It’s an unfortunate reality that the world can be a dangerous place, especially for women walking alone. That’s why Rajia Abdelaziz, CEO of invisaWear, started her line of wearable security devices, disguised as stylish jewelry.
“I was in college leaving an event and was followed by a car full of guys yelling rude comments at me, then one started to get out, I ran to my car and was thankfully able to get away, but so many others can’t say the same,” Abdelaziz said. “I looked for a safety device for myself and my loved ones and found nothing suitable to my needs so I created my own.”
The discreet devices, which come in a variety of styles from bracelets to keychains to necklaces, include a charm with a hidden button that can send an emergency text to five loved ones when double-clicked. The alarm also sends a link to the user’s GPS location and can call 911.
For women, and especially young women, sexual assault can be a constant threat. “The statistics surrounding sexual assault are unacceptable with 1 in 5 women being sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime,” Abdelaziz noted. “Our mission is to make an impact to help decrease these disheartening statistics by allowing people to protect themselves and the people they love. Our goal is to empower users to feel safe, secure, and connected.” And she’s committed to this cause — so much so that she declined a six-figure job with Google to focus on her potentially life-saving product.
One place where invisaWear devices could have a major impact is college campuses, where sexual assault is a particularly pervasive ongoing problem. “College can be an exciting and scary time all at once,” Abdelaziz said. “You’re living on your own, sometimes far away from friends and family. There are so many things you may be worried about, your safety shouldn’t be one.” She added, “We hope our products give college students and their parents some much-needed peace of mind knowing help is two clicks away.”
Unlike other safety alerts, invisaWear devices don’t immediately give themselves away. “Most safety devices are big ugly panic buttons. Our products are discreet accessories you would never know were an S.O.S device,” said Abdelaziz. “In some situations, you don’t want to alert someone you just signaled for help. No one would suspect a beautiful necklace, bracelet, or even a scrunchie could assist you in getting the help you need.”
InvisaWear is also backed by ADT Security, Abdelaziz noted, which allows them to offer customers other premium safety features. “Our customers can now upgrade to the invisaWear® Premium for a small subscription fee and enjoy things like virtual self-defense classes and 24/7 call/text with an ADT agent,” she said, which is, “great anytime you feel unsafe, like while you’re walking back to your dorm from the library late at night.”
Abdelaziz tells her customers, and everyone, to be proactive about their safety. “Always be aware of your surroundings and be alert, not distracted,” she said. “Carry pepper spray, take self-defense classes, wear your invisaWear and be as prepared as you can be. None of us ever know what the day can bring, but we can try to be prepared.”
This article has been paid for by invisaWear.