Smart Clothing

About
Smart clothing is the fusion of textiles and technology, designed to make your life just a little
more quantifiable. A wearable can be found for just about everything, from your head to your
toes, and can function in various ways. Sports clothes intended for athletes are equipped to
monitor heart rate, muscle activity, speed, and even breathing patterns. On the other end of the
spectrum, smart gloves for motorcyclists allow users to control music, media, and smartphones
through gesture control, while solar-powered jackets provide wearers with enough power to
charge a phone. There are over 10 major articles of smart clothing available. They range greatly
in price, from the $170 Hexoskin smart shirt to the $420 Tommy Hilfiger solar powered shirt. Big
brands like Beartek, Spree Wearables, Athos, and Hexoskin produce a variety of smart clothing
items that fit seamlessly into daily life. Devices like the Athos shirt, Owlet baby monitor, Spree
Smart Cap, and SnowSport gloves give insight into body metrics — and can also alert users as
to what to change about their daily routine. Though smart clothing may not proliferate the
wearable technology market today, more and more pieces are being developed. In order to find
what fits you, we’ve got the specs and details that you need to know. Another tip? Be sure you
select a garment that is compatible with your smartphone’s operating system. From the athlete to
the baby, there is an article of wearable tech clothing for everyone. Be sure to browse
Wearables.com for official reviews and news on every device.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelarthur/2016/06/30/the-
future-of-fashion-10-wearable-tech-brands-you-need-to-
know/#14a4adfa4220

The Future Of Fashion: 10 Wearable

Tech Brands You Need To Know

When we think about wearable technology today, the first thing to come to
mind is still clunky wrist-worn devices – smart watches and fitness trackers
that no matter how hard they try, haven’t yet truly nailed looking like
something we all want to wear everyday. In fact, that “fashion” aspect of
wearables continues to have a really long way to go in terms of true integration
in our lives.
Didn’t we all imagine we’d have completely connected wardrobes by now? As
Matthew Drinkwater, head of the Fashion Innovation Agency at London
College of Fashion, said to me for a story in Wired UK: “It’s 2016, where’s our
smart clothing? Where is it?”

Indeed, “fashion tech” as a term rarely means anything close to what we

actually put on each morning and rather still relates to things like dresses that
light-up – beautiful Cinderella gowns that enhance the wearer on their journey
along the red carpet for instance (Met Gala anyone?). Or lingering memories
like that of Google Glass and its collaboration with Diane von Furstenberg...
Say no more.

As a starting point, all of these launches have been incredibly important in

terms of experimentations that lead the industry forward, but they also do a
relative disservice to “wearable technology” as a category to be taken seriously
in fashion.

So what are the solutions that are going to win? Here’s an outline of 10 brands
to be aware of in the rather small but fashionable wearable tech space. Some of
them even stretch what the term “wearables” might mean – stepping beyond
connected textiles into deeper fibre science, which is the area looking the most
likely to shape the future of our wardrobes.

Levi’s and Google Project Jacquard

The Levi's Commuter Trucker Jacket featuring Google Jacquard technology
(Image: Google)

The Levi’s Commuter x Jacquard by Google Trucker Jacket is a piece of

wearable technology designed for urban cyclists. Conductive yarn is weaved
into the left cuff enabling touch interactivity so users can tap, swipe or hold to
fulfill simple tasks like changing music tracks, blocking or answering calls or
accessing navigation information (delivered by voice).

What’s stand out here however is that not only does the functionality answer
an actual need for cyclists, but it genuinely looks good while doing it. Why?
Because it looks like a jean jacket and not a piece of technology.

The Unseen for Selfridges

The Unseen's color-change collection at Selfridges (Image: The Unseen)

London-based The Unseen is one of few examples on this list that has actually
launched to market. Founded by Lauren Bowker, who refers to herself as a
material alchemist, this is a start-up that has captured the simple idea of
colors that alter based on user interaction or the environment they’re placed
in.

The resulting line of luxury accessories for Selfridges in late 2015 included a
backpack, scarf, phone case and more, which responded to things like air
pressure, body temperature, touch, wind and sunlight. An Italian alligator-
skin shoulder bag for instance saw environmentally-responsive ink shifting
from black in the winter, to red in the spring, blue in the summer and green
fading to red in the autumn.
Emel + Aris

Emel + Aris' smart coats (Image: Emel + Aris)

Emel + Aris is a crowdfunding success story having raised over £100,000

(GBP) on Kickstarter in March 2016 for the launch of its smart coat. Much like
Levi’s and Google, this one also doesn’t look like technology; but rather a line
of outerwear for both men and women. On top of that however, comes hidden
intelligent heating technology inside.

Made from a lightweight polymer, rather than a load of wires, it produces FIR
(far infrared) heat energy from various panels across the garment that is then
absorbed by the skin to heat the muscles and increase blood flow. The only
cable that does exist is one that leads to the battery pack powering it. At this
point, that’s still the evident bit, but get past having to also carry that in one of
the pockets and this is one of the most appealing wearable tech functionalities
to date. Who doesn’t want to hit a button and be cosy inside their coat
whatever the weather?

Wearable Experiments

The Fan Jersey by Wearable Experiments (Image: Wearable Experiments)

Billie Whitehouse, founder of Wearable Experiments, introduced a piece

called the Fan Jersey ahead of this year’s Super Bowl; a shirt that fans can
wear to feel major plays on the American football field. Connected via
Bluetooth, the haptic vibrations occur in real-time with the game, creating an
emotional attachment for the wearer. She’s also just launched a version for
soccer in Europe.
The exciting thing here is not really to do with wearables at all, but about what
it might mean for entertainment. If you can feel the heartbeat of your favorite
player for instance, does it draw you ever more into the game? What if that
was applied to sitting in the theatre watching a high adrenaline film? Long
term, it’s entirely possible we might indeed be wearing such shirts while
enjoying sports or certain Netflix shows sat at home on the couch too. Tension
would have all new meaning.

Zenta

Zenta's emotional wellbeing wearable (Image: Vinaya)

The only wrist-worn wearable on this list is the all-new Zenta from Vinaya.
Still in the midst of its crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo, it has already
exceeded its $100,000 goal by more than 100%. Much like its sister collection
(called Altruis) it enables the user to switch off from digital noise and just
remain connected to their most important smartphone notifications. More
than that however, it also tracks emotion.
Tapping smartly into the market for wellness and mindfulness, it monitors
activity, sleep quality, breathing patterns, stress levels, emotion states, and
overall mood. It also connects its biometric sensing technology with machine
learning algorithms so it learns about the wearer as time goes on, and
improves the experience accordingly.

Thesis Couture

Thesis Couture is designing high performance stilettos (Image: Thesis

Couture)

Self-proclaimed as the world’s first high performance stilettos, these shoes

from Thesis Couture are indeed focused on functionality. By that, what we
mean is that they combine being high heels (four inches) with comfort. Sound
impossible? Founder Dolly Singh, herself a former SpaceX employee, has
hired a rocket scientist, an orthopedic surgeon, a mechanical engineer, a shoe
designer and an Italian shoemaker to create a shoe that does exactly
that, according to the NY Times.
The short story: a ballistic-grade polymer in the heel stops it from feeling so
painful underfoot, while the angle of the shoe and the platform at the front
enables it to seem like you’re wearing something an inch lower than it is.
Wearable tech by definition, perhaps not – but it sure is a great use of
technology applied to something most women would kill for. The above
example was merely a sandal for user testing, but the first true design for retail
will be revealed over the next couple of weeks and shortly open for
reservations thereafter.

VFiles x XO
The VFiles_XO collection (Image: XO via Wired UK)

While light up clothing might usually appear under the more gimmicky
header of fashion tech to date, XO creative director and co-founder, Nancy
Tilbury, makes a really good argument for it being entirely suited to a very
specific shopper. Generation Z streetwear consumers, she says, are waiting for
their wardrobes to get on the grid.

As a result, she teamed up with VFiles to launch an interactive collection

during New York Fashion Week in February comprised of fibre optic apparel
and accessories. A cap and rucksack will retail later this year, enabling the
wearer to change the surface colors and patterns in response to music via an
accompanying app.

Bolt Threads

One of the buzziest announcements of 2015 was Bolt Threads, a San

Francisco-based company brewing spider silk protein in fermentation vats and
then spinning it into yarn. Surpassing what we typically think of as wearables,
this bioengineering (and the two further examples below) is one of the most
exciting developments for the future of fashion today.

The beauty of engineering such textiles is the additional properties you can
add along the way. Spider silk is already stronger than Kevlar, and more
durable but at least as flexible as Lycra – create it in this way and you’re also
able to do so at scale. Bolt Threads has just raised $50 million in Series C
funding in order to start bringing products to market in 2018. It has also
announced a deal with Patagonia.

Spiber
The North Face Moon Parka using Spiber engineered spider silk (Image:
Spiber)

Also playing in the engineered spider silk space is Spiber; this time a Japan-
based company that’s been researching how to produce such polymers on a
mass level since its launch in 2007. It’s already working with The North Face,
having launched a prototype jacket called The Moon Parka made from it late
last year.

A one-off design, The Moon Parka then toured the brand’s Japanese stores
with plans reportedly in the pipeline to make a production ready version of it
some time this year.

Modern Meadow
Modern Meadow is engineering leather (Image: Modern Meadow)

Last but not least is Modern Meadow, another company growing materials;
this time leather (as well as meat) in a lab. That means it's able to design and
engineer leather to make it not only a more sustainable material but also so
that it has additional performance properties that it couldn’t have in nature.

