Russia's too thin 'designer' uniform leads to pneumonia and flu

Telegraph ^ | 12/16/10 | Andrew Osborn

[TigerLikesRooster]

Russia's too thin 'designer' uniform leads to pneumonia and flu

The Russian army's expensive new "designer" uniform has been criticised for being too thin after hundreds of young conscripts in Siberia kitted out in it fell ill with pneumonia and flu.

By Andrew Osborn, Moscow 6:00AM GMT 16 Dec 2010

Parents of the sick conscripts blamed the army's new uniform which was created, amid much fanfare, by the flamboyant Moscow fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin.

Mr Yudashkin, who is famous in Russia for dressing Kremlin wives, won a multi-million pound tender to give the Red Army's successor a fashion makeover in 2007 after soldiers complained that their old uniforms made them look like they were serving in a poor developing country's army.

But parents said that the uniforms, which were debuted at a grand Red Square military parade in 2008, had put fashion before practicality.

"On the street they (our boys) literally felt naked," a relative of one of the soldiers told the government daily newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta.

"They gave our lads army boots made from fake leather with cardboard inner soles, socks, and light clothing clearly not suitable for winter."

[TigerLikesRooster]

So they know now how Germans troops felt on Eastern front in WWII.

[nuconvert]

Lol.

[Silentgypsy]

Long time ago, I read a study from the Rockefeller Institute. They wet and chilled volunteers and the data indicated that the wet, chilly people caught no more colds, flu, etc. than the dry, warm control group. Gotta hit the books again.

[Red Badger]

Poo!
Pneumonia and flu are caused by bacteria and virus, not thin uniforms.................

[Lazamataz]

It does look thin.

[exDemMom]

The new uniforms are contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and viruses?

[KarlInOhio]

So much for the L'Empereur line. Toss out the Napoleonic retro look and return to a nice heavy Siberian overcoat.

[ClearCase_guy]

That whole “germ theory” thing is a capitalist trick! They aren’t gonna fall for that one!

[luvbach1]

Pneumonia and flu are caused by bacteria and virus, not thin uniforms.................

True enough, but can't being cold and/or wet for an extended period reduce the effectiveness of the immune system?

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

Wow, they aren’t making Russians like they used to! Where have all the stone soup eaters gone?

[Silentgypsy]

That’s what I thought. Stressors can play a role in susceptibility, though, and maybe the cold was enough of a stressor to compromise immunocompetence.

[Silentgypsy]

Maybe those Spetsnaz cats aren’t the norm?

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

"They gave our lads army boots made from fake leather with cardboard inner soles, socks, and light clothing clearly not suitable for winter."

Ivan's gone with the Metro Sexual look.

[bunkerhill7]

Russia's too thin 'designer' uniform leads to pneumonia and flu:

Red Army to Switch to All-Weather Burkhas

[IYAS9YAS]

Pneumonia and flu are caused by bacteria and virus, not thin uniforms.................

Thin uniforms, more reason to be indoors with others or huddle in groups around heat sources, thus more likely to come into contact with those who may already be sick and perpetuate the cycle.

Now, where's my grant money?

[Yo-Yo]

Yes, very thin...

[SampleMan]

Long time ago, I read a study from the Rockefeller Institute. They wet and chilled volunteers and the data indicated that the wet, chilly people caught no more colds, flu, etc. than the dry, warm control group. Gotta hit the books again.

I always have a problem giving credence to studies that directly contradict my personal experiences and hundreds of years of accepted common wisdom.

[dfwgator]

They could have used Edna Mode.

[Venturer]

At least put some ear muffs on those hats.

Frostbitten ears are uncomfortable.

[Pan_Yan]

The second half of the article is hillarious.