JAPAN: "Chopsticks bra" unveiled for Japanese women looking to stash their recyclable eating utentils on the go

Triumph International's latest ecological bra was unveiled on Wednesday (November 7) -- for ladies on the go and looking to go green. While slightly difficult to put together, the collapsible chopsticks stashed inside the body of the brassiere of Triumph's "My Hashi Bra" (or My Chopstick Bra) are compact and also part of the bra's frame for an easy fit. Cradled next to brassiere-cups designed as Japanese rice and miso soup bowls, the chopstick display is not only the latest in "pret-a-diner" fashion but also an uplifting message to women around Japan. From the creator of the "Shopping Bag" and "Pet Bottle" bras, this is an eco-friendly way, manufacturers say, to call for cutting down on disposable chopstick use. Japanese throw away an estimated of 25 billion wooden pairs a year - many of them already made from recycled wood chips. But growing number of environmentally-aware consumers want to combat such "throw away" culture. "Its small step, but because many Japanese chopsticks are disposable, big chunks of forests are being cut down. So we thought we could help promote the use of "My Chopsticks" and help cut down on disposable chopsticks," Triumph spokesperson Hiromi Shinta said, referring to the reusable chopsticks some in the general public have started carrying around these days. Triumph's 21st Century bra is a new twist for chopsticks, believed first used in China nearly 4,000 years ago and to have gone disposable in Japan about 130 years ago. "Its easy to forget to bring along your own chopsticks, but if its always on you here then that's pretty practical," model Yuko Ishida said after the photo shoot unveiling the bra. The chopsticks bra will not be in stores anytime soon, but the makers say it will put out the message and possibly provide a hint as to how future bras may be improved help the environment.

ITN Source | November 12, 2007

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