How Shilo Began: NYTC's Pack-and-Play Story
Before New York Toy Collective, Chelsea Downs carried separate prosthetics for packing and play. Changing between them meant finding the bag, leaving the room, and swapping equipment. She wanted one piece that could do both.
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The first prototypes
In 2012, Chelsea put roughly $7,000 of her savings into experimenting with silicone. She began hand-pouring prototypes in her apartment, working on a design with a soft exterior and enough internal structure for play.
The difficulty was getting those functions into the same product. A piece comfortable enough to wear still needed to hold its position during use. The early prototypes led to the posable design that became Shilo.
Taking Shilo to customers
Chelsea's published account describes bringing prototypes to queer and trans dance parties around New York. Early pieces were made to order, with skin tones matched by hand and conversations about what customers wanted from the fit.
It took six months to sell the first one. Word spread as people wore them and told others about the design.
Shilo was the first silicone pack-and-play offered in multiple skin tones.
What the name describes
Pack-and-play describes the two uses Chelsea wanted in one piece. Shilo remains a posable silicone design, with a softer exterior around its internal structure. It is intended for wearing before play; a dedicated soft packer is a different choice for everyday packing.
For the practical differences, see how pack-and-play designs work. For the construction itself, read silicone layers and posable cores.
