Smart Fashion: Clothes with Data

In the digital age, we often think of technology in terms of electronic devices. The truth is, however, that technology simply refers to any type of advancement in any field. The fork, the rake and the wheel were all once advanced technology.

The future of smart tech might actually come full circle, going from devices that require power to items that we use every day that require no power to operate. In fact, one of the fastest growing segments of smart tech is in the apparel industry.

Smart clothing, which first made an appearance in 2015, is poised to be the next big thing in tech. While we are all familiar with wearables such as Fitbits and smart watches, the truth is these tiny but bulky products are actually the least equipped to provide the kind of comprehensive information we are most in need of.

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Here are 4 unique applications for wearable tech of the future.

1. Biometric feedback

One of the primary functions of wearables right now is to provide biometric information related to health and fitness. But the majority of sports wearables right now are designed to be worn on the wrist, which is actually one of the trickiest places to get accurate biometric readings from.

Imagine, however, a smart bra with sensors that can measure heart rate and pulse with far greater accuracy or smart underwear that can track steps and even measure your walking or running speed. What’s more, wearable tech that covers a larger area of your body can provide a significantly great amount of detail such as stress and energy levels as well as critical medical information such as an irregular heartbeat.

2. Leave your wallet at home

By now we’re all familiar with Amazon’s first smart store. Download an app, walk in, pick up what you need and walk out while the app charges you for your purchases. Cell phones and smart watches are also taking center stage as one of the most convenient and secure ways to pay.

But what if purchases in the future were made with your shirt, sweater or coat? A conductive thread that can be magnetized and programmed – much like the magnetic strip on the back of a credit card or key card – is currently on the market that offers a wide range of applications.

3. Unique experiences

A number of different garment manufacturers are experimenting with smart tags and chips imbedded into clothing that can unlock exclusive experiences, such as to a fashion premiere or gala at an art gallery.

Imagine one day buying a pair of shoes that granted you entry into an exclusive party or a sports jersey that also contained your season tickets. Imagine getting a shirt in the mail from your favorite band that unlocked a secret concert or meet and greet with the band.

4. Own your own data

It is no secret that brands want to get as close of a look as possible at all of your daily habits. From what you look at to what you shop for to how well you sleep at night. The better they understand every minute detail of your life, the better they can create and market products just for you.

This isn’t something consumers should necessarily be opposed to. It is something, however, they should both be paid directly for and have control over. Enter smart garments that can collect and store a vast amount of data about your habits and patterns. Data that can be stored and then distributed anonymously via blockchain technology. Data that you would then be paid for offering.

While smart fashion offers an almost unlimited scope of possibility, it doesn’t come without its challenges as well. Here are some of the obstacles that smart garment manufacturers will have to overcome in order to gain mass popularity for the products.

Price: Needless to say, at the outset of any type of new technology, prices tend to be steep until the technology advances enough to drive prices down. It’s hard to make something a basic staple product when very few people can afford it.

Untested: While products may hold up under brief periods of testing, rarely will they go through the rigors that an avid consumer will put them through. If the tech doesn’t hold up over time, it can actually derail further interest in the tech.

Limited use: While an avid runner might be willing to shell out $200 for a pair of smart socks that can analyze their running habits or a golf shirt that can analyze your swing, smart clothing has little to offer as of yet to the average consumer. As applications begin to be less specialized and more generally useful to everyone, the market may expand rapidly.

Having said all of that, smart clothing is still in its infancy, with a world of possibility spread out before it. Some of the biggest names in both apparel and tech are steadily making advancements that may one day may fashion tech a basic staple of everyone’s wardrobe.

Jasmine Williams covers the good and the bad of today’s business and marketing. When she’s not being all serious and busy, she’s usually hunched over a book or dancing in the kitchen, trying hard to maintain rhythm, and delivering some fine cooking (her family says so). Tweet her @JazzyWilliams88.