“If you think about the 20th century being one that facilitated a generation of
materials that came out of the petrochemical industry – like DuPont creating
Lycra, or earlier than that with nylon and the synthetics facilitated by
chemistry – the 21st century is about biotechnology,” said Suzanne Lee, chief
creative officer at Modern Meadow, in Wired UK. She believes such fabrics
will be commonplace within a decade or two.
Rachel Arthur is a business journalist, innovation consultant and the founder and editor
of Fashion & Mash, a daily news site covering the intersection of fashion and technology.

http://www.google.co.in/patents/US6801140

System and method for smart clothing and wearable

electronic devices
US 6801140 B2
ABSTRACT
System and method for wearable electronic devices and smart clothing that includes integrating an
electronic circuit into one or more fastening devices on an article of clothing. One or more electronic
devices integrated with or attached to the clothing are controlled or monitored based on a position of
the fastening device where the position relates to how much the fastening device is fastened.

https://www.google.com/patents/WO2016153696A1?cl=en

Smart clothing
WO 2016153696 A1
ABSTRACT
Various systems and methods for implementing smart clothing are described herein. A wearable
system for implementing smart clothing comprises a sensor module to receive sensor data from a
sensor of the wearable system; a state module to use the sensor data to construct a comfort state of
a user of the wearable system; a context module to determine a context of the comfort state; an
access module to access a comfort model of the user, the comfort model reflecting target comfort
states for associated contexts; and an actuation module to initiate actuators in the wearable system
based on the comfort model, the comfort state, and the context of the comfort state.

https://www.google.com/patents/WO2015088875A1?cl=en

Wireless charging of clothing and smart fabrics

WO 2015088875 A1
ABSTRACT
The present disclosure may provide various electric receiver arrangements included in clothing pieces
that require electric current to perform tasks, such as warming, cooling and displaying. Suitable
wireless power transmission techniques, like pocket forming, may be used to provide the clothing
pieces with wireless power. In some embodiments, receivers may include at least one antenna
connected to at least one rectifier and one power converter. In other embodiments, receivers
including a plurality of antennas, a plurality of rectifiers or a plurality of power converters may be
provided. In addition, receivers may include communications components which may allow for
communication to various electronic equipment including transmitters.

Publication number WO2015088875 A1

Publication type Application

Application number PCT/US2014/068568

Publication date Jun 18, 2015

Filing date Dec 4, 2014

Priority date May 10, 2013

Also published as US20150162751

Inventors Michael A. Leabman, Gregory Scott Brewer

Applicant Energous Corporation

Export Citation BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan

Patent Citations (5), Classifications (16), Legal Events (4)

External Links: Patentscope, Espacenet

https://www.google.com/patents/CA2225104A1?cl=en

Smart shirt
CA 2225104 A1
ABSTRACT
This invention relates to the garment industry, and in particular to men's and women's dress shirts.
The principle of "SMART SHIRT" is to maintain the life of the shirt at a low cost.
"SMART SHIRT" can also diminish the cost of dry cleaning, because the shirt will remain cleaner
longer.
 Publication number CA2225104 A1

Publication type Application

Application number CA 2225104

Publication date Sep 9, 1999

Filing date Mar 9, 1998

Priority date Mar 9, 1998

Inventors Marlon Deblasio, Felicia Deblasio

Applicant Marlon Deblasio, Felicia Deblasio

Export Citation BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan

Classifications (3), Legal Events (1)

External Links: CIPO, Espacenet

https://flex.com/expertise/consumer/wearab
le-technology-wearables/smartwear-
activewear
Smartwear or Smart Apparel
There are a few Connected Apparel, Smartwear or Smart Apparel innovations
available today The New Yorker reported in 2007 that the Italian firm Ermenegildo
Zegna was launching a first solar-powered jacket, which was released in 2009.
Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger introduced his solar jacket that powers a
smartphone in December of 2014.
Recently Flex described several innovations the company has pioneered which mix
the sensing and electronic capabilities of a digital circuit with the stretchiness and
washability required of a garment. Smart, connected solutions have enabled the
wearable market to move beyond the wrist and become an integral part of someone’s
daily outfit. Flex is empowering fashion designers to make technology a part of their
vision as more and more customers expect fashion to integrate with their smartphone
or connected device.

Imagine someone being able to tap into the power of a solar powered jacket when they
suddenly realize that they’re off the path and night is getting closer. Maintaining a
GPS signal can use a significant amount of battery as can connecting to remote cell
towers in the woods. But if their smartphone has been charging in the afternoon sun
courtesy of their solar jacket, they’ll be ready to find their way back home safely and
securely.

Solar powered clothing can do more than avoid having to recharge on the go –
consider clothing that automatically adjusts tiny vents to make a shirt warmer on a
chilly day, or let in more airflow during a hot, challenging run. Clothing that is
automatically smarter (and more comfortable) is within reach.
What types of Smartwear or Smart
Apparel are currently available?
Activewear, another type of connected apparel and better-known as biometric
smartwear offered by companies such as Althos Gear, Heddoko, or OMsignal.
Activewear can improve someone’s workout by tracking which muscles are firing,
how hard the muscles are working and how hard someone is breathing or their heart is
beating. This information can be collected by sensors woven into the fabric. Some
smart clothing has moisture control, odor control and is machine washable (which is a
basic requirement!) These enhanced outfits keep track of someone’s performance via
an app on their smartphone.

Exercise clothing is a perfect category for many smart apparel enhancements.

Companies such as Lumo Bodytech has created the line of Lumo Run shorts and
shirts. Lumo Run products include a 9-axis smart sensor that monitors someone’s
running form, helping them learn proper biomechanics and reduce injuries. MAS
Holdings works with many leading clothing brands such as Victoria’s
Secret and Lululemon. Their Firefly line of illuminated exercise equipment includes
a series of LED-lights which flash in sequence to alert drivers of a runner or bicycle
rider wearing the clothing. By taking safety technology beyond simple reflectors, the
active movement of the Firefly lights is designed to signal that a living person is
wearing the outfit.

Shoes can become smart shoes by adding sensors to measure biomechanical data of an
athlete’s form, to help prevent injuries, improve performance, or just track how many
steps we take, and calories burn. Nike one of the leaders of this technology with the
first Nike+ shoes and clip-on device and continues to lead with an ecosystem of apps,
devices and community of running enthusiasts. Some of the latest technology
include a smart wearable shoe by Kinematix that connects to an app that visually
represents how someone’s feet hits the ground, records that person’s stride and tracks
how this performance improves with ongoing training.

Another type of smartwear are smart socks. No, we don’t mean the Netflix socks that
can tell if you’ve fallen asleep (although that’s pretty smart too!) Medical smart socks
can help diabetic patients make sure their feet are staying warm enough, a major
challenge given how diabetes can inhibit the blood flow and sensation of patient’s
feet. “Smartsox” were developed at the University of Arizona to help prevent
amputations in diabetes patients by providing people with connected intelligence.
 http://www.businessinsider.com/innovative-
smart-clothes-2016-03/#theres-also-a-solar-
parka-that-comes-with-one-thin-waterproof-
solar-panel-attached-to-the-coats-front-pocket-
when-in-full-sun-the-solar-panel-generates-
enough-energy-to-fully-charge-a-smartphone-
battery-within-two-hours-the-website-reads-
those-interested-in-the-designs-can-sign-up-
for-emails-about-future-sales-2

12 smart clothing options that will

do everything from charge your
phone to monitor your workout
 Danielle Muoio

 Mar. 10, 2016, 2:41 PM

 6,343
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 MIT
We have yet to see smart clothingintegrated into our daily lives, but
fashion brands are developing unique ways to combine fashion with
technology.

Whether it's tracking your workout or charging your phone,

these clothing options show how fashion is moving in a
technologically-focused direction.

Here's a look at the most innovative smart clothing options out there
right now:
View As: One Page Slides
Designer Pauline van Dongen creates clothing
capable of capturing solar energy so you can
charge your phone on your person. Her latest is a
wearable solar shirt, which is embedded with 120
solar cells. It captures enough energy in bright
sunlight to charge your phone in a couple of
hours.
There's also a solar parka that comes with one
thin, waterproof solar panel attached to the coat's
front pocket. "When in full sun, the solar panel
generates enough energy to fully charge a
smartphone battery within two hours," the website
reads. Those interested in the designs can sign up
for emails about future sales.
Ralph Lauren created a biotech shirt that will
collect data about your workout, such as your
heart rate and the number of calories burned, and
send them to an app on your smartphone.

Courtesy of Ralph Lauren

The metrics are also sent in real-time to a

Bluetooth-enabled black box that can be attached
to the shirt. The box will make you aware of your
metrics, like if you're under your target heart rate,
by talking to you. The shirt costs $295.

Lisa Eadicicco
The makers of the Ralph Lauren smart shirt made
a smart bra that uses the same black box to track
your workout.
OMsignal
Like the shirt, the bra also has flexible sensors embedded into it to aid
in tracking your workout.

The bra can measure heart rate, breathing rate,

and stamina. Those metrics are delivered to your
phone wirelessly.

OMsignal
The bra will be available some time this Spring for
$150.
OMsignal
For more information on how the smart bra works, read
our breakdown.

