It sounds like a hoax but it's not. On the occasion of Women's Day, the Association Stop to Obsolescence Programmée (HOP) claims the right of women to have (finally) tights that do not spin .

Tights that do not spin: a symbol for the HOP association

At a time when nothing keeps (and where everything throws itself), the association HOP launches a campaign against the programmed obsolescence of ... pantyhose ! Why the sticky? Opportunism on this day of women's rights? Almost. But it is above all a symbolic claim: nylon, a synthetic fiber , was discovered in 1935 by the American chemistry company Du Pont de Nemours : it was then used as the main component of the tights. In the 1940s, sticky is king, and is virtually infilable (the beautiful era!). But to push women to consume even more tights, the chemical formula of nylon has been redesigned to reduce the strength of fibers ... And this story is totally emblematic of the programmed obsolescence of consumer goods denounced by the association HOP .

A petition against the pantyhose

The HOP association has launched a challenge : to obtain enough signatures and donations to be able to imagine durable, comfortable, aesthetic, affordable and environmentally friendly tights. Any manufacturer or school wishing to participate in the design of these tights is welcome. The goal: to alert the brands of tights on the real need to improve their products that spin too fast. For the time being, the association is only in the phase of seeking support , the phase of action must be launched by the end of March 2016. Meanwhile, for those who wish to support the project, it happens via their site. An initiative that is reminiscent of the tax stamps denounced by feminists.

A programmed obsolescence for our pantyhose?

According to a survey by the HOP association, almost 70 % of the 500 women interviewed spin their tights after only 2 to 5 uses . Rather irritating when you know the price of a pantyhose: 3.48 € on average in Ile-de-France and varying from one region to another. The association HOP supports this finding by showing that the budget of a woman dedicated to tights can reach 216 € over one year, an excessive cost for 44% of the respondents .

So, for or against tights that do not spin?