Sana Protective Gear
Overview
At FRTL Creative Labs, we’ve reimagined protection through innovation and empathy. Sana Protective Gear is the world’s first ergonomic line of workwear specifically engineered to arrest the spread of mycetoma — a neglected tropical disease that causes chronic infection, deformity, and disability among millions of agricultural and rural laborers. An estimated 880 million people are currently at risk due to occupational exposure in farming, husbandry, and manual labor industries. Sana directly addresses this crisis by merging ergonomic design, scientific protection, and human-centered purpose into a single, transformative solution. Key Features: 1. Antifungal & Antibacterial Protection – Embedded materials prevent fungal and bacterial growth to safeguard against infection. 2. Lightweight & Breathable Design – Engineered for comfort during long work hours in hot climates. 3. Ergonomic Construction – Adapts to natural movement, reducing fatigue and enhancing productivity. 4. Durable Agricultural Functionality – Resistant to abrasion, moisture, and environmental stressors typical of husbandry and field work.
The Challenge
Across regions known as the “Mycetoma Belt,” millions of agricultural and husbandry workers face daily exposure to soil and waterborne pathogens that cause mycetoma — a chronic and devastating infection now recognized on the World Health Organization’s Neglected Diseases List. Characterized by painful swelling, disfigurement, and long-term disability, the disease not only affects health but devastates livelihoods, trapping families in cycles of poverty.
Nearly 880 million people are considered at risk due to their labor practices, often performed without proper protective equipment. Existing footwear and work gear are not designed for these environments — they lack the ergonomic and antimicrobial properties necessary to prevent fungal and bacterial infiltration during field labor. The challenge lies at the intersection of public health, occupational safety, and design innovation: how to create a durable, affordable, and comfortable solution that can be seamlessly integrated into the daily routines of rural workers. Sana addresses this critical gap as the first and only protective gear of its kind, engineered to function as both a barrier and a tool of empowerment — reducing exposure, preventing disease, and restoring dignity to those whose work sustains communities worldwide
The Solution
The Sana Shoe offers a groundbreaking solution to a long-overlooked global health crisis by combining scientific protection with ergonomic design. Engineered to safeguard agricultural and rural workers from the fungal and bacterial pathogens that cause mycetoma, the Sana Shoe creates a durable dermal barrier against infection while maintaining comfort and mobility in demanding environments. Its lightweight, breathable, antifungal, and antibacterial materials ensure that protection never comes at the expense of wearability. By integrating seamlessly into daily work routines, the Sana Shoe empowers users to continue their livelihoods safely, reducing disease exposure and potential infection rates by up to 50% within five years. More than footwear, Sana represents a scalable health intervention—a design-driven, practical solution that transforms prevention into everyday protection.
The Result
