Turban Fabric - Rubia Voil, a soft fabric made of 100% cotton and a mix of voile yarn and rubia yarn. The composition of the fabric makes it a light and durable fabric for turbans
Turban Fabric - Rubia Voil
DYNEEMA® Composite Fabric. With a strength-to-weight ratio 10 times stronger than steel, DYNEEMA® increases tear resistance and is used in bulletproof vests and clothing.
DYNEEMA® Composite Fabric
3D printed armor. Inspired by historical Sikh warriors who wore chainmail under their turbans, this 3D-printed matrix of protective armor maintains the flexibility of a traditional turban.
3D printed armor
Non-Newtonian foam is used in a variety of applications such as military armor and helmets. It starts out soft and flexible but stiffens when force is applied, dispersing impact to protect the rider.
Non-Newtonian foam
Turban Fabric - Rubia Voil
The Tough Turban
The Tough Turban is the latest in innovative protection that allows turban-wearing riders to express their culture while staying safe on the road. Turban-wearing motorcyclists in Canada have had a helmet exemption for years, leaving room for inadequate protection while riding. The turban is not just an important symbol for Sikhs but also is a big part of their identity and how they express themselves. The creators behind The Tough Turban identified safety and cultural expression as the core design driving characteristics.
Tough Turban 2021: toughturban.com
The Tough Turban
The Tough Turban is the latest in innovative protection that allows turban-wearing riders to express their culture while staying safe on the road. Turban-wearing motorcyclists in Canada have had a helmet exemption for years, leaving room for inadequate protection while riding. The turban is not just an important symbol for Sikhs but also is a big part of their identity and how they express themselves. The creators behind The Tough Turban identified safety and cultural expression as the core design driving characteristics.
Tough Turban 2021: toughturban.com
The Clio Awards
The Clio Health Awards, part of the annual Clio Awards program by Evolution Media, celebrates creativity and innovation in advertising, design, and communication within healthcare. At the 2022 awards, Zulu Alpha Kilo was recognized for the Tough Turban project created for Pfaff Harley-Davidson. Spark contributed to the product design, introducing the first impact-resistant turban to the Sikh community—an initiative that combined social impact with thoughtful, structurally refined design.
Layers
Within the Tough Turban there are three layers of protection; Dyneema Composite fabric which is bulletproof laminate, Non-Newtonian Foam which is used in military armor and helmets, and 3D Printed Armour which maintains the traditional flexibility of a turban. The design also includes 3D-printed chainmail lining, which is how Sikh warriors used chainmail to affix onto their turbans before battle. The idea for the Tough Turban began with a vision to create protective gear for Sikh riders that allow them to self-express, and the Tough Turban does just that.
The Product Development Team
The Spark team was heavily involved in the process and consulted with Sikh riders to make sure that the Dyneema material being used was durable and flexible enough to be tied into a turban. Spark Innovations worked on the concept development, preliminary design, prototyping, industrial design of the Tough Turban, and 3D Printing. The designs for the prototype are being open-sourced online, allowing manufacturers to have access to this blueprint to make a version of the Tough Turban. Find out more at toughturban.com
