Sadly, most of us know of a female friend that has faced a threatening situation when out alone, or even experienced it ourselves. And we have probably wondered, what could I have done to prevent this?
We think we have come across a solution.

People’s safety is one of the core values of life, alongside shelter, food and money and women’s personal safety has always been an especially important issue. However with the continuing increase of women’s independence in all areas of life – exploring the world alone, living alone, working long hours (thus coming home late) and extensively travelling for work – it is becoming more and more relevant. Statistics from the British Crime Survey reveal the majority of women regularly feel unsafe when on the streets alone.

Yet, up until now, there have been few personal safety products available aimed at women. The personal alarms on the market were unattractive, and most likely to be lost at the bottom of a handbag. Research showed that few women owned alarms, and of those who did, the majority did not carry them with them.

Enter ila Security, the brainchild and collaboration between BBH, one of the UK’s leading advertising agencies, and technology entrepreneurs, Simon McGivern and James Phillips. They identified the need for stylish personal security products for women and set about developing a brand that would help women feel safer through stylish technology. Together they designed a range of chic and elegant products aimed at empowering and protecting women, so they no longer need to feel vulnerable when out alone.

Style is fundamental to the design of each product because an alarm is of no use to a woman if she is embarrassed to be seen with it and hence does not carry it with her. The ila products are designed as fashion accessories, to look and work better than anything else on the market.

The first product to hit the markets is the ila Dusk personal alarm, and the incredible response to it has proved women have long wanted and needed something like this. The ila DUSK is an innovative personal safety alarm that emits an ear piercing female scream when activated that will shock and disorientate an attacker, alert passers-by and give the victim precious seconds to run away.
A lot of women lose their voices when attacked, and the ila Dusk gives them a voice back. It looks like a chic fashion accessory (there are seven stylish designs) and it can be worn as a key chain or on a bag so is always close at hand.

Watch out for a series new products from coming out in mid 2010 including:

the ila Wedge, a door wedge personal security alarm which triggers a piercing 130dB siren when breached, while helping to keep the door from being opened any further – ideal for women travellers or women living along

the ila Pebble – a smaller key ring personal alarm

the ila Sport - made to house an ila POCKET alarm (a pedometer, calorie counter, clock and personal alarm in one), and an MP3 player to make exercising safer.

the ila Leash - a dog lead with a built-in flashlight and a piercing 130dB alarm at the ready because walking a dog at night is another time when women feel uneasy.

The ila DUSK costs £19.50. Visit www.ilasecurity.com for more information or to purchase one.

 

This is a really innovative and stylish approach to safety for women and we are delighted to make it our Editor's Choice, tell all your friends about it !