Capitalizing off the potential profits of the growing smart apparel market, Ralph Lauren is currently testing a new nylon”Polo Tech” shirt at this year’s U.S. Open tournament, Apple Insder first reports. The “Polo Tech” shirt features sensors knitted within the t-shirt’s core, allowing it to track health and fitness data. The smart shirt was developed in partnership with Canadian company OMsignal, which recently launched its activity tracking shirt technology that connects to smartphones like Apple’s iPhone in May of this year.
Polo “Tech Shirt” Details
The “sleek black” shirt is made in “second-skin fit” designed to enhance comfort and agility with a signature yellow Polo Player logo. Sensors are interwoven in the shirt that tracks:
– heart rate
– breathing rate
– activity intensity
– steps walked
– calories burned
The data collected from the sensors is then transmitted to a small “black box’ that users clip onto their shirt, which relays the data to the companion iOS app via a Bluetooth 4.0 signal. According to OMsignal, the black box is good for up to 30 hours of activity tracking between recharges. The black box is water resistant and is designed to deflect sweat and light rain.
Marcus Giron, the number 1 singles player in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association will be wearing the Polo Tech shirt during practices allowing him to track biometrics and make adjustments in real time to his play, breathing, form, etc. The final product is expected to launch next year for users of all ages to promote wellness of heath.
“Ralph Lauren continues to be at the cutting edge of fashion and culture,” said David Lauren, senior vice president of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations. “Our goal is to create and reflect the ultimate lifestyle, and we believe that a healthy and active life is an essential part of that. Ralph Lauren is excited to help lead the industry in wearable technology in this ever-evolving, modern world.”
