Smart Sportswear
Italian luxury brand Zegna and British technological textile maker Eleksen Group plc. have teamed up to produce the Zegna Sport Bluetooth iJacket, which incorporates Eleksen’s ElekTex controls in a garment the two companies have dubbed “communication clothing.” The wearer will be able to use a cell phone, listen to music on an MP3 player and control both through controls embedded in the jacket’s sleeve. ElekTex is a slim electronic sensor made from fabric with thin, lightweight, breathable and waterproof touchpads. The Zegna iJacket has a Bluetooth interface and integrated microphone on the collar. If the wearer is listening to music on the MP3 player and receives a call, the volume will automatically lower and the control panel on the sleeve will switch to phone mode. The jackets will be retail priced beginning at $1,700 and will be available at Ermenegildo Zegna boutiques. Among Eleksen’s other products are ready-to-integrate solutions for garment, bags and accessories manufacturers. The company is based in Pinewood Studios, England, and in San Francisco.
