For years women have often been left out of conversation when creating new products. From seat belts to sleeping bags and even medicines, many products we use every day have historically been designed around the assumption that a typical male frame is representative of the population. Of course, this is simply not true and often proved harmful for women.
For instance, until 2011 when the first female crash dummies were required in safety tests, female drivers were 47% more likely to be seriously injured in a car crash. Similarly, 8 out of 10 prescription drugs had to be withdrawn from the U.S. market at the end of the 1990s as it came to light that drugs, which were predominantly tested on men, posed greater health risks for women. As a result, federal law now requires females to be included in clinical trials.
While progress is being made to design more products around the unique attributes of a woman’s physique, there is still much work to be done and countless women suffer every day from the use of products not designed for their physical frame.
One inspiring entrepreneur, Phuong Mai, knows all too well the detrimental effects that can come from utilizing products not made with women in mind and is on a mission to disrupt the backpack industry. In 2012, Phuong was working as a management consultant, traveling with a clunky laptop bag and a heavy tote for personal and professional items. The constant weight of her bags as she flew from city to city eventually took its toll. After experiencing excruciating shoulder pain, she was told by her doctor that she had misaligned her collarbone from the lopsided weight of the bags and should begin wearing a backpack.
“As much as I travel, it was important to invest in a backpack designed for a woman’s anatomy. I am confident that my P.MAI will not cause shoulder strain and long term muscular damage, which is why I use it.”
– Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry
Phuong was faced with a conundrum. While many backpacks on the market were suitable for men, none fit the bill for what she was looking for as a professional woman: a sophisticated, polished look and comfortable fit. Phuong decided to take matters into her own hands and start her own backpack company, P.MAI, with the modern woman in mind.
Unlike traditional backpacks, P.MAI bags are designed for a female frame. With a lightweight body; adjustable, wide straps; and well-placed compartments for commonly carried items, P.MAI makes it possible for women to carry everything they need throughout the day without feeling like they have the weight of the world on their shoulders. And with such a sleek, stylish look, P.MAI backpacks can easily be carried from desk to dinner and everywhere in between. So bravo Phuong for creating a product with the busy lifestyle of the modern woman in mind. Carry on beautifully, indeed.
