A Hoodie Designed for Ultimate Relaxation (or a Panic Attack)

Some people prefer to wear clothes they can relax in—but relax is pretty much the only thing you can do while wearing this hoodie. (Or have a panic attack, if you're claustrophobic.)

Designed for athletes as a way to calm them down before a big event, the Baker Miller Pink hoodie more closely resembles a straitjacket than a functioning piece of outerwear. The pockets are meant to mimic the sensation of wearing a sling by requiring wearers to criss-cross their arms over their torsos to use them. The hood itself zips all the way over the face, and a mesh visor encourages athletes to breathe through their noses, which naturally slows the breathing rate.

But the key feature is the visor’s very specific shade of pink. The sportswear startup Vollebak based the hoodie around the idea that a certain pink hue, called Baker-Miller pink, is able to lower heart rates and even curb aggressive tendencies. The theory was first suggested by a researcher named Alexander Schauss a few decades ago after studying the shade created by mixing a gallon of white latex paint with a pint of red semi-gloss outdoor paint. He conducted years worth of research to support his hypothesis, but many experts are still skeptical of the scientific merits of color psychology. NYU psychologist and author of the book Drunk Tank Pink Adam Alter told WIRED, “I think it’s based on associations rather than physiology. I’m open to being convinced otherwise, I just haven’t been yet.”

Even if the color doesn’t hold any real scientific significance, that hasn’t stopped companies from using it as a marketing tool. On Vollebak's website, the product description reads: “The mesh visor floods your vision with a shade of pink designed to lower your heart rate. It allows you to see out, but no one to see in.” The hoodie also includes built-in cable channels for you to thread your headphones through. For the ultimate experience, wearers can download their Baker Miller Pink soundtrack, which is, appropriately, composed almost entirely of pink noise. 

Images courtesy of Vollebak.

[h/t: WIRED]