The inventor of the scrunchie had a second idea that was even weirder
Though a few retailers have tried to spark a scrunchie comeback, the fashion accessory largely remains a relic of the 90s. It was bizarrely successful, and if inventor Rommy H. Revson had her way, an even more unusual invention would have made it just as big.
Who invented the scrunchie?
Rommy H. Revson obtained the first design patent for the scrunchie in 1987. A former singer-songwriter, Revson came up with the invention while house-sitting.
Why was it called the scrunchie?
To Revson, her decorative hair accessory was called the Scunci, after her sick toy poodle. The name Scrunchie was a natural evolution, since the fabric scrunched up.
The scrunchie inventor’s second stab at genius
After inventing the scrunchie, Revson spent most of her time in legal disputes, both with manufacturers and her own lawyers. But she did have time for one other fashion invention.
In addition to other scrunchie-like patents, she came up with a new headwear invention in 1994. Her cap with a sealable compartment would have made caps into miniature purses.
As stated in the patent application, the invention could have broken new ground. “Despite the existence of such known constructions,” it reads, “there remains a continuing need for a cap structure having a pocket therein which is of an attractive construction, which provides for secure storage of the items placed therein, and which may be economically and efficiently fabricated.”
Alas, the cap pocket didn’t change the world the same way the scrunchie did—the patent expired in 2004, due to failure to pay renewal fees. It appears that scrunchie-caliber genius may only strike once.
