Coperni unveiled the newest Air Swipe Bag at the FW24 show, made with 99% air and 1% glass. Using NASA’s nanomaterial silica aerogel, the Parisian brand created this lightweight bag that looks like a CD player. The bag’s appearance is reminiscent of frozen clouds, giving it a misty aesthetic. Due to its lightweight nature, users are advised to handle it delicately, especially considering the fragility of the 1-percent glass component.
When placing items inside the Air Swipe Bag, it is recommended to only carry light essentials to avoid any damage. Weighing a mere 33 grams, this bag is constructed from NASA‘s delicate silica aerogel, which has been proven to withstand extreme conditions. Coperni’s creative use of this space technology has resulted in the production of the largest object made from aerogel.
NASA characterizes aerogel as one of the lightest solid materials accessible on Earth. It is produced by blending a polymer with a solvent, resulting in a gel. The liquid is then eliminated or extracted from the mixture to be substituted with air. Aerogels are recognized as porous, low-density, and solid to the touch. These characteristics could have influenced Coperni to test it for its new, cloud-like Air Swipe Bag, as this translucent material provides the bag with its see-through appearance, enabling the smoke inside to seem trapped and frozen.
Coperni utilizes NASA’s nanomaterial silica aerogel, known as the lightest solid on Earth, to craft the bag. NASA has investigated various applications of aerogel, including reinforcing it with polymers to make it less fragile and more durable. Another method involves creating aerogels entirely from polymers, resulting in a stronger and more flexible block-like aerogel. These techniques, along with other NASA research, may have been utilized in the development of Coperni’s Air Swipe Bag, which, despite its delicate appearance, could be robust enough to contain items due to its glass reinforcement.
The availability of this new release has yet to be disclosed by Coperni following its debut at the FW24 show.