Kategorie: News
It fits!
Let's be honest. Are you one of the 78 per cent of online customers who have returned clothing because it didn't fit properly? You probably felt bad about it, because we all know that these items often end up in the rubbish bin.
It is particularly important that a diving suit fits well. After all, nothing is more unpleasant than going underwater in a suit that is too wide or, even worse, too tight, causing it to pinch even more when compressed. That is why most divers are reluctant to order their suits online. But even when buying from a diving shop, trying things on often causes a sweat to break out until you finally find the right protection against the cold.
Your diving suit fits your body, arms and legs perfectly and is also easy to put on and take off? Great. Then you have either invested a lot of money in a custom-made suit or you are lucky enough to have a standard figure or you are very tough. But what is a standard figure anyway? Everybody is unique, some people are rather stocky, others have longer arms and legs, some have a tummy or a torso length that falls outside the usual clothing norm. For women's sizes, the individual bust size is added, which does not make the perfect fit of a tight-fitting diving suit any easier, and intermediate sizes are rarely found in sportswear.
Made-to-measure suits at no extra charge
Izabella Meyer, the tireless pioneer in the field of neoprene-free diving clothing (see article ‘A new approach to thermal protection’) has also addressed this problem. Since Mermaid Protector diving suits are mainly sold online and sustainability is a priority for this brand, Izabella wanted to both increase comfort and reduce returns, although of course she doesn't throw the returns away. ‘We now offer our customers a special service.’ From now on, Mermaid Protector will also be offering custom-made suits in addition to the usual off-the-peg sizes. And at no extra charge! “This is probably quite unique in the industry, because normally custom-made products come at a pretty high price,” says Izabella, who had actually already toyed with the idea of using a digital bodyscan app for size calculation.
There are apps available, but the processes are either complicated or not sufficiently developed. Izabella didn't want to wait for a suitable tool to be developed before her suits would fit properly, so she decided to take this rather customer-friendly and unconventional step. The customer receives a list of the required measurement parameters and takes the measurements themselves using a tape measure. It goes without saying that it is in the customer's own interest to be precise in doing so. This way, Mermaid Protector customers receive their custom-made product without having to leave their home and without paying a cent extra. ‘Couture’ at the price of ‘prêt-à-porter’ (off the peg), so to speak. The suits, which differ from conventional wetsuits not only in the unusual material made from recycled polyester but also in their loose fit and colourful design using photo printing techniques, are lined with soft polyester fleece. Since the material used is less stretchy than ordinary neoprene, it has to fit all the better.
‘We produce in Germany, which enables us to make suits on demand without stockpiling vast quantities. It also gives us the security of increased customer satisfaction. For us, this is another practical approach to sustainable production.’ But whether standard or individually customised, the suits are the same price. The size adjustments just take a little longer. The customised suits are shipped within three months, standard suits in four weeks.
Izabella made a conscious decision about the material. ‘There are now suits made of Yulex, which is made from the natural material rubber. This requires plantation management with monocultures. And rubber is produced from neoprene, Limestone Neoprene and Yulex, which means further environmental pollution. We produce from plastic waste, which unfortunately is available in vast quantities anyway and has to go.’
Further information:
Web: mermaid-protector.com
Mail: info@mermaid-protector.com