Japanese lingerie manufacturer Ravijour wants women to trust their feelings when they think they've found true love. And, to help women decipher just what those true feelings are, the company's new bra unclasps whenever the wearer falls head over heels.
How does it work? Well, the bra contains what Ravijour rather grandiosely calls "true love" technology. It's actually a heart monitor built into the bra, and wirelessly connected to a smartphone app.
The company says that a part of the adrenal gland called the adrenal medulla secretes catecholamines when someone is aroused. These compounds — which includes epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine — are responsible for humans' flight-or-fight response, and also interact with the reward center of the brain.
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According to the bra manufacturer, the more catecholamines you have in your system, the faster your heart beats. They say their research has helped them determine the specific heart rate parameters that distinguish between a simple flirtation, an attraction you'll regret in the morning, and true love.
When the woman meets a person who catches her attention — therefore raising her heart rate — the front clasp will start to glow pink. Once the woman's heart rate reaches a certain threshold, the bra will unclasp. This will let her, as well as anyone in the room, know that she's found her mate.
The creators claim that since this bra knows how women really feel, men will know when its time to approach or back off. They say it will prevent grabby men from being able to take off an unwilling woman's bra, making it a sort of modern day chastity belt for your breasts.
One thing they don't explain: How the woman will be able to personally take off the bra — or what would happen if the woman's heart rate was elevated due to other activities. Running a marathon, chasing after rambunctious children, getting angry at your roommates, or being scared while watching a horror movie: All those situations aren't an opportune time to let everything hang free.
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