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WAIR, the 1st anti-pollution scarf !

Scarf that includes anti-air pollution mask and monitoring app comes to market

French start-up Wair will showcase product at CES 2017 in Las Vegas this week
by Simon_MacMichael
Mon, Jan 02, 2017 16:35
8

A French business will this year begin selling a scarf that doubles as an air filter for cyclists and pedestrians who are concerned about pollution and also includes an air quality monitor that connects to a smartphone app.

The product, called Wair, is among thousands of new products and concepts from fledgling businesses and tech start-ups alike that will be featured at this week’s CES 2017 in Las Vegas.

As well as a unisex scarf (currently offered at €87.50), initial wearable tech products from Wair for which pre-orders are being taken on its website include a snood aimed at women (also €87.50) and a men’s neck collar (€54.17).

Besides the initial cost of the scarf, which comes with two filters, purchasers will need to factor in the expense of replacement filters, which Wair says need to be changed between every two and four weeks and which cost from €8 to €10 on its website.

Wair (source Facebook).jpg

Wair founder Caroline Van Rentergherm first showcased the product at Paris Fashion Tech week in September 2015, and it has already won her a Cisco young entrepreneurs’ prize.

Ahead of CES 2017, she told Chris Foxx of BBC News: “Wair is the first anti-pollution connected scarf.

“It means it’s a fashion accessory, an efficient filtration system, and a prevention app against air pollution.”

Asked why people would by the product when cheaper, disposable face masks are available, she answer: “Style is important so I thought creating a protection that is not also scary looking would help encourage people to wear it.”

wair
Air Pollution
CES 2017
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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8 comments

Avatar
captain_slog | 7 years ago
3 likes

I'd love one but it might get tangled up with my Hövding.

Avatar
EddyBerckx | 7 years ago
4 likes

Thought it was a good idea till I realised you can just wear a normal scarf over your normal face mask to get the same effect (for a fraction of the price). If it has any other advantages god luck to them though

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to EddyBerckx | 7 years ago
1 like

StoopidUserName wrote:

Thought it was a good idea till I realised you can just wear a normal scarf over your normal face mask to get the same effect (for a fraction of the price). If it has any other advantages god luck to them though

this is my normal face mask:

https://www.eurekavideo.co.uk/sites/default/files/judex_11_300dpi.jpg

 

Avatar
CygnusX1 replied to EddyBerckx | 7 years ago
2 likes

StoopidUserName wrote:

Thought it was a good idea till I realised you can just wear a normal scarf over your normal face mask to get the same effect (for a fraction of the price). If it has any other advantages god luck to them though

It has an app to go with it, thats got to be worth gambling your euros on a pre-order, surely? 

 

 

Avatar
Accessibility f... | 7 years ago
3 likes

Ever see anyone in a hazardous environment wearing anything like this?  Nope.  Unless it forms an airtight seal around the face, it'll be useless.

Avatar
ConcordeCX replied to Accessibility for all | 7 years ago
1 like

Peowpeowpeowlasers wrote:

Ever see anyone in a hazardous environment wearing anything like this?  Nope.  Unless it forms an airtight seal around the face, it'll be useless.

yes. Cyclists should wear full NBC clothing or nothing.

Avatar
Accessibility f... replied to ConcordeCX | 7 years ago
2 likes

ConcordeCX wrote:

Peowpeowpeowlasers wrote:

Ever see anyone in a hazardous environment wearing anything like this?  Nope.  Unless it forms an airtight seal around the face, it'll be useless.

yes. Cyclists should wear full NBC clothing or nothing.

If it's designed to filter out harmful substances it'll need to be airtight.  That's just a fact, sorry.  I have a chocolate teapot for sale if you're interested.

Avatar
cyclisto replied to Accessibility for all | 7 years ago
3 likes
Peowpeowpeowlasers wrote:

Ever see anyone in a hazardous environment wearing anything like this?  Nope.  Unless it forms an airtight seal around the face, it'll be useless.

True, very expensive with dubious sealing. A reusable ffp3 mask makes much more sense.

Even more sense though makes to increase diesel price (officially causing cancer according to WHO), and give this movey to public transport, cycling infrastructure and incentives for electric cars.

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