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Rio 2016 Summer Olympics Wearable Tech Track Field Phelps Jacket Cycling Rowing Crew Visa
Clothing, Olympics, Shoes, Sports, Wearable Technology

Wearable Tech Found At The Rio Summer Olympics

August 4, 2016

Rio 2016 Summer Olympics Wearable Tech Track Field Phelps Jacket Cycling Rowing Crew Visa

In less than 2 days the first medals will be handed out at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. In the 4 years since London’s 2012 Games, wearable technology has emerged as a vital aspect of sports. From training to game day, technology is helping athletes realize their peak potential and even provide a competitive edge. The wearable tech being used isn’t just smart watches and connected devices. It also includes cutting edge fabrics and 3D printed accessories. Head past the break to find some of the technologies being used at this summer’s Olympics.  

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by Doug Parker
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Elizabeth Clarke Unstainable shirt workwear sweat-proof kickstarter
Clothing

Elizabeth & Clarke Add Workwear To “Unstainable” Collection

May 4, 2016

Elizabeth Clarke Unstainable shirt workwear sweat-proof kickstarter

Last May, online clothing retailer Elizabeth & Clarke hit Kickstarter with a clever new product. Available in a handful of different shirt styles, the company created what they called the “Unstainable” shirt. The tops were constructed from a textile featuring a special blend of hydrophobic coatings and cotton / silk that allowed the fabric to be soft, breathable, and water repellent. The shirts really did feel amazing, especially the tees; you would never have guessed that the fabric had been treated.

Twelve months after the success of the “Unstainable” shirt, Elizabeth & Clarke are back on the crowd funding site with a new line of products featuring the company’s signature hydrophobic fabric. Included in the collection are a dress, blazer, skirt, and trousers, all designed to be perfect to wear at the office. This time around, they have improved their “Unstainable” fabric by adding a Sweat-Proof lining. The inner layer of the fabric used for the workwear collection is designed to pull sweat away from your body to a middle layer of fabric. The moisture then is able to evaporate while the inner and outer layers remain dry. The nano-coating used for the lining also offers odor protection, killing 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria. The end result is workwear that is vegan and sustainable, stain resistant, sweat proof, machine washable, wrinkle resistant, and odor resistant!  The pants or skirt are currently being offered for $80 and the blazer or dress for $100. And, just as Henry Ford said, “You can have any colour as long as it’s black” (though more colors might be unlocked through stretch goals). The Kickstarter campaign ends on June 3rd.  

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by Doug Parker
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Ohio State Functional Textile e-textile fabric circuit wearable project jacquard
Clothing, Fashion, Manufacturing, Wearable Technology

Ohio State’s Woven Circuitry Could Lead To New Kinds Of Wearables

April 15, 2016

Ohio State Functional Textile e-textile fabric circuit wearable project jacquard

One of the biggest obstacles wearable technology faces is integration. Clothes are soft, stretchy, malleable, and (for the most part) washable, while the circuity required for wearables is none of those things. The circuitry needed to make a wearable device work is rigid, bulky, and definitely not washable. Announced last year, Google’s Project Jacquard is a step towards solving this dilemma with loom-friendly fabric touch-surfaces, but you still would need traditional circuity to make it all work. It looks like Ohio State University might have a solution for that though. They have been hard at work for the past several years developing a fabric that can be sewn into custom circuits.  Dubbed a functional textile (or e-textile), the thread they have created is .1mm thick and contains 7 twisted filaments made of copper and pure silver. Because it has superb conductive qualities and can be sewn into practically any shape, researchers view the material as a viable replacement for traditional circuitry. The material’s fine width means incredibly complex designs can be created.  

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by Doug Parker
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OMsignal Hexoskin Smart Software Update Indiegogo OMrun OMbra Strava Nike Plus Runkeeper MapMyRuns
Clothing, Sports

Both OMsignal and Hexoskin Expand Smartshirt’s Software Offerings

January 13, 2016

OMsignal Hexoskin Smart Software Update Indiegogo OMrun OMbra Strava Nike Plus Runkeeper MapMyRuns

We are well past a year since the launch of both Hexoskin’s and OMsignal’s smartshirts. These compression shirts (and now sports bra) monitor everything from breathing, to heart rate, to movement. They present the information as raw data and as a summary of fitness levels. At CES this year, both companies took advantage of the venue to announce expanded software offerings. OMsignal introduced the new OMrun platform – a very logic next step for the company, especially with the launch of the OMbra. OMrun looks to offer a suite of data that is especially tailored to helping runners understand an improve their performance. Among the new metrics are cadence, distance, Running Economy (how much O2 you need to travel a distance), and Breathing Rhythm (the number of footsteps per breath in or out). Along with the new focus on running, OMsignal has added new services to connect with, including Runkeeper, Strava, and Nike+. OMrun will launch this spring.  

