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Fossil Group 100 New Wearables 2016 Smartwatch watch activity tracker tory burch Kate Spade Adidas Burberry 3
Business

Fossil Group Planning To Introduce 100 Wearables In 2016

January 7, 2016

Fossil Group 100 New Wearables 2016 Smartwatch watch activity tracker tory burch Kate Spade Adidas Burberry 3

We have said it before, 2016 is poised to become the most important year for wearable technology yet – and we don’t seem to be alone in that thought. Fossil Group has announced plans for at least 100 new wearable devices this year. While you let that soak in, let’s look at what the company has been up to over the past few months. Since October, Fossil Watches has released 5 wearables devices across at least 12 SKUs. In November, Fossil Group acquired activity tracker company Misfit and has since announced 2 new products across at least 3 SKUs. That is right, at least 15 new wearables device SKUs in less than 3 months! This is a company that is prepared to take the wearable category very seriously!  

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by Doug Parker
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Belty Smart Belt Fashion Tech Self Fitting Adjusting French Emiota
Fashion, Wearable Technology

Smart Belt Belty Returns to CES Completely Redesigned

January 6, 2016

Belty Smart Belt Fashion Tech Self Fitting Adjusting French Emiota

At last year’s CES, Belty was one of the surprise hits. In case you don’t remember, simply put on the “smart belt” and tap the buckle when it is comfortably fitted. Belty will then track your movement throughout the day, vibrate when it is time to move, and (best of all) automatically adjust its tightness to maintain a constant fit as you sit, walk, and eat (too much). The model on display last year was an early prototype and while the company behind the high-tech fashion accessory, Emiota, had hoped to ship it by the Holidays, they instead opted to completely redesign Belty. The new version looks much less techie and more like a traditional belt. Belty is now constructed from premium French leather and significant weight has been shed from the buckle by utilizing more plastic parts. Finally, Belty’s vibration system has been completely overhauled. Besides alerting you when it is time to move around, the belt also can alert you to drink water, to de-stress with a breathing exercise, assist you in taking a 5 minute power nap, or even help you settle into efficient, rhythmic walking pace. Belty is currently available for preorder but won’t ship until December 15th. You can purchase the buckle and one strap (in either brown or black) for $395 or both straps for $495.  

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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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2015 Gift Guide Best Fashion Tech
Gift Guide

2015 Gift Guide: Fashion Tech

December 21, 2015

2015 Gift Guide Best Fashion Tech

Fashion tech promises to seamlessly integrate technology into clothing. It has the potential to allow garments to respond to the surrounding environment, to better express one’s style, and to be simpler and more ecological to manufacture; fashion technology feels like the exciting next frontier of clothing. But it is an uphill battle, both from a technology and perception standpoint. After years of hiding our phones away in our pockets, smartwatches are slowing introducing the public to the idea of wearing a piece of technology. The idea is still fairly foreign though and it is an uphill battle to overcome the ‘nerdy’ image people associate with any kind of wearable technology. Additionally, batteries and electronics need to reach milestones of miniaturization, durability, and longevity for the true potential of fashion and technology to be realized. That said, we have seen a lot of exciting ideas in fashion tech this year. Whether it is Rebecca Street’s LED dress or Chromat’s breathing sports bra, most of the current fashion tech concepts are still relegated to the runway…but not all of them. In this gift guide we take a look at some of our favorite fashion tech that you can own!  

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by Doug Parker
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ShiftWear Classic Indiegogo custom e-paper sneaker
Shoes

ShiftWear Sneakers Use E-Paper For Changeable Designs

December 1, 2015

ShiftWear Classic Indiegogo custom e-paper sneaker

Ever wish you could customize the look of your shoes whenever you wanted? ShiftWear’s Classic promises just that. The high tech sneakers feature a wrap around, flexible e-paper screen. Using a mobile app you can create and share static and animated designs and then load them onto your shoes. The concept is pretty exciting and reminds us a lot of the Sony FES Watch and Shift Sneakers. If customizing your kicks on the go sounds appealing, ShiftWear is currently offering the footwear through an Indiegogo campaign. The low-tops require a $150 pledge, the mid-tops $250, and the high-tops $350. ShiftWear believes they will have a shipping product in Fall of 2016.  

