Discussion: Safety over design

[LadyStitch]

I recently had to tell a client I would not do their project because the demands that placed on it were 1) I felt out of my skill set 2) were too dangerous for some one to wear.

In your opinion, is it more important to keep the integrity of a design, or have it safe for the wearer to wear?

My opinion, is that NO the safety of the person wearing the item is more important that any perfect "look".  The safety issues on the project were that they were restricting line of sight with out having some one be their spotter. They were binding the legs from hip to ankle in such a way that walking was nearly non existent, also the feet themselves would be bound together with a covering so even the movement of the feet themselves would be extremely limited. All of this with out a "breakaway" system to allow for safe movement.  Add in that electronics were involved including lights, and battery packs. Another issue is that the item would be mostly made up of plastic and/ or foam and worn in August heat.  On top of all that, they must perform on top of a 5 ft high platform with out railings, no spotter, and dance.

I am all for having a great design, but if a design is such that the person wearing it is being put into a position where they are 99% likely to not just get injured but SERIOUSLY injured while wearing something I made, I won't do it.  Even if I had them sign a liability waiver, I am not going to put my client's well being at risk.  Just because they signed the document doesn't mean they wouldn't still try to sue me if something I made caused them injury.

So, opinions?

[isabelladangelo]

what were they going to do?  Drop on the deck & flop like a fish? (Someone had to say it.)  Although something may look cool in theory, reality is that you must always think of others safety.  Even if the person in question didn't care about themselves, I'd worry about those around him/her.  What if s/he crashed or fell into others?  I know of a lady that had someone fall off stage & on to her head.  Her spinal cordbis impacted. 

[Rowan MacD]

  I'm still trying to figure out how she could dance in something like that.  I figure two steps and she would be doing the deck flop!
  I visualize a sort of B&D outfit ala Lady Gaga.  Her stuff is not exactly safe either. 
  I agree with you on the lawsuit issue.  People are stupid, do stupid things then blame everybody but themselves nowadays.  Since you don't have a big, million dollar company with a fleet of liability attorneys on retainer, they would very likely try to sue, whether or not they signed a waiver.
  If they were injured because of the outfit, they won't be happy and at the very least you will negative reviews and word of mouth.
   It's a no win situation.
 
   

[GryffinSong]

I wouldn't do it either.

[LadyStitch]

We tried to tell her "This is a BAD idea."  but she ignored our suggestions. I would rather my reputation "tarnished" because I wouldn't make something because it would hurt somebody, then make something and have people think I make "bad" product. 

I had someone come to me elsewhere and say, "Well period costumes are inhertly dangerous.  Corsets will hurt you if you are not careful."   The way I see it, is if someone asks for a corset. They know what they are getting into.

[isabelladangelo]

Stays and corsets are not dangerous unless you are an idiot and lace yourself way too tight.  If you just lace yourself until you feel "hugged" like they did in the Renaissance, you'll be fine.  If we go by the logic this individual is trying to proclaim - heels, polyester, rayon, and hair dyes should all be banned.  Between broken legs, overheating, catching on fire, and BAD allergic reactions, these are incredibly dangerous!

There is a difference between something you can navigate in safely with proper attention and something that, no matter how hard you try, will make you fall flat on your face. 

[PollyPoPo]

Stupid is as stupid does.

Sounds like you were dealing with rank amateurs or someone trying to use real people to duplicate some computer generated imagery. 

[DonaCatalina]

Safety is priority #1.
Corsets are used everyday to protect broken ribs, stitching from lung and breast surgeries; so that is a bad comparison.

Hobbles are used to keep prisoners and animals from running away. It sound like what they wanted were very nearly hobbles.

[Merlin the Elder]

Picking apart legalese is what lawyers do for a living. Don't risk it.

[LadyStitch]

I would have had no problem making outlandish designs if safety concerns were admired to.  The case of an theater group doing 12th night and the actor leading the man in the noose tripped. The actor shattered his tail bone and couldn't move.  When the actor leading him tripped, the noose tightened around the actor's neck. As his hands were bound he couldn't remove it.  A quick thinking stage manager ran out there and removed the noose, while another closed the curtain. 

It is for that reason (and watching a stunt guy friend of mine jumping through and over moving set pieces) that I make closers on cloaks when they are going to be used in action sequences ALWAYS breakaway.  That is why I never double knot the bottom of corset laces. If you have to get someone out of one fast.... you just have to yank.  Otherwise you have to search for something to cut the laces, and that wastes time. 

I've seen some amazing fantasy designs at faire and else where.  The coolest thing I saw was a skin tight dress that her legs were bound into essentially a forest nymph/ mermaid tail. I wasn't sure how she did it until I saw her later.  She had hidden invisible zippers in the seams.  When she needed to walk/ move she could un-zipp a seam and go where she needed to, then when she got there, sit, and zip it closed. No one was the wiser. 

I keep remembering the case from a validated "stupid death's list". Where a guy tried to make a fish costume but he sealed himself in a water tight, skin tight 100% plastic suit in the middle of 100 degree temps in August.  He didn't make the distance from his car to the lake before he passed out and ultimately died from heat stroke. I won't be the creator of something like that.  I would not want that on my conscious.

[Rowan MacD]

I keep remembering the case from a validated "stupid death's list". Where a guy tried to make a fish costume but he sealed himself in a water tight, skin tight 100% plastic suit in the middle of 100 degree temps in August.  He didn't make the distance from his car to the lake before he passed out and ultimately died from heat stroke. I won't be the creator of something like that.  I would not want that on my conscious.

At least you have a conscience.    I can imagine the guy in the fish suit found a costume maker that had no problem with fulfilling his death wish. 

As for the 'Period costumes are inherently dangerous'....Only if the wearer does not behave as a person in period would behave. 
   You have to lift your skirts climbing stairs and going up hills (I've seen plenty of face plants performed by folks who forgot) and you must mind your sword or axe if you are in a crowd.   

[Adriana Rose]

You did the right thing.

Plain and simple.

[LadyStitch]

  At least you have a conscience.    I can imagine the guy in the fish suit found a costume maker that had no problem with fulfilling his death wish. 
As for the 'Period costumes are inherently dangerous'....Only if the wearer does not behave as a person in period would behave. 
   You have to lift your skirts climbing stairs and going up hills (I've seen plenty of face plants performed by folks who forgot) and you must mind your sword or axe if you are in a crowd.   

The guy in the fish suit made it himself out of an old waterbed. 

I feel that there is a difference between ignorance and stupidity.  If you don't know something, that is ignorance.  If you know something and choose to do it anyway, THAT is stupidity.

[Rowan MacD]

An old waterbed!?
That had to be seriously heavy.   

[Merlin the Elder]

It also had to be seriously stupid...