The latest trend: dressing for duress

There are smart cars and smart bombs, so why not smart clothes?

A new company is offering silk scarves and neckties lined with medical-grade filtration material. The developer, a doctor, claims that in the first few minutes of a biological emergency, these fashion accessories can be used over the nose and mouth to protect against germs, particles and debris.

(They have not been tested by federal agencies, nor are they designed to be worn constantly as masks to ward off severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.)

The items were designed by radiologist John Haaga of Cleveland’s University Hospitals Case Western Reserve. After the World Trade Center attacks and the anthrax incidents, Haaga developed the scarves and ties with his adult sons, who live in Boston and Washington D.C., in mind.

“I consulted everyone I knew about how you can protect yourself, and the only answer was a mask,” said Haaga. The polypropylene mesh filtration material inside the scarves and ties, which cost $40 (at www.fbsclothing .com, )is similar to what is used in surgical masks, Haaga said, and is more effective than plain fabric. “It will protect you from most anything in the air. But it’s not intended for long-term use; you use it to protect your airway and get somewhere safe.”

Haaga said he has sold about 1,500 ties and scarves in the last two months, and has been contacted by department stores and airport gift shops interested in stocking the products.

But with their flight-attendant flair, the design of the solid red, blue, gold or black silk ties and scarves will need to be tweaked to appeal to the fashion conscious.

-- Booth Moore