# Lightweight Wearable Dwellings This Multipurpose Garment Transforms into a Tent for Refugees By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2016-01-22 | Social Good Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tent-for-refugees References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2016/01/the-wearable-dwelling-a-coat-for-refugees-that-turns-into-a-tent.html) & [kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/873662572/syrian-refugee-wearable-dwelling) Students at the [Royal College of Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/royal-national-institute-of-blind-people) in London recently designed a multi-purpose garment that can transform into a tent for refugees when necessary. As the Syrian refugee crisis continues to persist, many people are working on innovative ways to deal with providing basic necessities such as shelter. The wearable dwelling was created by 10 master's students who worked with the clothing company 'Wall.' The collaborative effort resulted in a three-quarter length coat that can be reconfigured to form a [sleeping bag or a tent](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zzzn-puffer-jacket) large enough for an adult and a child. The garment itself is made from 'Tyvek,' which is an extremely durable yet lightweight fabric. The material is also rain-repellent and permeable to air and water, making it ideal for combating the outdoor elements. As thousands of refugees continue to flee their homes, the wearable dwelling provides an efficient form of [temporary shelter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allspace-1). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 6.2/10 - Popularity: 86% | Activity: 92% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Social Good](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialgood) > [Social Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/socialbusiness) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Multi-purpose Wearables:** The rise of multipurpose wearables creates opportunities to combine fashion with environmental or social needs, such as refugee shelter or disaster relief. - **Hybrid Materials:** Use of hybrid materials for wearables or other applications allows for advanced functionality in extreme environmental conditions. - **Sustainable Wearables:** Designes can put emphasis on sustainable materials in wearables as a way to solve environmental issues. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Textile Industry:** Using innovative materials such as Tyvek in textiles could present unique product design opportunities for various industries particularly in humanitarian aid. - **Outdoor Industry:** The outdoor industry can use the concept of wearable dwelling to explore the intersection of fashion and function in product design. - **Humanitarian Aid:** The humanitarian aid industry can consider multipurpose wearables as a solution for disaster relief or refugee shelter problems. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Convertible Shelter Jackets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shelter-wear.md) - [Wearable Poncho-Style Tents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/onetigris-tentsformer.md) - [Geodesic Street Wear Tents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/heimplanet-x-maharishi-cave-tent.md) - [Upcycled Tent Garments](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/music-festival-waste.md) - [Hybrid Poncho-Transformed Tents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nrg-metamorph-poncho.md) - [Modular Tent Classroom Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zaha-hadid-architects-2.md) - [Experimental Shelter Tents](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/grayhus.md) - [Multipurpose Camping Shelters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/multipurpose-camping-shelters.md) - [Humanized Waiting Pavilions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/de-wachtkamer.md)