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by Doug Parker
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Falyon Self Drying Jacket SDJ-01 Kickstarter
Clothing

Back To The Future Inspired Self-Drying Jacket Hits Kickstarter

December 23, 2015

Falyon Self Drying Jacket SDJ-01 Kickstarter

It seems like 2016 could be a very exciting year for Back To The Future 2 fans. Not only will we see self-lacing Nike Mags going on sale, but it appears that you will also be able to own a self-drying jacket. The SDJ-01 is the work of Falyon, a startup that has turned to Kickstarter to launch the jacket. The campaign has already surpassed its $12,000 goal, so if everything is legit, the SDJ-01 is going to become a reality. The idea is pretty simple; there are 2 “air amplifiers” that blow air into the jacket at a very high rate (similar to a hair dryer). The circulation of the air then causes the jacket to dry from the inside out. Each of the “air amplifiers” weighs about as much as an iPhone. They are powered by a small rechargeable battery that is good for 30 minutes of drying time. The forced air is vented from the jacket from 3 vents along the neckline and everything is controlled from a small power button near the front zipper. Falyon claims that it takes between 1 and 2 minutes to dry the jacket from rain or a small spill. A full on dousing in the pond in front of the town courthouse is likely to take substantially longer though. If you are looking for some utility out of the jacket, it also features internal smartphone and tablet pockets. The jacket is available in a variety of colors, including a familiar looking red/black style. The Back To The Future special edition version requires a pledge of $159 while any other color will set you back $149. Falyon expects the SDJ-01 to ship in April.

Besides being a fun thing to show off to your friends or add to your Halloween costume, we are not sure how practical the SDJ-01 is. After all, how many times have you thought, “I really need my jacket to be dry in the next 60 seconds!” But it is an intriguing concept. If everything works as promised and they continue to flesh out efficiency and miniaturization, Falyon might be best served to seek a licensing deal. Partnering with a large outdoor appear brand could make the tech more compelling to consumers. That said, we love that people are working relentlessly to bring fictional items to real life! We just hope that the SDJ-02 is also self-fitting!

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by Doug Parker
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Project Jacquard and Levi's
Clothing, Fashion, Wearable Technology

Levi’s Partners With Google On Sensor Embedded Clothing

May 29, 2015

Project Jacquard and Levi's

At this weeks Google I/O conference, Google announced Project Jacquard, an effort to develop touch sensors that can be seamlessly integrated into textiles. The idea is intriguing and could play a very large role in wearable technology in the future! The word “Jacquard” is a term related to loom weaving, referring to the added control mechanism that makes possible the automatic production of unlimited varieties of pattern weaving. It is perhaps one of the most important technologies in the sphere of textile creation. Project Jacquard is an effort by Google to create a yarn that is comprised of both fabric and conductive threads. A traditional automated loom can then be used to integrate the yarn into textiles. The conductive threads allow the fabric to be touch sensitive and understand where you are touching the fabric. This special fabric could be imbedded into textiles used for clothing, home decor, or even the seats of your car. The technology that drives fabric is housed on a circuit board slightly larger than a button.

The idea of integrating touch sensors into clothing isn’t new, but being able to seamlessly integrate it with a yarn that can be used in a loom is. Creating a yarn that can easy be utilized by any designer is wise; Google recognizes that while they can develop technology they are not clothing designers. As such, they have announce a partnership with Levi’s. No word on when we might see a jean jacket the allows you to answer your phone by swiping your arm, but we will let you know when there is! Head past the break to learn more about the tech!  

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by Doug Parker
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Clothing

Elizabeth & Clarke Launch “Unstainable” Shirt

May 13, 2015

Elizabeth & Clarke Unstainable Shirt

It is one of the great mysteries of the world; put on a white shirt and you are guaranteed a stain will find its way onto it before the end of the day. Budget women’s fashion brand Elizabeth & Clarke has a solution with their simply named The Unstainable™ White Shirt. The shirt is currently on Kickstarter and has well exceeded its goal of $30,000. It is no big secret that hydrophobic materials are the key to making textiles resistant to liquid. The coatings work by disrupting the hydrogen bond that binds together water molecules. In order for the water molecule to maintain its structural integrity, it has to push away from the material. Thus, waterproofing is achieved. The problem is hydrophobic materials and coatings typically don’t breath and are not soft against the skin. Elizabeth & Clarke has spent 6 months researching and trialling different combinations of coatings and materials to allow silks and cottons to still feel like silks and cottons.

According to Melanie Moore, co-founder of Elizabeth & Clark, The Unstainable™ White Shirt is as soft as a pair of comfy PJs. The key to maintaining the suppleness of the fabric is liquid-repelling fibers 100,000 times smaller than a grain of sand. These fibers are applied to the textile of choice through a bathing and curing process, allowing the fabric to maintain its original breathability. The shirts maintain their hydrophobic qualities for at least two years and actually improve with ironing. They are currently available to purchase through Kickstarter: $25 for a tee and $50 for a blouse. See a very heavily produced video from Elizabeth & Clarke about the garment after the break.  

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by Doug Parker
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