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by Doug Parker
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Ion Belt Kickstarter Scrub Daddy Shark Tank
Wearable Technology

Ion Belt Promises To Discreetly Keep Your Phone Charged

November 30, 2015

Ion Belt Kickstarter Scrub Daddy Shark Tank

The inventor of the widely successful Scrub Daddy (from Shark Tank) is at it again. This time Scrub Daddy’s Aaron Krause has partnered with Piers Ridyard (of Nifty) to solve the nagging issue of portable devices running out of power. Together the two men have formed a new company, Ion Tech Wear, to bring to market a leather belt with an integrated battery. The Ion Belt promises to discreetly provide 3,000mAh of power via a hidden 2.1A, fast charging USB port. The belt, which is only available in black, is flexible and features slim battery packs dispersed along its length. On one end, the front buckle houses an integrated USB pin for recharging the belt. On the other end, the tail of the belt hides a slim USB port to plug in a device’s charging cable. Since it is USB based, the Ion Belt doesn’t care what you are charging; it can top off your phone, tablet, camera, or even a GoPro. Just behind the front belt loop is a (rather unsightly) power button and a set of battery indicator lights. These are the only visually techie aspects of the belt and, unfortunately, they stick out like a sore thumb. The Ion Belt is currently on Kickstarter for $89 with an expected June 2016 launch.

Interestingly, this is not Ridyard’s first attempt at a belt with an integrated battery. Last year he released the XOO Belt through a partnership with British designer Casely-Hayford. The belt was sold via Indiegogo and featured a fully flexible 2,100mAh integrated battery that ran the length of the belt. Instead of a traditional buckle design to hold the belt in place, the XOO Belt used a ratchet based system with an oversized front buckle housing all of the electronics. In all honestly, we are not sure what the motivation is for Ridyard to tackle this problem again, besides achieving a product more similar in design language to a traditional belt. The original design looks perfectly decent to us, and in some ways might be superior to the new Ion Belt. That said, it doesn’t seem to be for sale any longer – and that alone might be the motivation behind the new Ion Belt. So, if you are thinking that your belt just isn’t doing enough for you, you once again have a change to fix that thanks to the Ion Belt.

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by Doug Parker
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New Balance 3D Printed Running Shoe 2016 Gallery
Shoes

New Balance Preparing To Sell 3D Printed Running Sneakers

November 20, 2015

New Balance 3D Printed Running Sneaker 2016

New Balance has announced that it has developed a pair of 3D printed running sneakers. The news comes almost 2 months after Adidas announced a similar product. Both sneakers  utilize a printed midsole with a porous structure engineered for cushioning. The New Balance is designed for heal strikers, with a design formula similar to the company’s Fresh Foam line of sneakers. The previously announced Adidas Futurecraft 3D, on the other hand, is customized as it is created for an individual’s foot shape and running style. While the Adidas sneaker is still considered a prototype (though they intend to bring it to market at some point), the 3D printed New Balance kicks already have a launch date. The New Balance sneaker will hit the market in 2016; the limited edition footwear will initially be sold in the company’s home market of Boston in April and will become available at select New Balance stores later in the year. There is currently no price set but we expect to hear a lot more about the shoe when it is on display at the 3D Systems (the shoe maker’s printing partner) booth at CES in January. We are so excited that a 3D printed piece of apparel is finally going to be sold in a normal retail environment and cannot wait until people are able to put it to the test!

To give you an idea of how quickly 3D printing technology is moving, in 2013 New Balance pushed the tech as far as possible at the time to create customized 3D printed cleat plates for elite athletes. Moving from a mostly rigid sheet to a highly flexible, cushioning shoe-bed in 2 years is incredible. The leap is made possible largely due to technology developed by their partner, 3D Systems. Perhaps the most notable achievement is a newly developed elastomeric powder crafted from thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). The powder, named DuraForm® Flex TPU, is used with a selective laser sintering (SLS) printing system to create the midsoles. SLS is a 3D printing method where a laser is used to transform a powder into a solid; the laser outlines a shape in a thin layer of powder as the heat from the laser hardens it, another thin layer of powder is then added on top and the process is repeated until an object is crafted. Head past the break for more images and a video of the shoes in motion.  

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by Doug Parker
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