Looking for that post Christmas gift for the person who has everything? It may be too late to get this new item over here for Boxing Day this year but it could be something to keep in mind for Yuletide 2008.
It's a wash-and-wear suit you clean in your shower.
The suit, branded as the "Shower Clean" line, comes from - where else? - gadget and invention crazy Japan. How does it work? The maker - Konaka, a local clothing firm - has a
demonstration on its website. It's in Japanese but has pictures that require no real translation.
Simply reverse the jacket and pants, place them on a hanger, spray warm water on them for a few minutes to clean the lining, then repeat the process for the outside and let the thing drip dry. There's no ironing required and the company promises both the coat and the trousers will come out wrinkle free.
Who'd want to buy this scrubbable suit? The manufacturer believes it will be perfect for the executive in a hurry or college students heading for job interviews who suddenly discover they don't have anything clean to wear. "They often don't have time to take their suit to a dry cleaner and it's difficult for them to iron a wool suit," explains spokesman Shigeyuki Tsuchiya. "Our suit can return to the original shape easily after a shower."
And despite the fact they can be nozzled off, you won't have to spend money like water to get one. They cost between US$260 and $500 and will be available overseas in February. There's no word on when or if they'll be coming to Canada, but that information is expected to come out in the wash.