An iJacket for your iPod
Three views of the iJacket
For the iPod enthusiast who has everything, a holiday shopper might consider the latest in geek chic - the iJacket from tony couturier Ermenegildo Zegna.
And the brains of the outfit? Eleksen Group plc, a provider of touch-sensitive smart fabrics with US headquarters in Waltham, disclosed recently that its core technology, an electroconducive fabric touchpad called ElekTex, has fused its high-tech savvy into Zegna's high-fashion garment.
Eleksen's "wearable technology" is integrated into one of the iJacket's sleeves so while the iPod is safely housed in an interior jacket pocket, the sleeve can operate as a "five-button electronic iPod control pad which provides functionality without compromising on style," the company said.
The iJacket is being sold by Zegna's own stores as well by such luxury retailers as Harrods, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Bloomingdale's, Eleksen said. The expected US price tag of this sartorial iPod accessory is around $750.
"With Zegna's iJacket, we're entering the luxury goods market for the first time, and the global power of Zegna's brand and distribution network will ensure that this product is available worldwide," Eleksen chief executive Robin Shephard said in a statement. "Our partnership is testimony to the growing opportunities that wearable technologies present."
In fact, Shephard added, "I would not be surprised if in 10 years time, we will be referring to clothing that is not tech-enabled as 'dumb' clothing."
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)
