The idea for the Swift^® folding hanger was born out of the need for having a quick and easy way to get dressed for work in the morning.

Early in his mechanical engineering career, Kyle Baltz would often find himself in a rush to grab an iron and quickly press the polo style shirts that would be his typical attire for the day.  A concept for a folding hanger soon sprang to mind – one that could easily pass through the neck openings of shirts and then be expanded in place to give all the support of a conventional hanger.  It would take years before that vague concept could be developed into a truly functional tool for simplifying clothing storage.

After nearly 20 years of working in manufacturing and product development, Kyle decided to take the leap and create the folding hanger that would be the realization of his idea from so many years before.  Using computer-aided drafting software and a 3D printer, he started down the inventor’s familiar path of iteration after iteration.  Eventually he crafted a design which would lock and unlock with just a squeeze and could be folded and expanded with just one hand.  Although that early prototype was relatively crude (even using a rubber band as a spring), Kyle knew immediately that this was the winning design.

Getting from rough prototype to finished product was a years long process of refinement and manufacturing development.  Along the way, Kyle came up with an adjustable shoulder support that was sturdy and enhanced the hanger’s ability to protect garments by preventing stretching.  As more hanger prototypes were created, they would find their way into his family’s closets for real world testing.  When Kyle’s wife accidently broke a prototype by forcing it to fold, he recognized the need to invent a new latch design.  The Resilient Return Latch™ allows the Swift^® Hanger to adequately support garment weight while assuring that the hanger will continue to perform well even if misused.  Further information about the Resilient Return Latch™ is included in the video below.

With an eye toward sustainability, Kyle developed recyclable paper packaging that survives long distance shipping while giving handsome product presentation when opened.  In keeping with a green mindset, the Swift® Hanger has been given a strong structural shape and is constructed from the highest quality materials to ensure years of use.  While most hangers are considered disposable, it is the durability and advanced functionality of the Swift^® Hanger that makes it valuable to those who use it.

Hundreds of Swift^® Hangers have made it into closets around the country.  Now they are finding their way into fashion design studios as industry professionals recognize the advantages of using Swift^® Hangers to store and protect their clothing.