METRO GRAB - Design student will save lives with safer binder From Loughborough University
The binder has two settings (Picture: Loughborough University)

A student has designed a new binder for trans men which is said to be less painful.

The ‘smart’ binder named Breathe can decompress on demand, so people can take breaks when necessary.

It works by including a smart alloy called Nitonel, which when electrified, decompresses the garment and loosens the binder.

It is battery-operated and controlled using a small remote, allowing the user to take discreet breaks as and when they choose.

The binder is also movement sensitive, and decompresses when whoever is wearing it participates in sport.

Miles Kilburn, who designed it, said: ‘My long-term vision for Breathe is to see it as an alternative form of treatment for transgender people through the NHS.

Design student will save lives with safer binder Videograb from Loughborough University
Miles Kilburn designed it (Picture: Loughborough University)
Design student will save lives with safer binder Videograb from Loughborough University
It is designed to be less painful (Picture: Loughborough University)

‘A lot of transgender people who are wearing chest binders are often experiencing a lot of pain while binding, so much so that they can feel pressured into having top surgery – which is the removal of your breasts – so that they have a permanently flat chest.


‘Top surgery is very much an expensive and permanent decision, so for many transgender people having a product like Breathe could be an alternate option which gives them more time to consider whether they want surgery whilst experiencing much less pain from binding.’

Mr Kilburn, who studies Industrial Design and Technology, worked with transgender students to help make the binder.

One of them, Jamie, said: ‘Chest binding is a way for me to feel more masculine when I’m going outside because it flattens out my chest and it means I feel more comfortable presenting as male.

‘The problems that I face is more to do with discomfort – it gets very hot. I think Breathe could definitely help because it reduces discomfort and means that people can use their binder for more situations; they don’t need to take it off for sport, for example.’

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