Fashion brand Joe's Jeans created a line of jeans

that will charge your iPhone while it's in your
pocket.
The pocket comes with a built-in sleek battery and
cord to top your phone up when you're running
low. The jeans run between $179 to $229. You can
also buy the slip battery to put in another pair of
jeans for $49.
Mimo's high-tech onesie uses sensor technology
to monitor your baby's breathing, temperature, and
activity while sleeping. The sensor comes in the
form of an adorable turtle decoration attached to
the onesie.

Mimo
The onesie will send alerts and a nightly report
about your baby's sleep to an app on your
smartphone. It costs $195.

Mimo
Everpurse teamed up with Kate Spade to make a
line of handbags that will charge your iPhone on
the go — no wires necessary. A "smart pocket"
charging dock is included in the bag and can
charge an iPhone of any size. The wristlet shown
here costs $198.

Kate Spade

The bag itself comes with its own thin charging

doc that it can rest on to re-up its charge.

YouTube/ Kate Spade New York

MIT's Tangible Media Group created sportswear
that will ventilate itself as you sweat. Ancient
bacteria is bio-printed on the clothing, which
expands and contracts based on the bacteria's
exposure to moisture.

MIT

The flaps are placed around heat zones and open

up as the wearer sweats. The flaps are activated by
the ancient bacteria, which respond to the change
in moisture. MIT teamed up with New Balance to
release the clothing line, but it's unclear when we'll
see it on the market.

MIT

UK airline easyJet teamed up with clothing

company CuteCircuit to create uniforms embedded
with sensors and LED lights. The LEDs are
embedded on jacket lapels for crew members and
relay information like the flight number and
destination.

easyJet
The uniforms for engineers come with a built-in
camera and microphone to aid in repairs. Crew
members can be seen testing the uniforms in early
2016.
easyJet
Athos sells smart clothing options that will analyze
your muscle effort in real-time using
electromyography (EMG) sensors, which are
embedded in the clothing and read the your
muscles' electrical activity when they are
activated.

YouTube/ Athos

The sensors can evaluate things like how hard

you're working your muscles and whether you're
building muscle symmetrically on both sides. The
clothes are also embedded with heart rate sensors.

YouTube/ Athos

The entire men's full body package — which

includes one shirt, one pair of shorts, and one core
sensor reader — costs $547. The women's lower
body package includes capris and a core reader
and costs $348.

YouTube/ Athos

A new clothing line called Nadi developed yoga

pants that will vibrate to guide you to the correct
pose.
There are three motors placed around the hips,
two behind the knees, and one on the ankle. The
pants will vibrate in the different locations to
indicate how to correct your desired pose.

Nadi
So if your pigeon pose, pictured above, would benefit from moving
your hips more center, then the pants will vibrate only in that area to
relay that message.

The pants won't vibrate the entire time. Users put

in what poses they want help with in a
corresponding app, and the pants will detect when
you're trying to get in that pose and start the
haptic vibrations.

Nadi
The pants will be available for purchase in April or May, but the cost
hasn't been released yet. For more info on how they work, check out
our breakdown.
Samsung showed of its smart belt prototype at the
Consumer Electronics Show in January and it's
loaded with sensors that can detect when you've
overeaten.
Corey Protin
It can also relay information like the amount of steps you've taken and
how long you've been sitting down. All of the data is sent to your
smartphone automatically. The belt, called WELT, is still in
development.

Sensoria Fitness created a pair of smart socks that

can tell you how fast and how far you ran.

YouTube/ Sensoria Fitness

The socks are woven with sensors that will pick up
the data and relay it to a magnetic ankle
attachment, seen below. The anklet will push that
data to an app on your smartphone via Bluetooth.

Sensoria Fitness
The anklet can last for six hours before needing a
re-charge. A pair of socks cost $199.
 Sensoria Fitness

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article
-3588576/Microsoft-s-mood-shirt-knows-
feeling-Sensors-read-emotions-cheer-calm-
down.html
Microsoft's 'mood shirt' knows how you're feeling: Sensors read your
emotions to either cheer you up or calm you down
 Flexible jacket packed with sensors and actuators is described in patent
 Could read a wearer's heart rate, temperature and movements
 From this data, it would control the garment's temperature or pressure
 Designed to be used to calm users or keep them warm, for example
By Sarah Griffiths for MailOnline
PUBLISHED: 05:24 EDT, 13 May 2016 | UPDATED: 06:22 EDT, 13 May 2016


 e-mail

81 shares

17
View comments

Imagine walking into a room of strangers knowing your clothes could

keep you calm, or wearing a jacket that could cheer you up after a
breakup.

That's the dream of Microsoft, which has described such a piece of

futuristic clothing in a patent.
 It shows a 'mood shirt' that reads a wearer's emotions then stimulates
their nervous system in a way that can either cheer them up or calm
them down.

+2

Microsoft's 'mood shirt'. described in a patent, is intended to read a wearer's
emotions then stimulate their nervous system (illustrated above)in a way that can
either cheer them up or calm them down

'The wearable device implementations compliment users' current

strategies for coping with and managing their emotions,' the patent
explains.

It explained the gadget is designed to 'provide a user with a cost

effective, reliable and easy to use way to enhance their physical
health and mental well-being and enhance their success in
communicating and/or negotiating with other people.'

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It is also suggested it could be especially useful for elderly people as

well as those with disabilities and autism.

The proposed item of clothing comprises a 'master soft circuit cell and
a plurality of actuation soft circuit cells' as well as a battery and small
computer to analyse the data collected.

HOW WOULD THE SHIRT WORK?

The smart garment is designed to be set up according to an
individual's needs.

It comprises a 'master soft circuit cell and a plurality of actuation soft

circuit cells' as well as a battery and small computer to analyse the
data collected.

In essence, a system of sensors inside the garment read the wearer's

heart rate, skin temperature and measure the movements they make.

In the patent , published by the United States Patent and Trademark

Office, it says these sensors are connected to a system of actuators
sitting close to the skin so they are able to create a feeling of pressure
– like a hug – heat and coolness or generate vibrations or music.

In essence, a system of sensors inside the garment read the wearer's

heart rate, skin temperature and measure the movements they make.

In the patent, published by the United States Patent and Trademark

Office, it says these sensors are connected to a system of actuators
sitting close to the skin so they are able to create a feeling of pressure
– like a hug – heat and coolness or generate vibrations or music.
Actuators could be chosen to suit a person's needs.

For example, an autistic user could benefit from a micro pump to

apply pressure on their wrist, for example, which is a technique used
by some to relieve the stress of sensory overload.

Equally, the item of clothing could switch on cooling actuators if it

thought a wearer was getting hot and flustered on a date, for example,
or play a happy song from a minute speaker, it it sensed they were
sad.

The patent says: 'The wearble device implementations interacts with

the user's senses in a manner than can mitigate a negative affective
state e.g. stressed or sad among others and enhance a positive
affective state e.g. calm or happy, among others.
 +2

The proposed item of clothing (illustrated) comprises a 'master soft circuit cell and a
plurality of actuation soft circuit cells. They form part of a system of sensors inside
the garment that reads the wearer's heart rate, skin temperature and measures the
movements they make

'The wearable device implementations allow allow each user to reflect

on and react to both positive and negative patterns in their behaviour.'

The idea is that the gadget support system would be invisible to

others.

'The wearable device implementations are lightweight, supple,

breathable and comfortable and can be discretely worn for long
periods of time without detracting from a user's ability to perform their
normal daily activities,' the patent says.

It goes on to say the system could be used to convey the state of

people nearby – but it doesn't explain how a piece of clothing could
obtain data about a stranger, for example.

'This alternate implementation …allows the user to reflect on and

react to the current affective state of these other people, and informs
the user when and how the affective state of these other people
changes.'

It additionally points out this could be useful at a busy business

conference, for example.

'The wearable device being worn by the user can receive actuation
instructions that cause the wearable device to generate a prescribed
set of actuations which directly convey the current affective state of
people in the conference room,' it says.

Like every patent, there is no guarantee the technology described will

ever become a reality.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-3588576/Microsoft-s-mood-shirt-knows-feeling-Sensors-read-emotions-

cheer-calm-down.html#ixzz4qVOeTKTE
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-
apple/2014/04/could-apple-be-eying-smart-
clothing-as-the-next-big-thing.html

Could Apple be Eying Smart Clothing as the

Next Big Thing?

Apple's most mysterious hires over the last year have something to do with fashion.
Apple first hired Ex-Yves Saint Laurent last July which was then followed by Ex-
Nike Ben Shaffer in September and quickly followed by retail superstar Angela
Ahrendts in October. Apple's very focused series of hires specializing in fashion in one
form or another led to speculation that it was connected to Apple's future iWatch which
was made public last February. And yet if you honestly think about it, Apple's new
talent pool is complete overkill for a just a single wearable device in the form of a
smartwatch. In fact it really never made much sense to have that much star power and
talent for such a finite project. Now new research has come to light in a lab far from
Cupertino that may actually provide us with a clue that could unravel one of Apple's
secret projects: smart clothing.

For years Apple has been acquiring patents and inventing things related to sportswear
such as skiwear which covers boots, skis and snowboards. Apple has even been
granted a patent about smart garments. We noted in a January 2012 report that
"Although the smart running shoe is the main focus of this particular patent, the patent
does state that "authorized garments" include shirts and slacks."

Yet when it comes to future wearable computers, everyone is stuck on Apple's

plausible iWatch. Even when Apple kick started production in their new sapphire plant
in Mesa Arizona, Apple's CEO made it clear that their Sapphire plant was for a "secret
project,"and not for iPhone cover glass.

