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The function of fashion has taken on a new meaning in our tech-savvy world. Retailers and fashion moguls have started incorporating technology into their products, transforming accessories into powerful connected devices. Not just another fashion trend, today, people can wear their favorite clutch, tie, dress or outfit and use it to connect to a smartphone, take pictures and track their locations.
A popular way to wear technology is in the form of jewelry. Smart bracelets give people with active lifestyles the ability to connect to a smartphone or tablet to collect and retrieve health information. The Fitbit and Jawbone UP24 let users track steps, calories and workout performance throughout the day. The sleek design of the MEMI, on the other hand, suits a more formal workplace environment. With a quiet vibration, the bracelet notifies its owner of incoming calls, text messages and calendar alerts.
Users can channel their inner Dick Tracy with the Samsung Gear 2 smart watch. This gadget allows them to receive calls, emails and texts all from their wrist.
Clothing clips provide another opportunity to mix form with function. The Narrative clips onto clothing and takes and geotags photos every 30 seconds, syncing with a smartphone or computer to upload the images. Users can also put GPS tracking clips on their high-end belongings in case they are lost or stolen.
Designers are even collaborating with tech companies to create fashion with purpose. Rebecca Minkoff recently partnered with Stellé Audio to create a clutch that doubles as a Bluetooth speaker, allowing users to take phone calls and play music. The first Twitter dress showcased tweets with more than 2,000 LED lights. Worn by singer Nicole Scherzinger, the dress provided an interactive experience for fans to tweet comments live while Scherzinger was on the red carpet.
Wearable tech: it’s what happens when fashion and technology come together.
This article is part of a series on retail trends in advance of the 2014 National Retail Federation’s Annual Convention being held in New York.
Photo Credit: BLOOMINGTON, MN - NOVEMBER 20: General atmosphere of the Verizon Wireless Destination store with Selena Gomez and Marni Walden, Verizon Wireless EVP & COO on November 20, 2013 at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images for Verizon)
