2 Men Win Patent for Saggy Pants Design Intended to Help Wearers Avoid Arrest
Inspired by a Florida municipality’s decision to ban saggy pants on city property, two South Florida men came up with a now-patented design that is intended to help fans of the underwear-exposing fashion trend avoid arrest.
Their concept is simple: While the design looks like a pair of pants in danger of falling off the wearer’s underwear-clad rear end, it’s actually a single pair of pants held securely in place at the waistline. The design is also reversible, allowing teenagers restricted by school dress codes during the day to head out afterward in a pair of pants that, seemingly, hang below the wearer’s underwear, according to CBS Broadcasting.
“You can wear them as a normal uniform pants, and if you want to hang out after school, you can get your swag on, flip them over and do your thing,” explains Tyrone Henry, one of the two designers.
Using the slogan “Fashion is not a crime,” Henry and his partner, Fermin Esson, have created a company, Waistline Fashion, that they hope will be able to produce the pants for the mass market.
Details of the Opa Locka saggy pants ban, which was approved in 2007, are reported in the Miami Beach 411 blog.
Earlier related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Judge Rules Saggy Pants Ban Violates Constitution”
ABAJournal.com: “‘Fashion Police’ Put Fla. Teen in Jail Over Saggy Pants”
Broward Politics (Sun-Sentinel): “Lauderdale Lakes considers banning saggy pants”