Yet most tech writers simply dismissed that statement and continued to focus on the
sapphire being for cover glass. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but for now, Apple's CEO
has spoken on this issue, plainly and clearly. Perhaps it's a matter of semantics,
meaning that it's not about glass covers as much as it is about a new iPhone form
factor such as this one or perhaps one like this. Yet could Apple's secret project go far
beyond the obvious?

We noted once again in a report yesterday about Nike dismantling their FuelBand
team that when Tim Cook spoke with Walt Mossberg last year he grumbled at the very
idea of a watch or wristband product of any kind – and yet left the door wide open by
saying that "other wearables" could be interesting down the road.

Beyond sapphire, Apple has also been secretly working on a material related project
for years connected with liquid-metal that is technically a glass metal and/or glass
fiber. Apple's secret work with glass is fascinating the Apple community even though
it befuddles them. While we're hoping for a new and sexy flexible display based on
sapphire for a future iPhone, there's something else that could be much more
important down the road. Something that brings us back to why Apple may have hired
a brilliant team steeped with high fashion and high-end retailing experience

Is this the Next Big Thing?

One of the breakthroughs that the smartphone industry has been seeking desperately
for in recent years is a breakthrough in battery life to fuel the smartphone and phablet
revolution. And yet nothing all that promising is on the horizon. Well not until now that
is.

According to a new report, a team of researchers have developed a thermo-element

that produces electricity when worn on the human body using body temperature. This
technology, which could solve the problems associated with wearable device
batteries, is expected of commercialization within the next two or three years.

This new technology which was developed in Korea directly relates to a "wearable
thermo-element" that could be used as a power supply source for wearable devices.

The simplicity of it is that thermo-elements convert thermal energy to electric energy.

The existing commercial level thermo-elements made with ceramic substrates are
hard, unbendable, heavy and low in energy efficiency, and thus are difficult to be
applied to wearable electronic devices.

The new thermo-element is made with glass fiber, and thus could be processed in
the form of clothing. It is also lightweight and high in electric power production
efficiency. Compared to ceramic substrate elements of the same weight, electric
power production capacity of the new thermo-element is higher by as many as 14
times.

Made in the shape of a band measuring 10cm in length and width that could be worn
around the arm, this thermo-element could produce electricity of approx. 40mW when
outside temperature is 20C (approx. 17C lower than body temperature). This is
enough to start a semiconductor chip. When made in the size equivalent to a jacket
(50- 100cm), it produces approx. 2W, which is enough for using a mobile phone.
When commercialized, the thermo-element will mark a ground-breaking turning point
in power supply to wearable devices. Wearable device batteries available at the
moment have a short lifespan, and thus need to be changed frequently.

In addition, users found it inconvenient to carry around the heavy and large batteries.
In particular, unlike the existing elements, the new thermo-element could be
manufactured with a large area, which facilitates mass-production.Therefore, it is
highly likely to be used as a key power supply source for wearable devices.

The scientific team's goal is to start a new era of portable devices that don't require
batteries by commercializing this element that produces electricity when worn as a
clothing item.

Imagine Apple actually being ahead of this Korean team with glass fiber technology.
Imagine Apple developing a whole new category entry relating to a new high-end line
of retail stores dedicated to the next big thing – clothing designed with materials to
power wearable devices and your iPhone or phablet so that you'll never run out of
power again. Imagine Apple being a next generation clothier.

Think about business suits that would have a pocket designed to power your iPhone
all day whenever you need it on the go, at a conference, every day you wear that
specialized suit with breakthrough charging technology.

For ladies, think about a line of high-end designer purses that would continually power
your mobile devices. For the tech savvy executive or a night out with friends, your
mobile device would never die. Could you imagine how well that would sell?

And of course it would extend to skiwear and other sporting wear as we outlined
earlier. The idea is explosive has no boundary when it comes to where this technology
could be extended to in clothing. All of a sudden a light goes on to the possibility of
one of Apple's secret projects tying in many factors that have leaked out over the last
year.

The idea is right. It's just a matter of figuring out how far Apple could take this. Will
they simply partner with top-end clothiers and stores like Target and Walmart or open
a completely new line of specialty stores in major centers? Apple certainly has the
retail superstar excutives on board to pull off such projects either way. Yet for now,
the idea of smart clothing being a possible breakthrough project is as far as we could
possibly go without getting lost in the hypothetical land of endless speculation.
http://hitconsultant.net/2015/01/21/adidas-ralph-lauren-facing-patent-infringement-lawsuit-
for-smart-shirt-technology/

Adidas, Ralph Lauren Facing Patent

Infringement Lawsuit for “Smart Shirt”
Technology
by Staff Writer 01/21/2015 0 Comments
Wearable technology company Sarvint Technologieshas filed complaints
against multiple major apparel companies for patent infringement of its “Smart
Shirt” technology. The lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court,
for the Northern District of Georgia against Athos Works, Inc. and MAD
Apparel, Inc. (“Athos”), Carre Technologies, Inc. (Hexoskin), OMsignal, Inc.,
Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL), Sensoria, Inc., Textronics, Inc., Adidas
North America, Inc., and Victoria’s Secret Stores, LLC claiming infringement
of U.S. Patent No. 6,381,482, titled “Fabric or Garment with Integrated Flexible
Information Infrastructure,” and U.S. Patent No. 6,970,731, titled “A Novel
Fabric-Based Sensor for Monitoring Vital Signs.” Sarvint feels strongly that it
is the creator of the “Smart Shirt” space, and its patented technology is being
misappropriated by these organizations. The lawsuit seeks a judgment for
infringement and requests a preliminary and permanent injunction against the
infringing companies.

“Intellectual property is one of a technology company’s most important and

valuable assets,” said Palaniswamy Rajan, also a Sarvint co-founder. “Sarvint
does not favor litigation, but we recognize that it is our duty to protect the
company’s intellectual property any time someone misappropriates it. We want
these companies to discontinue business activities that infringe on our
intellectual property.”

In April 2014, Georgia Tech Research Corporation awarded Sarvint an

exclusive license to the ‘482 and ‘731 patents, including the right to enforce the
patents against infringers. Sarvint’s intelligent Smart Shirt garment is based on
the world’s first Wearable Motherboard™ invented at Georgia Tech by a team
of researchers, including Sundaresan Jayaraman, Ph.D., and Sungmee Park,
both of whom are Sarvint co-founders. The company’s Smart Shirt uses
specialty fibers to measure vital signs such as heart rate, temperature,
respiration rate and other health metrics that can be monitored by a
smartphone. Sarvint’s intelligent Smart Shirt garment will be commercially
available spring 2015.

Jayaraman and Park’s invention as described by the ‘482 and ‘731 patents was
featured in a special issue of LIFE Magazine, titled “Medical Miracles for the
New Millennium” (Fall 1998), and was named in it as “One of the 21
Breakthroughs that Could Change Your Life in the 21st Century.” In November
2001, TIME Magazine named their Smart Shirt as one of the “Best Inventions
of the Year.” In July 2003, Newsweek Magazine featured it as one of the “10
Inventions That Will Change the World.” The first Smart Shirt is currently
housed at the Smithsonian Museum inWashington, D.C. In May 2006, Dr.
Jayaraman was named a First Prize Winner (out of 4,200 entries) in the Modern
Marvels Invent Now Challenge conducted by The History Channel, The
National Inventors Hall of Fame and TIME Magazine. In 2007, the Smart Shirt
was featured on a program titled, “2057: The Body” on the Discovery Channel.

Capitalizing off the potential profits of the growing smart apparel market,
several companies identified in the lawsuit have all launched versions of their
own “smart shirt”. During the U.S. Open in 2014, Ralph Lauren unveiled their
new nylon”Polo Tech” shirt featuring sensors interwoven in the shirt that tracks
vital signs.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/google-touch-gesture-smart-clothing/
A NEW GOOGLE PATENT DESCRIBES
WAYS YOU'LL INTERACT WITH YOUR
SMART CLOTHING
By Kyle Wiggers — Updated October 4, 2016 12:30 am
Subscribe
Share

These are the 10 greatest Porsches ever made

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‘Delivery chutes’ are Amazon’s latest idea for its drone delivery service

Toyota patents a device that could make car pillars transparent

Google’s Project Jacquard began as a fantasy that the search giant’s Advanced
Technology and Projects division made reality: gesture-sensing fabrics built into clothing
from jeans to jackets. It has developed in baby steps since its unveiling a year ago at the
Mountain View, California-based company’s I/O developer conference, when it debuted
in the form of a woven fabric patch. Now a veritable platform more than a year later,
Jacquard has seemingly captured the attention of Google’s brightest minds, and the firm
has just filed a patent with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office for a “gesture control
system” designed to work with so-called smart garments.

The patent in question is focused on “interactive textiles” — in other words, jackets, caps,
jerseys, purses, shirts, and other bits of clothing able to recognize touch-based gestures —
and, more specifically, means of input. A swipe along the collar of a connected shirt, for
instance, could pause a video playing on television, while repeated taps on a
capacitive kneepad could mute a stereo. The potential’s endless, really: a handbag tap
could launch a digital Macy’s catalog; a hat swipe could download the newest issue
of GQ; and a glove gesture could set a connected home thermostat to a toasty predefined
temperature.
The conceit of Project Jacquard is simple enough: weaving touch-sensitive components
into fabrics using conventional textile manufacturing processes. But achieving that vision
took 10 months of intensive research. Engineers had to design custom yarn that
could withstand the pulling and heating of the weaving process. They had to
develop touch-sensitive threads that could detect the swipes, strokes, and taps of multiple
fingers at once, and that could be woven into a patch by a loom. And they had to settle on
a means of producing them at scale.

