THEY put the chic in kicking ass.
A company hopes women attending New York nightclubs will be more willing to carry pepper spray if it’s packed in blingedout barrels.
The lipstick-size cylinders, created by Pepperface.com, come adorned with bright colors or Swarovski crystals, and pack three half-second bursts of a hot-pepper derivative called oleoresin capsicum, which causes impairment of vision, choking and a burning sensation for up to 45 minutes.
With the rash of crime, underage drinking and murders in recent months, particularly in Chelsea, company executives saw a need for a more modern self-defense device.
“When I started looking into the market, it was years and years behind,” says Mladen Djanovic, founder of Pepperface. “Pepper sprays were bulky, gaudy and impossible to use – and they were only sold on hunting sites.
None of it was geared toward women.” The standard solid-color devices retail for $35, while the personalized Swarovski crystal versions start at $95. Free samples will be handed out tonight at the club Stereo.
“We decided to do this because there needs to be a change in awareness,” says Stereo owner Michael Statsky.
“Women who go to clubs are so fashion-conscious – this is another accessory they can wear, that really appeals to them, that will also serve a real purpose.”
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Would you use one?
* “That’s awesome that they made it pretty. It’s cool because it’s so compact that people might think it’s lipstick or something, and it gives you an edge because you can catch somebody off guard and just spray them.” – Cynthia Cowan, 22, student
* “I think it’s a pretty good idea having pepper spray, just being a woman in New York. Though I personally think it would be a better idea to have one in solid black instead of all the frills.” – Nikki Nieburg, 33, writer
* “It’s pretty cool I guess, that you can wear pepper spray as an accessory. You never know when you might need it, and it happens to be a pretty chic little idea.” – Anna Vinkur, 24, homemaker
* “To be perfectly honest, I’m not even sure where you would buy pepper spray. I guess it’s a cute idea, just as long as it works.” – Maritza Banchs, 47, legal secretary
* “It’s a good idea in the right hands, I mean you never know. Some girl might be plastered and spraying people randomly at a club, but I can definitely see myself carrying one in dodgier places.” – Hannah Manfield, 21, student
