Rocketplane Kistler, a U.S. based company that plans to start tourists visits to space in two years, launched a first ever spacewear fashion show in Tokyo.
The show featured models clad in clothes designed for travel in weightless conditions.
Participants of Hyper Space Couture Design Contest showcased their collections. The contest was won by Tokyo-based designer Eri Matsui.
Matsui, in collaboration with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) will help design the clothes for use on Rocketplane's space tourism flights scheduled to begin in 2008.
The show featured 11 garments that were selected from over 880 designs submitted by college students.
The clothes employed special designs suited for zero gravity, such as ruffles that expand under weightless conditions or small air-jet propulsion systems in the sleeves, which help the astronaut change direction while floating.
