A lot of people might not think there is a whole lot of ‘tech’ in clothing. That couldn’t be further from the truth. When it comes to design and construction of today’s athletic clothing there is a ton of ‘tech’ going on. This month’s issue of Fast Company features a great article on the rapid innovation process that Nike, Adidas, Speedo and others have gone through to prepare products for top Olympic athletes.
From shoes that only turn left to others that are assembled like a suspension bridge, the level on innovation is amazing. And the best thing is that these clothing innovations make their way to the consumer market within months, even weeks, of debuting at the Olympic games.
It’s not softcore, not hardcore, it’s Nerdcore. G4tv has a great look at the girls of the 2008 Nerdcore Calendar. A safe for work way of saying ‘naked women dressed up a superheros’. Funny thing is if you watch the video, they don’t even know who they’re supposed to be. Called a celebration of geek culture, this year’s calendar’s theme is heros and villians. Features models Karlie Montana, and Rachel Biggs among others. Available at here.
‘The Day for Night: Modular Extensible Reconfigurable’ is a dress made completely out of circuit boards and solar cells. I guess having a long name makes up for being incredibly short. The mini dress is made over 400 little circuit board, some of which contain solar cells. The dresses software can be updated and it also has an RF transmitter so you can send signals to your laptop. I have no idea what you’d be sending other news of severe chaffing.
Wearable tech is quickly becoming popular, and in some cases actually usable. There are a number of backpacks with solar cells on them that provide very usable recharging power for iPods and phones. As for this little dress I’m just left wondering - where do you carry your iPod?
The Pursuader from designer James Piatt is a hand bag that looks like a machine gun. Constructed out of laser cut leather it features no stitching whatsoever and a convenient pocket for your cell phone where a clip of ammunition would normally go. I’m not sure how many would be thieves you’ll scare off with a bag like this, but you’ll make a bunch of new friends next time you set foot in an airport.
If the machine gun bags a little too showy for you then consider a nice brass knuckle purse (below). Visit www.jamespiatt.com
Blackhawk, a military uniform provider is coming out with a new uniform that incorporates tourniquets into the arms and legs. The idea came from an Army surgeon Dr. Keith Rose, after watching a fellow solider bleed to death.
Rose could not get his comrade a tourniquet, which could have helped control the bleeding on his wounded leg, and sat along the mangled wreckage and talked with him as he took his last breath.
“It really kind of frustrated me,” Rose said.
Once he returned to the U.S., Rose approached BlackHawk, a provider of military and law enforcement gear, with an idea to create clothes with built-in tourniquets.
The uniforms will be fitted with eight tourniquets and available in March.
Riddell has introduced a football helmet that can sense the level of impact a player’s head receives. The special helmet can store data on up to 100 impacts and wirelessly transmit the data to a laptop for full analysis. The helmet is priced at $999 and the receiver at $299. Larger detail photo of the helmet interior and sensors after the jump.
[via Engadget] Continue Reading
Smoking indoors is being banned just about everywhere. Which means you’ve got to head outside to light up. And if you live in a cold climate, well, you’re screwed. But wait. Suck UK has come out with the Smoking Mittens. They have a convenient gromet that allows you to smoke your cigarette right through the mitten. You’ll never have to light up with cold hands again. Pretty cool huh. Almost as cool as my jacket that comes lined with cancer. Now available at Amazon.com
with solar cells on them that provide very usable recharging power for iPods and phones. As for this little dress I’m just left wondering - where do you carry your 
