Nowadays, it doesn’t seem like we can go very long without another tragic reminder of how gun violence continues to plague the country.
Whether it’s the fact that children in school are getting enough active shooter training to be able to teach us what to do or the fact the U.S. is home to more mass shootings than most of us can keep track of, the way it has spun out of control has clearly affected our society deeply.
And since the constitutional issue of gun regulation remains so difficult to navigate, citizens are left to find their own means of protection from the real possibility of suddenly being shot.
And one Bay Area woman has seriously stepped up with a particularly ingenious one.
When she lived in Seattle, 25-year-old material scientist Vy Tran had a tragedy happen disturbingly close to home.
As ABC 13 reported , her neighbor was walking home and had almost reached her house when a robber demanded the mother of two’s purse.
When she refused, the robber shot her in the chest eight times.
As Tran said , “She died right there, right in front of her home and mine.”
Not only was this a tragedy on its own, but it also led Tran to worry about her brother and mother, who often walk the same route as that neighbor.
And so, she decided to look up bulletproof gear online.
What she discovered, however, was that there wasn’t anything available for women or children, nor could she find anything that she could afford.
And so, she was inspired to design her own bulletproof clothing.
She ended up developing prototypes for a hoodie, a jean jacket, and a vest that doubled as body armor.
When she sent them for testing, she found that her designs met the National Institute of Justice’s requirements for body armor.
Once she knew her designs would work, she founded a company called Wonder Hoodie and began selling them.
Although prices vary on the gear available, ABC 13 reported that they start at $450.
As Tran said, “This is just me doing my part. That if someone like my mom or brother was looking for a product like this, it would be made available to them.”
Wonder Hoodie’s products are rated at 3A, which means they offer the highest level of protection possible for “soft” body armor.
This means they can protect against weapons as powerful as a .44 Magnum, and they’re also meant to protect against knives.
As Tran said, “We only use dupont kevlar and a newer version of their kevlar, called kevlar XP.”
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However, Tran’s designs also have their own patented innovations in protective gear.
One difference between her hoodies and other “soft” body armor is that hers offer head protection because the hood is also lined with kevlar.
She also developed a zipper that keeps the armor and the sweater connected, which makes the Wonder Hoodie attire machine-washable.
Tran said she’s received many letters from schools and parents who are interested in her products.
One customer reportedly bought one because he’s married to a teacher, while another just wanted to feel safe as he went to the movies.
The part of her job that Tran finds particularly heartbreaking, however, is making and selling kid’s sizes.
h/t: ABC 13
