March 31, 2009
Guru is keen to explore further the theme of clothing that enables employees to stay at work longer, hence increasing their productivity - something all recession-worried HR professionals must be after.
Following last week's news on the pillow office shirt and tie combo, an innovation currently being tested by Japanese astronauts (I know, how can any country afford space travel at the moment?) got Guru's attention.
Following last week's news on the pillow office shirt and tie combo, an innovation currently being tested by Japanese astronauts (I know, how can any country afford space travel at the moment?) got Guru's attention.
Astronaut Koichi Wakata is testing J-ware, a line of odour-free underwear and casual clothing on the International Space Station.
In what must be every teenage boy's dream, Wakata can wear his pants more than a week as they have a special chemical layer designed to kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly.
They also are flame-resistant and anti-static, not to mention "comfortable and stylish" - much like M&S Y-fronts.
"The other astronauts become very sweaty, but he doesn't have any sweat. He didn't need to hang his clothes to dry," said a space agency official.
A commercial line is being developed and HR directors should get their orders in now. What better than underwear that means workers never have to leave their desk to go to the loo or shower or bath?
Wakata said his garments appear to be working. "Nobody has complained, so I think it's 'so far, so good'," he said. They say in space no-one can hear you scream, but in this case it might be no-one can smell you either.
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