LUST for LIFE

Ladies, can you imagine yourselves pulling a pair of chopsticks from your brassieres, and use them during meal time? And guys, can you imagine your girlfriend or spouse doing that, ha, ha?

Yes, I’m referring to the My Hashi Bra (My Chopsticks Bra) unveiled by lingerie maker Triumph International Japan on Nov 7. It’s supposed to be a ‘concept’ bra to promote the use of reusable chopsticks. That’s because Japanese throw away some 25 billion pairs of wooden disposable chopsticks every year. Not surprising given the proliferation of noodle stalls, sushi bars and convenience stores, where disposable chopsticks are used.

Looking at the Reuters photo showing model Yuko Ishida with the collapsible chopsticks, I didn’t realize that the My Chopsticks Bra is designed with a Japanese dining table theme. Look closer. Apart from the chopsticks, the right cup consists of a rice bowl, the left a miso soup bowl, and a removable chopsticks-rest lies between the cups. On either sides of the cups are holsters to hold a pair of chopsticks each, while pushing the bosoms to accentuate cleavage.

Ingenious creation! Who would have thought that you can carry your chopsticks – first used in China about 4,000 years ago – in your bra? I’m not sure whether it (the Chopsticks Bra) is really that practical; unless one is daring enough like the time when pop diva Madonna wore her undergarment outfit (with an i-conical bra) as an outer garment during her 1990 Blonde Ambition tour. The bra later fetched US$20,000 at an auction.

Whether practical or not, Triumph should be commended for its ‘going green’ efforts. I’m all for eco-friendly inventions, considering the rate we are depleting the natural resources.

Being a concept bra, Triumph says the My Chopsticks Bra will not go on sale. Read more about the My Hashi Bra here and here.

Interestingly, do you know that while ‘brassiere’ is of French origin, the French call it soutien-gorge (literally ‘throat support’)? Doesn’t sound like an agent provocateur, does it?