and its executive creative director Steve Mykolyn decided to give back to the community. Steve came up with the 15 Below project and recruited Lida Baday , Canadian designer, to design a coat for the homeless. She designed the 15 Below jacket.
Wondering what homeless person can afford a Lida Baday jacket? I wondered the same thing when I first read about it. It turns out 3000 of these insulating jackets will be donated in March of this year and distributed across Canada and the US as part of the 15 Below Project.
What's so special about the 15 Below jacket made of Aquamax? Well, it is a multipurpose jacket (waterproof, windproof, breathable, lightweight, durable, strong) with multiple pockets (two pockets in the hood, a long pocket down each sleeve, four pockets on the chest and a big pocket in the back). Each pocket can be stuffed with newspapers, which is easy to find and a great source of insulation, to help keep the homeless warm even in extreme cold weather.
In addition, the zippers are waterproof and the seams are taped to keep the wearer and the insulation newspaper dry. Drawstrings at the hood, cuffs and hem also help keep out the wind.
When the temperature warms up insulation (newspaper) can be removed and the jacket can be folded into a pocket making it easy to carry around and easy to use as a backpack and/or pillow.
Does it really work? Watch this video and see Steve Mykolyn spend 8 hours in a meat locker to test the capabilities of the jacket and you be the judge.
Via The Star and Torontoist
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