Past year fashion, Ralph Lauren unveiled its hi-tech shirt during the U.S Open.
The Ralph Lauren smart shirt features a mobile app that will sync data from the PoloTech Shirt. And Lauren said a smart suit was not out of the realm of possibilities. Now at least the shirt does not integrate into other health applications.
That being said, the shirts are now designed for men, but according to David Lauren, the executive VP for advertising and marketing, he claims that women’s smart shirts are on their way.
Silver fibers woven directly into the shirt’s fabric allow for accurate readings of stats such as heart rate and variability, breathing depth and recovery, intensity of movement, energy output and stress levels, steps taken and calories burned.
A “black box” that collects and processes the information uses five connectors and contains a 3D accelerometer that captures the intensity of movement based on three g-force measurements.
The goal of the shirt is essential to show users an analysis of their workouts, after which the app will offer suggestions on their workout. The Company’s Retail company, representing approximately 51% of the Company’s fiscal 2014 net earnings, consists of sales made directly to consumers through its retail stores across the world; through concession-based shop-within-shops located mainly in Asia, Australia and Europe; and through the Firm’s retail e-commerce channel in North America, Europe and Asia. The company is working on making more casual connected apparel – such a polo shirt that could be worn all day, not just during exercise.
To record accurate data, the PoloTech shirt fits snugly around the wearer’s chest. If the trial is successful, Uniqlo’s parent company Fast Retailing (which also owns J Brand and Theory) says it will try to roll out the program in Uniqlo’s corporate offices as well, with the hopes of giving employees more time to spend with their families, which in turn leads to higher retention of good employees.
The PoloTech shirt has been in the works for some time. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Ralph Lauren Corp from $163.00 to $150.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 6th.
For those who can not wait to get their hands on the new smart shirt, it will be available in the Polo Ralph Lauren store in New York City and on their website. It debuted at the U.S. Open tennis tournament, where Ralph Lauren is a major sponsor, last August.
Ralph Lauren’s sensor-laden shirts are finally coming to the masses – provided the masses are willing to cough up $295 for a workout shirt.