A year later, though, they achieved their vision in the form of a Project Jacquard garment
bound for brick-and-mortar stores. It’s called the Commuter, and it’s a denim jacket
produced in partnership with Levi. Google’s tech assumes the form of a cuff strap: once
strapped firmly to the jacket, the wearer can swipe across it or tap it to perform actions
like pinning a location to Google Maps, answering a phone call, or dismissing text
message. In the near future, it’ll be capable of far more: Google intends to release
Jacquard’s API for use by third-parties such as Spotify and Strava.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Google’s patent filing comes as Levi preps for a beta test of
the Commuter jacket. “We committed to introducing a product this year and we’re
excited to have working production samples that developers can use to help build our
initial prototypes,” Paul Dillinger, vice president of global product innovation at
Levi’s, told Wareable. “This is invisible technology and discrete, intuitive gestures that
have the potential to change our relationship with clothing. [We’re] very excited for our
consumers to try this out … [and] to see how they respond to this new form of wearable
technology.”
With any luck, it won’t be long before the rest of us get to see it in action, too.

HTTP://IN.PCMAG.COM/VI
DEO/44265/VIDEO-
ADIDAS-ATHOS-SUED-
OVER-SMART-SHIRT-
TECH

VIDEO: ADIDAS, ATHOS

SUED OVER SMART
SHIRT TECH
Earlier this week, Atlanta-based Sarvint Technologies filed complaints against pretty
much every company making smart clothing, from Ralph
Lauren and Adidas to Athos and even Victoria's Secret.
Sarvint alleges that it holds two patents that essentially don't allow anyone else to
make shirts or sports bras that use fibers or threads that can pick up biosignals, such
as heart rate and respiration rate. If the alleged offenders are asked to take their
products off the market, it would have seriously detrimental effects on the wearable
technologies market. In the video above, PCMag's Jill Duffy explains why.
What's New Now is PCMag's daily news digest that outlines the hottest tech news
story of the day and what it means to you. Check back every day to get your dose of
news and expert analysis of the technology topics that matter most.
https://www.wareable.com/smart-
clothing/best-smart-clothing

The best smart clothing: From biometric shirts

to contactless payment jackets
Smart fabrics and garments on sale now or hitting the shops soon

Monday
June 12, 2017
By Michael Sawh
@michaelsawh
Smart clothing started taking its first tentative baby steps in 2015 and while it's not
quite gone mainstream just yet, more companies are starting to play around with the
concept of connected garments.

Essential reading: The biggest benefits of smart clothing

Much more than strapping gadgets to our wrists, faces, ears and feet, smart clothing
can constantly track our heart rate, monitor our emotions and even pay for our
Starbucks. All without grabbing a phone or even tapping a smartwatch screen.

Here are the best tech garments we've seen so far that you can buy now and ones that
are on the way.

Polar Team Pro Shirt

The GPS sports watch maker is dabbling in the world of the smart clothing for the
first time with this smart compression shirt that's definitely for serious athletes.

With heart rate capture points on the front and a pocket on the back for a GPS
sensor, users will be able to track motion and heart rate metrics in real time.
Integration with Polar's Team Pro system means you can broadcast live training data
letting athletes and coaches monitor condition and fitness levels.

$TBC, polar.com

Nadi X yoga pants

Yoga can be difficult, especially if you're just beginning. How do you move your
body? How long do you hold your positions? If you don't have a good instructor, or if
you try to do it yourself, you could find yourself in over your head. Sydney-based
startup Wearable X's Nadi X pants, however, want to solve that.

The fitness pants come with built-in haptic vibrations that gently pulse at the hips,
knees and ankles to encourage you to move and/or hold positions. It syncs up via
Bluetooth to your phone and, through the companion app, gives you additional
feedback. It comes in four sizes - XS, S, M, L - and four styles - Midnight, Midnight
with black, Black/White with mesh and Navy/Gray with mesh. Ships in August 2017.

$299, wearablex.com

Supa Powered Sports bra

Sabine Seymour's new fashion tech startup, Supa, mashes up neon, a heart rate
sensor and AI to give you a smart bra with a ton of personality. It's water resistant
and syncs to the Supa.AI app via Bluetooth. It'll use "invisible biometric sensors" and
AI to not only keep track of workouts, but track things like UV levels, too.

Read this:Supa is here to make the quantified self cool

You can get the Supa in three sizes - small, medium and large - and it comes in three
distinct styles. There's the Supa heavy stripes, a blue-tinted mix and the very colorful
'colors'. You can pick up the bra for about $120, but you'll also need to get the Supa
Reactor to actually keep track of your health data.

$120 (Supa Bra) / $60 (Supa Reactor), shop.supa.ai

Spinali Design smart bikini

This French fashion tech company has been busy creating connected clothing
including jeans, dresses and bikinis.

The Neviano UV Protect swimsuit collection is equipped with a removable

medallion-style waterproof sensor that aims to prevent you from staying too long in
the sun.

Once you've entered your skin type in the companion iOS or Android smartphone
app, it'll continuously monitor the temperature throughout the day and will send out
warnings when it's time to apply some more sunscreen or get into the shade.

From $184, spinali-design.com

Lumo Run
From the makers of the Lumo Lift posture tracker, these smart running shorts and
capris pack in a sensor that can monitor a host of metrics including cadence, ground
contact time, pelvic rotation and stride length. The smart running gear supports real
time coaching with feedback sent through to your headphones to help improve
running form and reduce the chances of injury.

There's no change on the battery front either, giving you an impressive one month off
a single charge. If you don't want to buy the shorts, there's also the Lumo Run
sensor that can smarten up your current running kit.

$99 (shorts) / $99 (capris), lumobodytech.com

Owlet Smart Sock 2

The second generation Owlet Smart Sock has all the features you know and love from
the original. It uses the same pulse oximetry technology used in hospitals to monitor
the little one's heart rate to make sure his or her sleeping and breathing has been
uninterrupted. It also comes in three sizes, charges via a base station and syncs to
your iPhone or Android phone to deliver data in real-time.

Read this: Owlet is making a big difference to small lives

New additions include improved Bluetooth range, up to 100 feet, and better placed
sensors so that there are less false notifications. It'll also work with Owlet's new
Connected Care platform, which will help you identify potential health issues like
sleep irregularities, RSV, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, chronic lung disorders and heart
defects.

$299.99, owletcare.com

AIO smart sleeve

Despite a failed Kickstarter campaign, Komodo Technologies still found a way to
launch its compression sleeve that uses electrocardiogram (ECG) technology to
monitor heart rate activity.

Read this: Komodo smart sleeve gets serious about heart rate monitoring

Aside from offering accurate heart rate data, it monitor sleep, workout intensity and
is available in two different models. It also has sensors on board to monitor body
temperature, air quality and UV rays.

While it sounds like a perfect fit for fitness lovers, the startup behind AIO hopes it
can also measure stress levels and even help detect heart inflammation and coronary
heart disease.

From $116, komodotec.com

Project Jacquard
Levi's Commuter Trucker Jacket will be the first piece of connected clothing to
launch from Google's Project Jacquard platform.

By building touch and gesture sensitive areas on the jacket sleeve, users will be able
to interact with a variety of services including music and map apps. You'll be able to
dismiss phone calls with a swipe or double tap to get directions all without reaching
for your phone.

A limited beta has already rolled out and, while it was originally intended to release
in Spring 2017, you'll be able to purchase it near the end of the year.

$350, projectjacquard.com

Hexoskin Smart
The Montreal based smart clothing startup recently unveiled its latest connected
shirt that's laced with sensors. Along with monitoring heart rate, breathing and
movement, it's now fitted with a Bluetooth Smart sensor so you can pair your
favourite fitness apps such as MapMyRun, RunKeeper and Strava, as well as a whole
host of third-party accessories.

Data is captured in real time and sends it all to the companion app, providing
insights on a range of sporty metrics including intensity and recovery, calories
burned, fatigue level and sleep quality.

$169 (shirt only)/$399 (full kit), hexoskin.com

OMsignal Bra
Fellow Canadian company OMsignal supplied the tech behind the Ralph Lauren
smart shirts at the US Open. Now with the female of the species firmly in its sights,
its mission has been to finally fix the sports bra once and for all – and make it totally
smart in the process.

Wareable verdict: OMsignal OMbra review

The OMbra records distances run, breathing rates and heart rate, and even tells you
when you're recovered enough to head back to the gym. And it links it all up with all
the fitness platforms you'd expect, just in case you're not that into OMsignal OMrun.

The bra is adjustable at almost every thread with straps, padding and cups all
designed to fit your needs.

$169, Omsignal.com

Athos
Athos is based on expensive medical tech but designed for gym bunnies. Its range of
training clothes is woven with micro-EMG sensors that detect which of your muscles
are working and transfer this workout data to a smartphone via a Bluetooth core.

Muscle effort, heart rate and breathing are all tracked and the app provides insights
to help you to exercise correctly and avoid injury. This could be the personal trainer
in your pocket you've been waiting for.

