Anyone who works in tech or a tech-adjacent field (so basically all of us) knows that wearables are the future.
The fabrics of tomorrow will be able to do everything from work you out to send your vitals back to a robot-doctor on Planet Earth.
The fabrics of today, though, might even be better, since they can help you do important things — look sharp, smell great, sweat less — without, you know, involving the Singularity.
Herein, our picks for the five pieces (all from local labels) to add to your summer wardrobe.
Because haven’t you been waiting all this time to get texts on your sleeve?
If you sweat a lot, buy this. It’s made with 37.5® fabric. The name gives away the game: It’s developed to maintain your body temperature at 37.5 degrees Celsius. If you warm up, “patented active particles embedded in the material remove sweat in the vapor stage before liquid sweat forms, cooling you down.” In short: if you’ve ever dealt with damp underarms before a presentation, here’s a potential fix.
This is half Peruvian cotton (so far, so old time-y) and half Celliant, which is a fabric which reuses your own body heat to spur improved energy and muscle performance. Don’t take our word for it—have a glance at their extensive research findings. (BTW if you’re a fan of the look but don’t want the tech, consider Oliver’s half-price “mystery box,” which gets you a whole bunch of pieces at a super-sale price.)
Levi’s X Google’s Project Jacquard Jacket
You’re really going to want to click on the “Learn More” button for this jacket, a co-production between Levi’s and Google. You can thank Levi’s for the styling, and Google for the tech in the cuff, which offers both light and haptic notifications for incoming calls or messages.
Want to maximize your training data? An Athos full-body kit, with a compression top and shorts, will send all your stats—including detailed muscle activity, heart rate, calorie burn, and more—back to your phone (iOS only).
If you want to keep your analog watch but still want the reminders to go for a walk that your smartphone-equipped friends are enjoying, the Chronos can help. The snugly fitting, 3mm-thick disc attaches to the back of your watch—giving you digital fitness notifications, music-player control, and “Where’s my phone?” options, all with analog style.
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