London – George Orwell is not often cited as a fashion inspiration. But for east London clothing brand The Affair, the novelist is exactly that.
The 1984 Capsule Collection is an Orwell-inspired range of Big Brother-proof clothing that makes the wearer untraceable using the UnPocket, a signal-proof case built into the design.
The UnPocket enables users to drop off the global surveillance grid. It is a custom-made capsule that can completely block cellular, wifi, GPS and RFID signals – the latter is how criminals steal contact-less bank information – making the wearer undetectable without having to leave their smartphone behind. It is made from layers of stealth fabric, police-grade, high-performance shielding that is finished with a waterproof wax canvas exterior and inserted into jackets, chinos and blazers.
‘The fragility of privacy is back on the agenda,’ co-founder Zoltan Csaki tells LS:N Global. ‘Figures like Edward Snowden risked everything to force a public dialogue about what privacy means in the digital age and the least we can do is to tear ourselves away from Instagram for a minute and pay attention.’
For Zoltan the UnPocket is part of a rising trend in digital detoxing among young people. ‘Having the choice to drop off the grid is critical,’ he says. ‘The UnPocket puts the power back in your hands and gives you that choice.’
For more on how brands are using a combination of fear an optimism as a marketing strategy, read our Scare Marketing microtrend.