It may seem as if there is an endless list of over-the-counter products and cosmetic treatments designed to battle the signs of aging, but the newest product may have some people raising an eyebrow: anti-aging clothing.
Buki, a Seattle-based tech fashion fabric brand, has developed a new proprietary fabric that contains natural collagen.
Collagen is the main protein found in skin and other types of connective tissue. Collagen helps to give the skin, body and organs their structure. It is also often found as an ingredient in many skin care products and frequently added to supplements, some brands of bottled water and even coffee.
The production of this vital protein slows down naturally with age. When collagen production wanes, the skin becomes sagging and loose. It also loses its ability to stretch and retract.
“When collagen production decreases is when wrinkles begin to develop on the face, and the skin hangs loosely on the body,” said Dr. Christy Walker, a dual-board-certified cosmetic surgeon and gynecologist in Plano, Texas.
Loose skin and wrinkles can cause individuals to look older than they are, which often makes people feel self-conscious about their appearance. When this happens, people frequently seek out procedures to erase these signs of aging.
“Over-the-counter topical treatments and even clothing that contain collagen may be able to help reduce the signs of aging, but the best way to help reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging is to kick the body into producing collagen again,” said Walker.
Some available cosmetic treatments help kickstart the body to produce collagen again, such as FaceTite or BodyTite. These two procedures use radiofrequency energy to stimulate the body to begin creating this vital protein once again.
“When collagen production increases, it pulls the skin tighter. This can smooth wrinkles, lines or creases and can also help treat loose skin around the knees, upper arms, neck and abdomen,” said Walker.
Both FaceTite and BodyTite are minimally invasive procedures, which means a more comfortable experience for patients.
“FaceTite and BodyTite require only minimal incisions, compared to alternative procedures,” Walker said.
Buki has used its fabric to design four different shirts for women, as well as a scarf and pillowcase. The items, priced between $98 and $178, promise to deliver collagen directly to the skin.
The collagen used in Buki’s fabric is marine-based, taken from fish scales and converted into a powder. This powder is then turned into the material used for he company’s clothing items and pillow coverings.
The products promise to make the skin feel softer and more firm in less than a minute.
The clothing also offers sun protection, a natural benefit of using the scales of fish that swim in shallow water that have a natural ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50.
In addition to delivering moisturizing collagen to the skin, Buki’s founders claim that the collagen in their products will not be washed out during normal laundering.
Buki’s collagen-created clothing is not the first time a company has made clothing with the skin in mind. Other companies have designed fabric designed to wick away moisture, repel stains and odors, and provide sun protection.
In addition to its collagen-based clothing, Buki has also created fabric to help regulate people to different temperatures and fabric that stretches and retracts to its original shape.
Source:
Hollywood Reporter. Is Anti-Aging Clothing the Next Beauty Breakthrough? 9 July 2018.
