| It is well known that products that are manufactured at low cost overseas are threatening local industries. < BERUKA > is a product developed by blanket and sweater sewing companies from Senshyu, Osaka, to survive in the industry. It is also a product that was created in cooperation by designers and craftsmen with high sewing skills. The idea was to create a stretcher that can be folded up and stored easily. While all stretchers up to today have two poles attached to either side of the cloth in the middle, < BERUKA > features wide belts attached to the stretcher by applying special sewing techniques. Depending on the way it is strapped to a person, it even allows women to lift an adult alone. < BERUKA > can be used in various nursing care contexts such as moving a person from a bed to a wheelchair, getting a person on and off a taxi or for bathing. Furthermore, it can be used in relief operations in the event of a catastrophe. It is a good example of a product, which resulted from cooperation between the local industry and designers. This is the kind of product that is needed for the coming generation. It is also is a good example for the commercialization of a product by the co-operation of local industries and designers. |