The clothing is made of recycled airbags, and they do inflate.
40 years ago, Mercedes-Benz introduced its first inflatable airbag to the W126 S-Class Sedan. Mercedes is a major provider of safety and technology, so it was necessary to do something special. Mercedes spent a lot of money to source airbags and recycle them into… inflatable clothing.
Mercedes did exactly that, and it’s true. The automaker actually collaborated with Heron Preston, a fashion designer. Preston is known for his commitment to sustainability and innovation. With Mercedes’ help, he created the Airbag Concept Collection, three clothing designs that are made from recycled airbags.
Mercedes does not provide details about the clothes. The photoshoot includes pants, various coats, and even a wildly extravagant, um…cloak. As you would expect with airbags, everything is a strange shade of white. The inflatable part of the clothes is not explained, unfortunately. It is likely that the clothes are controlled by the wearer, and not accidentally activated by bumping into something.
“Heron’s unique approach to sustainability and his ability to see the topic through the lense of culture made him an exceptional partner to work on this project,” Bettina Fetzer (Mercedes-Benz vice president for communications and marketing), said. The inspiration for the Airbag concept collection comes from two milestones in the history of this life-saving technological innovation: the Airbag patent, 50 years ago, and the first serial introduction to our flagship model, S-Class back 1981. We believe that collaboration and co-creation create unforgettable and unique moments for our brand.
We have bad news for those who want to be wrapped in an inflatable jacket made of airbags. This clothing line is not currently available to the public. The public will be able to view these items at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin from September 6th-8th. These items will also be available for giveaway on the global platform GOAT September 10.