Company claims new anti-rape underwear would thwart would-be assailants with locks and straps

A New York-based company is hoping to raise $50,000 to market anti-rape underwear for women.

AR Wear uses cut-proof, lockable straps to fix the form-fitting underwear onto a woman’s pelvic area to thwart would-be sexual assailants.

The company stresses that “rape is about as wrong as it gets,” and points out that “the only one responsible for a rape is the rapist,” but its promotional website says the product is intended to provide women and girls more power to control the outcome of a sexual assault.

“We wanted to offer some peace of mind in situations that cause feelings of apprehension, such as going out on a blind date, taking an evening run, 'clubbing', traveling in unfamiliar countries, and any other activity that might make one anxious about the possibility of an assault,” the company says.

Martial arts training, pepper spray and stun guns are only effective when the potential victim is alert and bold, the company says, and may not be possible if she’s under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

The underwear uses a waist strap that cinches tightly closed and unfastened using a two-point, “clock hands” style lock.

The waist, thighs and central panels are protected with specially designed, cut-resistant straps and webbing.

The waist strap prevents the underwear from being pulled down, and thigh straps prevent leg openings from being lifted or shifted to the sides by someone else.

The company has raised nearly $40,000 toward its goal using the crowd-sourced Indiegogo site, with 16 days remaining in its funding campaign.

Similar products, including running and traveling shorts, are also in development, and the company hopes a prototype for the underwear will be ready by July.

The company admits the product won’t solve the problem of violence against women, but they hope AR Wear will send a clear message to would-be assailants that the wearer has not given consent to sexual activity.

Watch this promotional video for AR Wear: