A Line of Apparel and Skincare That Prevents Dehydration

Sugar has gotten a (deservedly) bad rep lately—but not all of the sweet stuff is bad for us. Recently designer Jaime Tai set out to explore how sugar-based products could potentially help keep us hydrated longer, and be a vital tool in a future world with less water. This “speculative design project,” called Trehalose Artefacts, features a collection of apparel and skincare items that utilize trehalose, a naturally generated glucose that protects the body from dehydration in harsh environments.

According to PSFK, “a 2010 study by the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) revealed that prolonged drought may threaten much of the world within decades. Scientists have also warned that dry spells, though primarily a consequence of natural climate variability, are intensifying due to global warming caused by human emissions.” This has led researchers to wonder if “sugar-embedded” products that keep humans from losing too much water would give us a better chance at long term survival.

A dehydration patch test.

So far Tai has partnered with the UCL Centre for Nanotechnology and Regenerative Science to test if the line is viable to produce.

“The TreSk1n line was a result of scientific experimentation and iterative prototyping,” she says. “We found that there were optimal concentrations of trehalose required for different environments and that [synthetic materials], like nano-composite POSS-PCU, could be used as a means of delivery to the skin.”

So far Tai’s “TretSk1n” line offers several products with varying levels of trehalose for a range of needs. We like to think the line ranges from normal skin needs to a MAD MAX, post-apocalyptic level of dehydration. The future is now people!