A garment that provides comfort by applying controlled pressure on the upper body to simulate a hug for anyone suffering with anxiety or stress. Instant stress relief

I've spent this past semester designing functional clothing for my industrial design studio at Pratt Institute. Through some personal experience and research, I have found that maintaining a healthy mental health is just as important as maintaining physical health for people of all ages. Frequent exposure to stress can impair brain development and cause chronic illnesses in the later years. Hugs have been proven to calm anxiety, lower heart rate, lower blood pressure, and release happy hormones such as oxytocin and serotonin. Hugs can scientifically relieve stress by reversing all the negative bodily reactions. This vest recreates a hugging experience in hopes to reverse the negative bodily reactions that arise from stress and anxiety.

The vest is constructed with mainly fleece and the coated polyurethane vinyl for the inflatable bladder. As the wearer inflates Bubsy, the vest starts to inflate around the waste and apply pressure to simulate a hug. The more inflate, the more pressure the wearer experiences, so the user can customize how firm of a hug to receive from the vest. When the vest is fully inflated, the wearer can also hug the bear aka Bubsy. Through surveys, I have come to conclusion that while receiving a hug can feel comforting, that is only half of the hugging experience. A person feels most comforted and calm when they are able to reciprocate the hug.

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