CityState: Business
Crafty Creations
These clever and useful products all have Rhode Island connections. By Andrew Small
compression sleeves, silicone grippers and
Velcro closures so you can focus on your
activity. G-Form has also pivoted manufacturing
to create face shields for PPE. g-form.com
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF PROFILED RHODE ISLAND BUSINESSES.
Furrfighters
The idea for Warren-based Furrfighters pet
gloves was born in a firehouse and inspired
by a fireman’s dog that was shedding all over
his uniform and in his car. When regular
sticky tape and vacuums were unable to
remove the stubborn pet hair, Jim Rimoshytus
created a pair of gloves that did the trick.
Furrfighters helps remove lint, dandruff and
even dust from many different surfaces in
addition to excess pet hair directly from the
animal. Natural oils in the material help keep
your pet’s coat shiny, too. Portable, reusable,
washable and biodegradable, each product
is 100 percent made in Rhode Island from
99 percent natural materials with help from
other local businesses. furrfighters.com
G-Form
Founded in 2010, Rhode Islandbased
G-Form creates protective
athletic equipment using
lightweight materials. G-Form’s
SmartFlex pads are flexible
when worn, yet harden on impact.
Molecules in the flexible
pads slightly repel each other
and, once hit, the molecules
stiffen and absorb the energy
from the impact. G-Form ensures
padding remains moisture-free
and lightweight by
encapsulating the foam in its
North Smithfield manufacturing
plant. The pads stay in place with
Pivot Power
Jake Zien, a former RISD student, first got
the idea for Pivot Power when he submitted
a high school project as part of a precollege
program. They say that necessity is
the powerhouse of invention but for Zien it
was more frustration. Annoyed with trying
to get the most out of his power strip, Zien
designed a flexible device that moves to fit
every type of plug. Zien submitted his idea to
Quirky, which makes products
invented by real people,
and it was turned
into a reality. Order online
at quirky.com and look
for Pivot Power in Target,
Walmart, Bed Bath and
Beyond and Amazon.
LEIGH ShoeCase
You can never have too
many pairs of shoes, but
they can become a hassle when traveling.
Designed in Westerly to transport shoes
around the world, LEIGH ShoeCase provides
an easy solution to packing them.
Founder and retailer Tracey Cugno, a lover
of both travel and shoes,
was always searching for
an organized way to haul
all of her heels and flats
safely away from her
clothes. She repurposed a
bag with compartments and
started testing it with travelers
at airport retail locations.
Launched a year ago, the patent-pending
ShoeCase can hold
between four to six pairs by
storing them vertically. Adjustable
dividers slide so each set
rests in a separate custom compartment.
An antimicrobial
silver lining also absorbs moisture and prevents
bacteria growth. leighshoecase.com
Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Overexposure to blue light from computers,
phones, televisions and tablets — especially
now due to the drive to work remotely — can
cause sleep disruption, headaches and eyestrain.
Fifth and Ninth is a fashion and lifestyle
accessory company in Narragansett
that recently developed blue light blocking
glasses for both adults and kids. These
glasses not only look stylish, they’re also
lightweight and durable. The secret is in
the slightly yellow tinted lenses that block
up to 50 percent of blue light’s harmful rays.
fifthandninth.com �
22 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY/JUNE 2020