Despite the abundance of sunshine in India, a National Family Health Survey from 2022 found that three-quarters of Indian women were vitamin D deficient. The cultural custom of covering the skin with clothing to shield it from the sun’s heat and preserve modesty in relatively rural belts is one of the key causes. Also, the lack of opportunity for outside time for women who work indoors or lead sedentary lifestyles may worsen their insufficiency.
Additionally, Vitamin D is of paramount importance in maintaining a healthy immune system, and its deficiency can increase the risk of infections. Enter investment banker turned designer Fi Paziana. She’s produced a line of modest clothing that encourages the absorption of vitamin D which also went viral on TikTok.
Adults who are vitamin D deficient may develop osteoporosis, a condition that makes bones brittle and prone to fractures and vitamin D is also essential for having a strong immune system.
Current research has demonstrated that Covid-19 lockdowns most certainly made the issue worse, and fresh information is constantly being released to further emphasize the problem. Lockdowns may have indirectly helped with a potential solution to the problem of vitamin D deficiency among Indian women, though. She used her passion for producing one-of-a-kind pieces for family, friends, and a tiny, elite clientele that included royalty in addition to her day job.
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Fi was inspired to leave her work and start her own label, Fi Miliano, by her desire to create attractive, distinctive designs and her special interest in vitamin D problems. And now that she’s developed and trademarked her own lab-verified smart fabric, Vylet®, Fi has received an unexpected boost from TikTok after a call for suggestions on how to use a new fabric she was working on went viral.
Before the company’s official debut, Fi states that “Vylet® allows ladies to totally cover up while at the same time filtering the sunlight to allow the UVB rays necessary for Vitamin D generation to pass through. This UVB radiation interacts with a protein called 7-DHC to produce vitamin D3, the active form of vitamin D, when it comes into contact with the skin. “For more than 30 years, my father has studied the impact of bone metabolism as a doctor and bone specialist. The first person to inform me that there were issues with particular demographics was him.” muses the designer.
Fi keeps collaborating with women online by asking her ‘amazing and ever-growing audience’ for input on the colours, materials, and cuts of each item of apparel. According to the Italian-based entrepreneur, “With the right support, I think it has the potential to truly impact lives.” Women who are eagerly awaiting the debut of the range to take advantage of Vylet ®’s characteristics have already viewed more than 2.5 million TikTok videos on Fi’s channel.
