Uslon: The Life-Saving Swimwear

Revolutionizing Safety with Innovative Design by Valery Graznov and Katerina Semenko

The inspiration for Uslon came from the harsh reality that thousands of people drown every year. The designers realized that while life-vests could save lives, their bulkiness and excessive buoyancy make them impractical for regular swimming. This led to the idea of integrating life-saving capabilities into everyday swimwear, a concept born after reading Alain Bombard's book "The Voyage of the Heretique".

Uslon stands out with its unique design, featuring numerous air capsules that guard against drowning. These capsules can be placed on the bathing suit belt or between two layers of polyethylene, creating bubbles of air. The design is versatile, suitable for children and adults, women and men.

The realization of Uslon involves using existing materials like polyester fabric for the swimsuit and polyethylene micro-tubes for the rescue elements. These tubes form air capsules and are sewn into the swimwear's decorative elements. The designers also envision a future version of the product made from a specially designed material with a porous yet waterproof structure.

The design specifications cater to a wide range of sizes and models. For women, the sizes range from S to L, with models including bandeau bikinis and push-up one-piece swimsuits. Men's sizes range from S to XL, with square cut swim trunks as the model.

Uslon's design interaction is simple and effective. Unlike special rescue vehicles, this device is always on the body and does not require time to prepare it into action. It does not need to be pumped with air, and there is no risk of punctures. The device is intuitive and does not require instructions for use.

The project started in May 2015 in Kazan, Russia and is still under further development. The designers faced several challenges, including overcoming the deadly threat of drowning and creating a device that is always on the body, looks like regular swimwear, and consists of separate balloons to prevent punctures. Despite these challenges, Uslon was recognized with a Golden A' Safety Clothing and Personal Protective Equipment Design Award in 2016, a testament to its innovative design and potential impact on safety.