Parents who travel with tiny babies can now thank Helder L. Santos, the Portuguese designer behind the folding baby carrier. Now why didn’t someone come up with this sooner?
The concertina-style hood part of the carrier, as well as the handle, can fold down. This results in a very compact "suitcase" which allows the carrier to be stored easily in the overhead bin of a plane or neatly in a closet or car trunk when not in use.
This sort of infant carrier is only useful for babies up to about 5-6 months old. When the baby outgrows the carrier, the "suitcase" complete with shoulder strap, becomes arguably the toughest diaper bag in the world.
The project was in collaboration with Samsonite, the luggage company.
Collapsible Baby Carriers
Helder Santos Teams with Samsonite
Trend Themes
1. Folding Baby Carriers - Opportunity for innovative designs that prioritize portability and convenience for parents on the go.
2. Compact Storage Solutions - Potential for disruptive products that optimize space utilization, such as collapsible baby carriers that can be easily stored in various environments.
3. Multi-functional Diaper Bags - Possibility for disruptive innovation in diaper bags that transform into functional accessories after the baby outgrows the carrier, providing extra value to parents.
Industry Implications
1. Baby Products - Folding baby carriers present an opportunity for manufacturers to cater to the needs of traveling parents, offering compact and convenient solutions.
2. Luggage - Collaborations between luggage companies like Samsonite and designers like Helder Santos can lead to disruptive innovations in the travel industry by introducing folding baby carriers as a new travel accessory.
3. Fashion Accessories - The concept of multi-functional diaper bags can open up potential opportunities for fashion accessory brands to create stylish yet practical bags that cater to parents' needs beyond infancy.