From $398, liveathos.com

Sensoria running socks 2.0

Sensoria's second gen connected socks aim to track your runs in detail, offering
information on pace, distance and time as well as your running style. They can help
users run with better form thanks to a new AI coach, which can lead to faster times
and a reduced risk of injury.

The socks feature three textile pressure sensors, which measure the pressure placed
on the foot during running. The new Sensoria Core module, which does the brain
work is now also smaller and lighter to wear than the original. A new monthly
subscription also unlocks a new dashboard and new training plans.

$199, sensoriafitness.com | Amazon

Samsung NFC suit

Samsung is going big on smart clothing and has already shown off its Body Compass
workout shirt, which monitors biometric data, and a golf shirt in collaboration with
Bean Pole Golf that includes weather and UV rating monitoring.

The Korean giant also has an NFC smart suit, built in collaboration with Rogatis, that
lets the wearer unlock their phone, swap business cards digitally and set gadgets to
office and drive modes.

It's already sale in Korea for roughly $500 under Samsung's wearable brand The
Human Fit, with no news yet as to whether it's going to break out into other
territories.

$500, samsung.com

Neopenda smart baby hat

We've finished things off with a truly life-saving use for smart clothing. Neopenda's
vital signs monitor is fitted inside a hat for newborn babies.

It can measure temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood oxygen saturation.
It is being developed by a New York based health start-up of the same name, founded
by Sona Shah and Teresa Cauvel, two Columbia University biomedical engineering
graduates.

Up to 24 baby hats can be wirelessly synced, via Bluetooth, to one tablet which will
run custom software. The idea is that doctors and nurses can check up on the vital
signs of the whole room at a glance and get alerts if any changes in temperature or
heart rate, say, are cause for concern.

Backers each sponsor a connected baby hat in a pilot study in Uganda with the hats
costing as little as $1 each.

$TBC, neopenda.com
https://qz.com/315924/the-patented-nike-shirt-that-could-track-your-
heart-rate-and-blood-pressure-while-you-exercise/

The patented Nike shirt that

could track your heart rate
and blood pressure while you
exercise

Nike might be running in a new direction. (Reuters/Brendan McDermid)

SHARE

WRITTEN BY

Mike Murphy
OBSESSION

Internet of Everything
December 20, 2014

Nike appears to be looking into new uses for the Nike+ sensor it first
released in 2006. A patent awarded to the company on Dec. 9 shows a
device that looks very similar to the Nike+ sensor slotting into a sleeveless
shirt that has, as the patent says, the ability to monitor various levels and
send the information to another device.
Figure 302 looks very familiar. (US Patent and Trademark Office)
While there are a lot of devices on the market (and more on the way) that
track heart rates, blood pressure, hydration, skin temperature, and the like,
there are few that do them all in one device. If Nike turns this patent into a
product that incorporates its Nike+ sensor, it will most likely be a hit with
the weekender-warrior and amateur-athlete sets (Nike+ already had more
than 18 million users in 2013). But Nike could have a product with a
market well beyond quantified-self runners.
James Winger, a sports medicine physician at Loyola University Medical
Center, says a product of this type could have an impact on the way we
treat cardiac rehabilitation. Winger says that in the first stages of rehab
after heart surgery, patients will go to a gym and exercise attached to
an EKG machine and other sensors, which can be cumbersome to wear—
“this is the same thing in an easier package,” and something rehab
facilities could find useful, says Winger.
Nike’s patent has sensors that touch the wearer’s skin. (US Patent and Trademark Office)
There also may be applications for professional sports, which could be
why Nike’s patent covers transmitting data over radio frequencies—
traditionally used in American football helmets for communication
between players and the sidelines. (The patent also covers the type of
connectivity usually found in consumer devices, such as Bluetooth and
WiFi.)
Winger says that the skin temperature and hydration levels that this device
could monitor wouldn’t actually have much correlation to internal
temperatures that would indicate if an athlete were having a serious health
issue on the field, but nonetheless he says it’s the sort of device that
“people would find uses for.”
(US Patent and Trademark Office)
Nike is not alone in the connected apparel game. If it decides to develop
and market this patent, it will face competition from startups
like Athos and OMsignal. Also, it will be interesting to see how this patent
ties into Nike’s decision earlier this year to scale back its hardware team,
as well as Nike’s connection to the Apple Watch, which will have some of
the same sensors that according to this patent could be in this shirt.
Nike did not respond to a request to comment on its patent award.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/131980-best-smart-clothes-wearables-to-improve-your-
life

Best smart clothes: Wearables to

improve your life
LUKE EDWARDS25 MAY 2016FITNESS TRACKERS
1/10MYZONE
Smart clothes are the next step
beyond wearables. Despite smart
watches and activity trackers just
beginning to become popular, smart
clothing is already starting to
appear.

So far there are already items of

smart clothing available including t-
shirts that measure biometrics and
bras that adapt to support in certain
situations. But there's even more
coming in the months ahead.
Under Armour bought
MapMyFitness, as an example of a
clothing specialist moving into the
biometric area.

We've gathered the best of smart

clothes so you know what's
available, what's coming and how
clothes can enhance your health.

MyZone Sports Bra

A heart rate monitor built into
a sports bra could be the ultimate
simplicity in the path
from sports clothes to smart clothes.
The result should be a comfortable
top that offers support as well as an
ability to share heart rate data with a
connected device. Coupled with the
app this will train the wearer in their
own heart rate zones, that adapt to
fitness, creating a perfect push while
still offering encouragement through
success.

The MyZone Sports Bra can share

data with a Bluetooth connected
smartphone, smartwatches and
even gym screens. That means it
can be used pretty much anywhere.
It's made from quick drying fabric,
comes in three sizes, red or black
colours and costs £50. The heart
rate monitor can be unclipped for
charging after about seven months
of use, as well as for washing of the
bra.

MORE MyZone tracks fitness effort

to make health inspiring again

Lumo Run
The Lumo name was first
associated with wearables that help
posture. Now that smart body
tracking has been put into shorts
and been supercharged.

The Lumo Run shorts are filled with

sensors capable of tracking running
metrics including cadence, bounce,
ground contact time, braking, pelvic
rotation and stride length. They'll
even offer realtime audio feedback
via the app and your headphones.

The Lumo Run shorts are available

for pre-order now from $99 for a 21
October release.

LikeAGlove
The LikeAGlove leggings
intelligently measure a wearer's
shape so they can shop for the ideal
sized clothes. Not only do the
leggings find all the perfect
measurements but they work,
via Bluetooth, with the app to filter
clothing options down to those that
are available in the wearer's size.

The idea is to make shopping for

clothes easier by getting the correct
size every time, something which
isn't always easy online when you
can't try items on in the shop first.

LikeAGlove leggings are available

for pre-order now for £25 before 16
October. After that the normal retail
price will be £35. They will begin
shipping early in 2016.

GOOGLE IMAGES

Athos
Athos is at the forefront of
smart wearable clothing. The Athos
shirt and shorts are tight fitting
sensor filled garments capable of
detecting heart rate, breathing rate
and even muscle activity thanks to
EMG sensors.

The Athos line features a small core

which works with the sensors to
deliver data via Bluetooth to your
smartphone. This 20g gadget slips
into a pocket on the top of shorts
and lasts 10 hours on a charge. But
it's not just for sending information it
also features a 6-axis accelerometer
for measuring movement as you
workout.

These types of clothing are going to

be brilliant for muscle focused gym
workouts where recording anything
more than heart rate, which isn't that
helpful for weights, has previously
been reserved for professional
athletes.

The Athos Core is $199, shorts and

shirts start at $99 each meaning a
total of $298 which is about £190
from Athos.

VICTORIA'S SECRET

Victoria's Secret
heart rate bra
Victoria's Secret, the women's
lingerie specialist, has released a
sports bra that is capable of
measuring the wearer's heart rate.

The Incredible bra features a chest

placed heart rate monitor built-in.
These chest placed monitors have
been around for years, usually
packaged with sports watches, and
are now highly accurate. As a result
the bra can be used to monitor
during running, boxing and other
high-impact workouts.

At its most basic level the sports bra

is still high tech as it's made from a
Body-Wick fabric which keeps the
wearer cool and dry during
workouts. Clothing+ is the Finnish
fabric maker behind both the
materials and the sensor technology
built-into the bra.

The Incredible by Victoria’s Secret

Heart-Rate Monitor Compatible
Sport Bra, as it's called, will cost
$75 which is about £48.

GOOGLE IMAGES

Radiate
Radiate is brilliantly simple yet
effective. Remember those shirts
back in the day that would change
colour with heat? This is effectively
a more advanced version of those,
meaning you can track muscle use.

The Radiate shirts are tight fitting

and change colour as your muscles
get hot. So if you were training in
the gym you'd be able to see in your
reflection where you're working on
your body. Yes we don't like to
encourage for parakeet gym buffs
checking themselves out but this is
a genuinely good idea.

The Radiate 2.0 shirt for men and

the ones for women are both $60 for
long sleeve and $50 for short.

GOOGLE IMAGES

Ralph
Lauren PoloTech
Shirt
Luxury clothes brand Ralph Lauren
has been developing smart clothing
with sensor specialist OM Signal.
The result is a shirt that can monitor
the wearer's heart rate thanks to
bio-sensing silver wiring.

The shirt not only measures heart

rate and breathing rate but actively
offers feedback on your training via
your phone or tablet. If you're not
pushing hard enough to stay in your
desired heart rate zone it will tell
you, audibly, to push more.

