In the heart of the Bay Area, we all see how technology is shaping almost every aspect of our lives. We walk next to Kiwi Bots delivering food to our door, we witness students almost getting hit by cars because they’re glued to their phones, and we see bitcoin ATMs in local convenience stores. Relatively, however, one of the last industries to be hit hard and transformed by technology is fashion. Fashion has always been seen as that non-electronic addition to our daily lives, maybe one of the last things we shop for that doesn’t have a battery. But, this is all changing. Here’s a quick recap of the most innovative and practical fashion tech collaborations in the past few years:

Jacquard by Google

“Jacquard™ by Google weaves new digital experiences into the things you love, wear, and use every day to give you the power to do more and be more.”

As one of the inventions of Google’s Advanced Technologies and Projects (ATAP) team, Jacquard attempts to close the gap between the things we wear and the things we use. They use a ‘tag’ of sorts, basically a small bluetooth device that serves as the brains to an otherwise ordinary object. This device can then be connected to a smartphone via its own app, and facilitate communication between the phone, the object it is connected to, and the user.

Levi’s Commuter Trucker Jacket

Founded in 1853 and known for its denim, Levi’s Strauss & Co hasn’t necessarily been associated with the most high tech companies in the Bay Area, but this all changed with their latest collaboration with none other than one of the largest tech companies in the world: Google. Utilizing the Jacquard technology, this jacket attempts to make the commute easier (especially for bikers) and relinquish the need for a smart watch. Features of the jacket include seamless music control, GPS navigation reminders, notification alerts, touchless photo capturing, and noise cancellation toggling. The Jacquard device looks like a skinny USB plug and connects to the cuff of the sleeve. Then, the threads in the cuff themselves have technology that reacts to touch. If you want to change the song you merely brush your sleeve or if you want to find out the next turn on Google Maps you double tap your cuff. Then, a gentle vibration on the sleeve alerts you of a notification, and the color of the light on the device will tell you from which app you are receiving it. Levi’s is branding this item as better than a smartwatch because you can disconnect as easy as taking your jacket off, whereas your watch is usually always on.

Cit-e Backpack Saint Laurent

Saint Laurent and Google pride themselves on creating the first ever connected luxury backpack. Similar to the Levi’s Jacket, the Cit-e Backpack utilizes a small bluetooth enabled chip that fits inside the backpack. The first feature of this bag are the interactive straps that actually respond to user touch. You can swipe down, up, tap, and cover the strap with your hand for different controls. There are also tactile ‘nudges’ for notifications or reminders that you have left your phone behind, along with a small indicator light that changes colors based on the type of notification. The upside to this backpack is the fact that it is more sensible to use the same backpack every day versus the same jacket, so there is more of an opportunity for usage. The downside, however, is the hefty price point at around $900 as you are paying for both YSL drip and Google technology.

Under Armor HOVR

There have already been a couple instances of trackable footwear, but none have beat the technology incorporated in Under Armor’s latest technological advancement: HOVR. These shoes connect to your smartphone via app and from then on serves as your personal running trainer. Not only do they track basic things like mileage and speed, but they also track things like your cadence and stride length, something unique to smart shoes. These shoes also gamify running by giving you badges for every time you’ve earned a running achievement. Lastly, arguably the best part about the shoes is that they are able to track these metrics without being constantly connected to your phone. This means that instead of having to haul your phone around while you run to track your stats, you can merely run free and connect to your phone to update your metrics after the run.

Ekster Smart Wallet

People don’t talk too much about the latest wallet trends because they are usually more private, hidden in your pocket or purse. However, as the thinnest and most stylish smart wallet on the market, perhaps Ekster might begin to be dropped in a few conversations here and there. Now on its 2.0 version, Ekster has created its own sleek version of the smart wallet that is .3 inches thick yet holds all the cards, id’s, and cash you would normally need. The discrete button on the bottom releases all of your cards/ID’s at once so you can easily and efficiently access the card of your choice. The wallet also comes with RFID protection so you don’t have to worry about hackers grabbing your card information through your wallet. Ekster has also created the Tracker Card accessory that attaches to your wallet so you never lose it. It is solar powered, voice activated, has a phone ringing feature, and is connected to a worldwide lost and found network.

Spinali Design

The opportunities for ‘connected’ attire are endless and Spinali proves just that with their latest version of the smart swimsuit called the Neviano2. This french company strives to remove the instances of melanoma, a dangerous skin cancer, by alerting the user when they need to reapply sunscreen or head into the shade. On a less serious note, the founders also wanted to prevent after sun redness and burns after too many UV rays. The device lies within the bottom piece of the bikini and is customized to your skin type as well. They even have an option to connect your alerts to your significant other in ‘valentine’s mode’ so they can help apply the sunscreen ;)

Emerid Smart Wetsuit

Surfing is all fun and games until someone gets hurt. From Soul Surfer to Surf’s Up, we’ve all seen the tragedies that surfing can cause, but this smart wetsuit aims to make surfing and other ocean sports safer. The suit uses the Emerid System technology that stores information in a waterproof device incorporated in the fabric. This device is able to transmit information about personal, medical, and contact data in emergencies. It also carries the exact location of the suit in case the user gets caught in a wave and goes under or gets caught in a riptide and needs to be found. As an added bonus, the device automatically gives a weather and surfing conditions update for the next 7 days at the closest beaches to its proximity when asked.

Words by Tasnim Tallman

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