For each of the pioneers of the new private space race I can easily find an adjective: for example Jeff Bezos is relentless, Elon Musk it's eclectic. If I had to find an adjective for Sir Richard Branson, however, it would be "funny". He makes me die.
Last January the founder of Virgin Galactic had signed an agreement with Kevin Plank, CEO of Under Armour: the sportswear company would be the technical partner for the spacewear of private astronauts.
Ten months later, the two companies reveal the fruit of their work: an entire set of clothing for astronauts. Basic clothes, spacesuit, shoes, training kit and a limited edition jacket.
It is the first collection in history created specifically for private astronauts.
design
The appearance of the manufactured clothing is an original mix of comfort, utility and aesthetics (it would be better to say “epic” given the subject).
The "luminescent" inserts give the whole the right touch of futurism, but wisely hide pockets, compartments and protective stitching. The grip is right but not excessive, to guarantee comfort and wearability even with the stresses of a zero gravity environment.
The "insignia" with the State of the private astronauts, on the left arm, takes a little aesthetic license: the flag is in a round shape rather than rectangular, with the double visual value of indicating the origin of the nation as well as the planet.
The color is simply a fairy tale, a point of ultramarine blue that recalls the meeting of the earth's atmosphere with deep space.
In a video halfway between a dancing homage to "2001, A Space Odyssey" and the presentation of the new jerseys of a football team, Branson himself shows himself wearing the "stellar" Virgin Galactic dress. Don't hold it against me, I'm stating the obvious: it looks better on dancers.
There is nothing to say: in the first trips (expected from 2023) Virgin passengers will be very cool.