The sensors track calories burned,

intensity of workout, heart rate,
stress rate and more, says Ralph
Lauren. The brain of the shirt sits on
the side by the rib cage out of the
way.
The PoloTech Shirt is available
on the Ralph Lauren site now for
$295.

GOOGLE IMAGES

GO Utility Vest solar

jacket
Charging on the go is a reality now
thanks to the GO Utility Vest. Ok it
looks a little ridiculous with big solar
panels on each pocket. And yes at
$580 it's not cheap. But it
represents the future of smart
clothing. Plus if you're out and about
all day this will keep you warm and
dry while charging your gadgets.

Imagine what the future will hold

once solar panels become
weavable, invisible solar panels can
be stitched into any clothing. Then
you can have the solar clothing
without looking like you're preparing
for the zombie apocalypse. Pick one
up on the site.

HEXOSKIN

Hexoskin
The Hexoskin smart shirt, made with
Italian textiles, is able to track the
wearer's heart rate, breathing rate
and volume, steps with cadence and
calories and even sleep. It uses a
small device that slips into a pouch
on the shirt. It connects
via Bluetooth to iOS and Android
devices.

Hexoskin's second generation now

works with third party apps like
Strava, RunKeeper and
Endomondo. It's also got an
extended battery life that can last up
to 30 hours.

The Hexoskin is available in short

and long sleeved versions for men
and women. The shirt with device
and cable is available to buy now for
$399 which is about £255.

UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG

Bionic Bra
The Bionic Bra is still in
development at the University of
Wollongong in Australia. But the end
result will be a smart bra that can
offer support when needed and
loosen for comfort at other times.

The Bionic Bra is able to tighten and

loosen automatically allowing it to
offer more support or breath room to
suit the wearer. The result should be
consistent comfort with support
during sport, like running. It sounds
like the bra is either tight, offering
support during sport, or loose when
the wearer is out relaxing, meaning
it can be worn constantly. We
wonder how many girls actually
leave their sweaty sports bras on
after training though.

The technology is still in

development so don't expect to see
this too soon.

Hot pants
Adidas, sponsoring the Team GB
cyclists in 2012, came up with its
heated trousers. These tailor made,
battery powered trousers heat up in
order to warm the legs of the
athletes ahead of exercise.

Heated trouser, or "Hotpants" as

they were dubbed, allowed muscles
to reach an efficient 38 degress
Celsius. This meant less time
warming up so they could save their
energy for the competition.

We doubt these particular trousers

will make it onto the market for non-
professional athletes anytime soon
but something similar may arrive in
smart clothes in the near future.
https://www.asicentral.com/news/web-exclusive/july-2017/smart-clothing-and-the-future-
of-apparel/

Smart Clothing and the Future of

Apparel
From “sewbots” and sustainability to smart clothes and nearer-term trends, Counselor
explores evolutions in apparel and what they mean for the promo industry.
By Christopher Ruvo
Published in Counselor
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
It’s a warm evening and the Colorado sky above the ponderosa pines seems to be expanding,
growing bluer and bluer as the wind sweeping off the Flatirons blows away the last of the
afternoon clouds.

Wearable tech firm Polar has introduced a shirt that offers heart rate monitoring and GPS
tracking.
As you run, you feel in tune with the sky, with the rolling plains and vivid wildflower meadows that
jewel Boulder’s Mesa Trail. The feeling fuels your pace, propelling you along the foothills, driving
your jumps over jagged rocks and railroad ties. Your heart is pumping and sweat is pouring, but
there is no discomfort, no desperate gasps. There’s just the sun blessing the landscape with
light. And soon, at the end, the splash of cool water from the South Boulder Creek, a refreshing
reward for a run well-taken.
While you were enjoying the clean, elemental high of your trail run, your smart shirt was hard at
work, recording a wealth of biometric information – like your heart rate – that was fed back to
your mobile phone. Housed in the digisphere, you’ll be able to analyze the data about your
body’s performance. It’s all information you can use to enhance your running as you gear up for
a competition or try to improve your personal best.
This scenario, while imagined, isn’t science fiction. It’s already a potential reality given the fast-
occurring advancements in the world of smart apparel – teched-up clothing that monitors and
records information about your physical condition, while possibly offering other benefits that
range from body temperature moderation to device control.
Once resigned to the realm of imagination, smart clothes are poised to take off in the real world.
IDC, a global provider of market intelligence, predicts that smart apparel will go from accounting
for 1.3% of total shipments within the wearable tech market in 2016 to 9.4% in 2021 – an ascent
that will occur as total shipments of smart wearables (including watches and wristbands)
increase 18.3% during the five-year period. With the rise of apparel, smart “wearables will be
made available to a previously unaware audience – one that frequents fashion outlets over tech
outlets,” says Jitesh Ubrani, senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers.
As Counselor details in this feature, smart clothing is one of the exciting evolutions that could
shape the future of apparel. Here, we delve into the advancements that will influence what
people wear – and how that will affect what distributors sell.
Connected Clothes
Over the last couple of years, innovative brands, especially in the athletics realm, have
intensified efforts to develop comfortable smart apparel. The results, in some cases, are
impressive.
This year, Polar – a leader in wearable sports technology – introduced the Polar Team Pro Shirt,
which offers heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking. Optimized for professional athletes, the
sleeveless, base-layer shirt replaces the need for a chest strap monitor by providing two thin
interior heart rate capture points directly in the fabric. In addition, a small, lightweight sensor pod
fits into a pocket on the back collar, offering metrics on speed, distance and acceleration. The
shirt and sensor pod grab the data in real time and shoot it to a mobile device.
“Polar’s move to using smart fabrics and integration of the monitor within a garment removes one
barrier to use, especially with some of our larger athletes who find the chest strap restrictive,”
says Andrew Murray, director of performance and sport science at the University of Oregon.
Polar isn’t the only one pulling off impressive feats. Athos, for example, has created compression
shirts and shorts that offer real-time biometric tracking, including muscle activity, heart rate,
calorie expenditure and active time versus rest time. Sensors embedded in the garments read
biosignals and deliver that data to a mobile app, displaying which muscles are firing and how
much they’re being exerted.
Also exciting: OMsignal has made a sports bra that records run distances, breathing rate and
heart rate, while researchers at Quebec’s Université Laval have developed a T-shirt that
monitors respiratory rate – a breakthrough that potentially opens the door to making clothing that
can diagnose respiratory illnesses or monitor people with conditions like asthma.
Interestingly, a collaboration between Levi’s and Google’s Project Jacquard initiative is extending
the smart apparel effort beyond athletic and health-wear into fashion. The Levi’s Commuter
Trucker Jacket features Jacquard technology that allows wearers to control their mobile
experience and connect to a variety of services, such as music or maps, directly from the jacket.
A detachable smart tag and ingenious conductive yarns enable the connectivity. “Connected
clothes,” says the Project Jacquard website, “offer new possibilities for interacting with services,
devices and environments.”
Smart Apparel in Promo
But will smart apparel ever enter the promo products industry?
Danny Tsai thinks so.
“I do see smart apparel/wearable tech entering our space,” says the VP of merchandising at Top
40 supplier Tri-Mountain (asi/92125). “As far as what type of innovation, it can be anything from
measuring and tracking an activity, making you more visible, or keeping your body temperature
regulated. The affordability of it will decide how soon we see it in our industry.”
Tsai says Tri-Mountain has worked on developing smart pieces, though he was mum on
particulars as none have been brought to market. Still, he’s not the only one to think that smart
apparel has a future in promo. “For our customers, it’s at least a few years away, but I can see it
having applications in workwear,” says Andrea Lara Routzahn, senior VP of portfolio and
supplier management at Top 40 supplier alphabroder (asi/34063).
For instance, Routzahn says, workers in physical jobs could wear smart apparel as uniforms –
something that could help lead to productivity gains and healthier employees. Depending on how
developments go, the clothing could also be a good fit for wellness programs, team wear, fitness
niche clients and more. That said, most suppliers contacted for this story aren’t currently
developing or looking to source smart clothing. When they might start remains to be seen. “I
don’t think smart apparel is going to take over,” says Routzahn, “but there could be a space for it
in our industry.”

SoftWear Automation's 'sewbots' can sew garments without a seamstress.

