This Y-Combinator Company Is Making Tights Stronger Than Steel

Photo: Sheerly Genius

Raise your hand if you've ever bought an expensive pair of tights, only to snag them during their maiden voyage. Whether you're buying Spanx or Hue or Wolford, stockings don't exactly have a reputation for being durable. But a pair of stockings made from ballistic-grade fibers, (a.k.a. bulletproof vest material), well, that's another story.

Sheerly Genius, a Mountain View and Toronto-based company building "luxury pantyhose for everyday wear," has made what it claims is the world's first pair of indestructible sheer tights, and is currently seeking backing on Kickstarter to make the dream of run-free stockings a reality. While the campaign is already fully-funded, but you can still contribute to get in on the early bird pricing action.

The Sheerly Genius design combines ballistic grade fibers (up to to 10 times stronger than steel), with a proprietary knit and manufacturing process. "Our fibers are so strong they actually break traditional pantyhose machines so we've retrofit machines specifically to work for our product," the brand explains on the Kickstarter page. 

Given the materials and the whole indestructibility factor, these tights won't be cheap. Kickstarter backers have to pledge at least $79 to score a pair of the company's sheers, but that price seems relatively reasonable given the durability factor. According to the brand, the average pair of pantyhose lasts only two wears, resulting in billions of dollars of hoisery waste. (And yes, that material is going straight to the landfill.) 

Sheerly Genius has gifs of its indestructible hoisery in action on its Kickstarter page, and the results are impressive. Tired of replacing your tights? This could be the game-changer you've been looking for.