A new product from Mexico wants to replace the umbrella in your bag. Raincard is a full-size disposable raincoat that has been compressed down to the size of a credit card. Its makers call it the first raincoat of its kind, and it fits in a wallet or a pocket.
The product was created by Jacobo Motola and Daniel Raich. Development took 12 months, since they had to pick the right materials and find the best way to fold and package the coat. Along the way, they built more than 50 homemade prototypes. The folding technique is unique, they say, and a patent is pending.
Raincard launched a Kickstarter campaign in February 2018. The funding goal is 125,000 Mexican pesos, which is about $6,636. A pledge of 200 pesos, or roughly $11, gets backers 10 Raincards. A smaller 20-peso pledge does not include a coat. Instead, it pays for one to be donated to people in need in Oaxaca, Chiapas and Mexico City.
The campaign runs until March 24. If it succeeds, the founders plan to start production in April 2018, and backers will then receive their rewards.
The card that holds the coat can also be customized. Buyers can add their own designs, colors and brand logos. That is why the founders see promotional uses, for example at concerts, sporting events and other outdoor gatherings where rain can spoil the day.
The team is also reaching out to backers in Mexico City, where the summer brings a rainy season.