Powered-Up Performance
More immediately, promo apparel firms say they’re focused on emerging trends that are already
heating up. Paramount among the developments? An increasing desire from end-buyers for
wardrobe staples with “the DNA of activewear,” says Vicki Ostrom, senior designer at Top 40
supplier Sanmar (asi/84863). “Sportswear and traditional office wear are evolving and becoming
an entirely new species,” she says. “As lines are being blurred between work, rest, travel and
play, clothing must easily transition from one experience to another, with fitness remaining a top
priority.”
Given the demand, industry suppliers are keen to come to market with lightweight apparel that
delivers enhanced comfort and amplified performance features. As for those features, Norm
Hullinger, CEO of alphabroder, points to developments in moisture-wicking fabrics that could see
the sweat-sweeping-away power last indefinitely. Similarly, apparel makers are developing
improved anti-wrinkle, soil release and antimicrobial treatments.
David Bebon, CEO of DBEBZ Apparel/Backpacker (asi/48746), talks about innovations like
better UPF protection and bug-repellant capabilities – both built directly into shirts. He also
describes enhancements like specially shaped yarns that wick in a way as to cool a wearer’s
body temperature – a feature in Backpacker’s Sport Utility Short Sleeve Shirt.
Revved-up performance properties are expanding to styles across clothing categories. “Features
like stretch, odor control, stain resistance and soil release are becoming more common on dress
shirts, blazers and outerwear jackets,” says Ostrom.
Whether at retail or in the promo industry, a key element in apparel’s evolution is that people
want performance features, but with the touch – and, increasingly, the look – that is associated
with natural fibers. That’s led to greater emphasis on creating apparel that blends the technical
function of polyester with natural fibers like ringspun cotton. Going forward, expect such blended
garments to abound. Says Routzahn: “It’s the best of both worlds – performance and a soft
natural hand.”
Steps Toward Sustainability
While advancements in apparel are intriguing, there’s no denying that the traditional process of
making fabrics consumes massive quantities of water and energy, while potentially releasing
harmful chemicals into the environment.
But in recent years, pioneers in the apparel industry have been working to revolutionize the fabric
creation process, making it more sustainable. Their efforts could help create a greener industry
in the decades ahead. “A lot of technology is being applied to producing fabric in a way that’s
less invasive to the environment,” says Routzahn. “We’re seeing things that would be good for
the planet – and lead to cost savings.”
Take DyeCoo for instance, a Dutch company that uses reclaimed CO2 instead of water in a
patented process to dye textiles. With DyeCoo’s method, no process chemicals, water or
wastewater is required, which means wastewater treatment isn’t needed. Rather, the Dutch
innovators employ CO2 reclaimed from existing industrial processes as part of a closed loop
system to infuse vibrant colors into textiles using 100% pure dyes. “Short batch cycles, efficient
dye use, (and) no wastewater treatment all contribute to significantly reduced operating costs,”
DyeCoo says.
Apparently, the company is on to something: Nike, Adidas and Peak Performance have products
featuring DyeCoo technology. “We are convinced that this trend will continue as more and more
brands will increase their demand,” the company says.
Meanwhile, Spinnova is another European company engineering innovations. The Finnish
startup has invented a technology that transforms wood fibers directly into yarn. Inspired by the
web-weaving of spiders and paper manufacturing, the process uses 99% less water and 80%
less energy than cotton, Spinnova says. The wood fiber method does not require extra chemical
treatment of pulp fiber, and the yarn is recyclable. FabricLink named Spinnova one of its top 10
textile innovations of 2016-17, commenting that the offering could “revolutionize” both the textile
and forestry industries. Industrial scale production is reported to be starting in 2017-18.
In Spain, Hilaturas Ferre S.A. is upcycling textile waste into recycled yarns. The company cuts
the waste into smaller pieces and then shreds it to reclaim the longest possible fibers. From
there, a “colorblend” process enables consistent color-matching of cotton fibers without the use
of dyes. A finishing process involving the infusion of carrier fibers and spinning results in high-
quality, color-correct yarns that are used to make apparel, accessories and home textiles.
Through its “Recover” process, Ferre saved 42.3 billion liters of water, 6.8 million pounds of
pollutants, and 130 million pounds of CO2 emissions in 2016 – numbers verified by Universitat
de València and UNESCO.
Clearly, sustainable products and processes are not yet the standard, but industry insiders
expect them to become more pervasive. One day, suppliers say, sustainable apparel could
become a strong selling point in the promo products industry, which has already experienced a
rise in certain eco-friendly items, like shirts made from recycled plastic bottles. “The emphasis on
sustainability is going to grow,” says Routzahn. “Millennials are gaining greater buying power,
and they’re not walking away from sustainability.”
 Sewbots & New Sourcing Hot Spots
While apparel making remains one of the most labor-intensive forms of manufacturing,
innovators have their sights set on changing that in a big way.
Case-in-point: Atlanta-based SoftWear Automation has developed “sewbots” – a trademarked
term referring to robots that can sew garments without a seamstress. While complex garments
are currently beyond the sewbots, they can produce simpler products like T-shirts. Eventually,
SoftWear envisions making denim items and more. CEO Palaniswamy Rajan has said that every
four robots only require one human operator to manage them.
Beyond Softwear, Seattle-based Sewbo has developed a process in which fabrics are
temporarily stiffened with the help of a non-toxic polymer, allowing “conventional” industrial
robots to build garments from rigid cloth. So far, Sewbo has had success creating T-shirts.
Additionally, household name brands like Adidas, Nike and Zara’s parent company Inditex have
been focusing on greater automation.
While the technology isn’t taking over in 2017, interest in bot-driven automation is ramping up.
That’s because it could provide lower labor costs, enhanced efficiency, fewer mistakes, and
more speed and flexibility in the supply chain, allowing brands to get clothing from conception to
consumers quicker in a world of fast-changing trends.
To the point of rising interest, consider this: Rajan recently told California Apparel News that
2017 SoftWear sales are forecast to beat 2016’s numbers four times over. Also interesting: he
and other proponents of robotic automation believe the technology could help drive onshoring of
apparel production, given the envisioned reduced labor costs and growing desire to get apparel
to market with lightning speed. “You will see a sizable amount of industry moving back to the
U.S,” Rajan says.
While that’s a big boast not everyone is buying, robots could allow at least some production to
return closer to major consumer markets in the U.S. and Europe. It’s perhaps noteworthy that
Adidas, for example, is building an automation-fueled “speedfactory” in Atlanta. Utilizing robotic
cutting, computerized knitting and 3-D printing, the factory is expected to produce trainers and
other sport shoes. “I expect (robotic automation) will appear in China, the U.S. and Europe first
as a way to manufacture garments more efficiently,” Routzahn says.
On the downside, robotic production could eventually lead to job losses for manufacturing
workers in developing countries – something some labor groups worry could escalate poverty
and trigger social unrest. Still, don’t expect a jobs apocalypse anytime soon. In at least the next
few years ahead, industry sourcing experts anticipate that more apparel-making work will spread
to lower-wage Asian nations, such as Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as Sub-Saharan countries
like Lesotho and Kenya.
While China will remain a dominant player in apparel production, issues there like rising wages,
labor shortages and an increased focus on manufacturing more advanced products have
compelled apparel sourcers to find additional options. That will continue. “Vietnam has become
second for us, behind China. There are good factories, a good supply chain, and great needle
that gives us consistent quality,” says Cutter & Buck (asi/47965) CEO Joel Freet, whose
assessment of Vietnam was widely echoed among promo suppliers.
As apparel production spreads globally, sourcers are encountering infrastructural challenges in
some areas. These issues slow down the speed with which apparel can be shipped stateside.
Nonetheless, suppliers anticipate that, as the road bumps continue to be smoothed, more
production will continue to migrate to burgeoning sourcing hotspots. “We’re in these places now,”
says alphabroder’s Hullinger. “We will be in even bigger ones as progress moves forward.”
– Email: cruvo@asicentral.com; Twitter: @ChrisR_ASI


Smart Apparel Evolution: The
Levi's/Google Smart Jacket
By Christopher Ruvo
Published in Web Exclusive
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Everyday apparel is about to get a bit smarter.

Over the last couple years, innovative brands, especially in athletics wear, have intensified
efforts to develop comfortable smart apparel. And now, collaboration between Levi’s and Google
is extending that effort beyond sportswear to a fashion piece – a denim jacket, in particular.
Most basically, smart apparel is teched-up clothing that can monitor and record information about
your physical condition. That definition has been expanding of late to clothes that can possibly
offer other benefits too, from body temperature moderation to device control.
The latter feature is a key element of the Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket. Designed especially
for urban bike commuters, the jacket features technology that allows wearers to control their
mobile experience and connect to a variety of services, such as music or maps, directly from the
jacket, with the help of an electronics-infused smart tag.
Made of dark blue denim, the stylish jacket is the brainchild of a collaboration between Levi’s and
Google’s Project Jacquard, an innovation initiative that involves unobtrusively embedding
sensors and feedback devices in fabrics and clothing, thereby making garments digitally
interactive.
“Using conductive yarns, bespoke touch and gesture-sensitive areas can be woven at precise
locations, anywhere on the textile, making the yarn strong enough to be woven on any industrial
loom,” reads an explanation on the Project Jacquard website. “Alternatively, sensor grids can be
woven throughout the textile, creating large, interactive surfaces.”
As the jacket testifies to, all that technology can happen without sacrificing fashion. Obviously the
jacket won’t be for everyone. But it may be a bellwether that smart apparel options are not only
set to expand in athletic wear, but also in fashion too.
Regardless, sales of smart apparel on the whole are expected to increase. IDC, a global provider
of market intelligence, predicts that smart apparel will go from accounting for 1.3% of total
shipments within the wearable technology market in 2016 to 9.4% in 2021 – an ascent that will
occur as total shipments of smart wearables (including watches and wristbands) increase 18.3%
during the five-year period. With the rise of apparel, smart “wearables will be made available to a
previously unaware audience – one that frequents fashion outlets over tech outlets,” says Jitesh
Ubrani, senior research analyst for IDC Mobile Device Trackers.
Certainly, smart apparel isn’t poised to take over the promotional products space tomorrow. But
some industry suppliers already believe that the tech-tastic clothes will make their way to the
industry, presenting new sales opportunities in categories that range from workwear and
wellness, to teams and education.
“I do see smart apparel/wearable tech entering our space,” says Danny Tsai, vice president of
merchandising at Top 40 supplier Tri-Mountain (asi/92125). “As far as what type of innovation, it
can be anything from measuring and tracking an activity, making you more visible, or keeping
your body temperature regulated. The affordability of it will decide how soon we see it in our
industry.”