The loss of a limb is a situation few even want to think about, but a reality for many. For years, many associated the best prosthetics with ones that looked as close to their equivalent as possible. Congenital or traumatic limb loss is a very personal experience, however. Crafting a limb that looks as close to “normal” as possible does not erase a disability, their experience, or the fact that it is a prosthetic. There is no “fix” to make any of that go away, and while many want to feel as though they have a “normal” limb, there’s a fine line between pleasing the person who needs the prosthetic and pleasing the rest of society by making their disability as invisible as possible when most options for those who need prosthetics are the same flesh-colored pieces that emulate the equivalent body part.

Bespoke Innovations’ mission is to radically change this attitude toward prosthetic limbs. They offer patients that need prosthetics an option to customize their limb. The results are something undeniably beautiful. According to Bespoke Innovations, this is how it works:

“Bespoke Innovations creates custom-made fairings that restore the leg contours that many prosthetic legs fail to. These fairings then fit with the customer's existing prosthetic. Instead of mimicking the look of human skin, however, the Bespoke Fairings are designed to look like something completely distinct, combining colors and patterns that dress up the leg. The idea is to allow customers to express their aesthetics and personality through their prosthetic leg, just as they would through an accessory or article of clothing. The Bespoke Fairings are 3D printed using a durable, lightweight polymer, but can then be fitted with chrome plating, ballistic nylon fabric, or leather, letting customers customize them according to their personal needs and style.”

The company works closely with each client’s prosthetist to create a piece that is as functional as it is beautiful. Their prosthetics aren’t all about style, and the user’s specific daily life is taken into consideration when crafting a prosthetic piece.

 

There is a huge emphasis on the individual at Bespoke. Their hope is that the option to customize things like prosthetics becomes more and more the norm, because these really are options individuals should have. There should not be a prosthetic that all individuals receive--that plain grey or flesh colored device. No one should feel doomed to their prosthetic.  Choosing what that looks like can even help shape that transition in a better way. Not only are Bespoke’s prosthetics pretty awesome looking, but they might be the start to bigger and more affordable changes for many facing limb loss or disabilities that require man-made devices.

 

Check out their site for more information and hit up their entire gallery for some great pictures!

 

[Via Geekologie ]