hissy jacket pairs CO₂ cartridges with technical apparel for extreme urban heat
Hissy brings a cooling system into lightweight technical apparel
Hissy is a wearable cooling system developed for increasingly high urban temperatures. The garment uses a dedicated CO₂ cartridge in place of the heavy batteries and fan-based ventilation commonly found in portable cooling devices. Once the cartridge is docked, high-pressure liquid carbon dioxide vaporizes within the system, absorbing surrounding heat and producing a cooling airflow of approximately -30°C.
The concept responds to the limitations of conventional cooling technologies in extreme heat. As global temperatures rise and summer outdoor activities become increasingly affected by heat, portable fans become less effective at temperatures above 35°C. Battery-powered cooling devices also become heavier and less efficient, while exposure to high temperatures can further affect battery performance and safety. Hissy addresses these constraints through a lightweight garment-based system that integrates the cooling hardware directly into the apparel.
The garment is organized around an internal tubular Air Path that distributes cooling through the body of the garment. Its pattern and construction are determined by the route of this internal system, with the fabric cut and sewn to accommodate the tubing. The Air Path follows an ergonomic spiral based on the natural curves of the body, helping prevent bending or kinking that could obstruct the high-pressure cooling spray. Micro-perforations along the Air Path direct the airflow toward the body’s major heat-generating areas. Their dimensions and distribution were established through thermal mapping and heat-distribution experiments, allowing the cooling pressure to remain consistent from the hardware connector through to the end of the tube. This localized distribution avoids dispersing airflow indiscriminately while supporting controlled thermal comfort.
a translucent, lightweight technical apparel with a built-in Air Path | all images ©Samsung Design Membership
Hissy system extends from cooling apparel To lifestyle products
The CO₂ cartridge is integrated into the sleeve through a magnetic docking structure. Instead of screw threads, the system uses magnetic attraction to draw the cartridge into position, where locking protrusions engage with the internal hardware. The connection prevents vertical extraction and keeps the cartridge secured against the recoil generated by the high-pressure cooling spray. Removal follows the same magnetic mechanism. A slight rotation switches the poles of the internal dual-magnetized structure to repulsion. A groove within the hardware guides the cartridge through the required release angle, allowing the empty cartridge to be removed with a simple twist.
Additional details address the garment’s use during outdoor activity. An internal strap and external sleeve zipper secure the hardware according to the wearer’s wrist size and limit movement during use. A dedicated chest pocket provides storage for spare cartridges, keeping replacements accessible while maintaining the garment’s integrated appearance. The cooling system designed by Dongheon Kang, Minseo Jung, Yuha Ko, Juhyeon Jeon, and Woohi Park for Samsung Design Membership also incorporates a circular approach to CO₂ use. The carbon dioxide is captured from industrial processes that would otherwise release it into the atmosphere and repurposed as the cooling medium. After use, the cartridges are collected, inspected, refilled, and recirculated. The system is designed to keep both the products and the CO₂ resource in circulation without adding net carbon to the atmosphere.
Hissy’s apparel features a function-driven design, cut and sewn to mirror the optimal path of the cooling airflow
Hissy is conceived as a broader cooling platform beyond the initial garment. Its proposed expansion is structured across three phases. The first extends the CO₂ cooling technology to other wearable formats, including footwear, to distribute thermal management across the body. The second applies the system to lifestyle products such as outdoor can coolers for keeping food and beverages cold. The third moves into industrial applications, positioning the technology as a B2B thermal-management system for machines operating in high-temperature outdoor environments, including delivery robots and drones.
Through this approach, Hissy combines wearable design, airflow engineering, material construction, magnetic interaction, and CO₂ recirculation into a cooling system intended to operate across personal, lifestyle, and industrial applications.
to ensure safety during high-pressure injection, the garment is designed with a streamlined spiral pattern
snapping the dedicated CO2 cartridge into the hardware triggers an instant cooling experience
a zippered chest pocket for conveniently storing spare cartridges outdoors
accessed by opening the sleeve zipper, the internal strap firmly secures the hardware to the wrist
a concealed inlet inside the left wrist hardware marks the Air Path’s starting point
the Air Path loops around the upper body to target key heat-sensitive area
a dedicated CO₂ cartridge delivering instant sub-zero cooling
the core cooling hardware securely docked with the dedicated CO2 cartridge
a cartridge cover designed to reflect Hissy’s unique brand identity
fashionably carry the cartridge outdoors
project info:
name: Hissy
affiliation: Samsung Design Membership
design team: Dongheon Kang, Minseo Jung, Yuha Ko, Juhyeon Jeon, Woohi Park
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. See more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
