Introducing the Polluted Air Purification Onesie

Traditionally, onesies are considered indoor attire – the sort of cosy, comfy garment you might don during a duvet day. Increasingly, however, people are venturing outside in their onesies, causing designers and innovators to question how the onesie might interact with its environment. 

With pollution levels (and the popularity of the onesie) rising, the appearance of the polluted air purification onesie should come as little surprise. Made by Borre Akkersdijk (in conjunction with Eindhoven University of Technology’s Martijn ten Bhomer; Eva de Laat; Daan Spangenberg Graphics; StudioFriso; and Want), the BB.Suit 2.0 features an integrated air quality sensor, which can scrutinise and map different levels of air pollution.

Wearable Tech

Wearable technology is at the cutting edge of clothing design. Yet while most wearable technologies have a practical as well as an aesthetic function, the BB.Suit 2.0 is among the first garments to tackle an environmental and social issue like pollution.

The BB.Suit encompasses a sensor able to measure the levels of carbon monoxide, liquid petroleum gas and methane in the air. It uses Sqaire’s patented technology, Cold Plasma, which splits water and oxygen molecules into free radicals, which then react with toxic gases, viruses, dust and bacteria in the atmosphere, effectively cleaning the air.

Previously, the developers of the BB.Suit created a similar onesie equipped with a music library, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which was exhibited at SXSW in 2014. The collective’s ingenious creations hint at things to come: increasingly, our clothing and accessories will be expected to perform a variety of tasks, some ethical, others more entertainment-led.

The Future of the Onesie

The BB.Suit was showcased during Beijing Design Week (September 26-October 3, 2014), and represents a turning point in terms of wearable tech. While branded goods, such as Google Glass, may alter the ways in which we access and interact with the internet, the polluted air purification onesie serves to improve the environment in which the wearer exists, literally cleansing the air in front of his or her nose.

Mere decades ago, the idea that your clothing might be able filter air pollution was the stuff of science fiction novels. Today, however, it’s a reality. As we learn more about the materials and technologies available to us, we’re able to implement these materials and technologies in new and exciting ways. While the issue of air pollution remains a serious one, and environmentally-motivated lobbyists continue to argue that more needs to be done to curb it by governments and big business, innovations like the BB.Suit are creeping into the public’s consciousness. Whether or not the BB.Suit represents a viable solution to the problem of air pollution is unclear. However, in drawing people’s attention to the issue of air pollution, the BB.Suit certainly serves an important purpose. 

Air quality and pollution related medical complaints in the UK are definitely one of the latest ‘hot topics’ for many industry commentators and media as they reflect on the impact such issues are having on the health of the nation. For more information on this topics, read: Improving Air Quality and Reducing Transport Related Pollution.