Wearable tech dates back to the 1970s, believe it or not. The Hewlett Packard HP-01 is what many consider to be the first wearable device that had an impact on the market. It displayed the time and date, a calendar, had a stopwatch, and was worth over $3,000 at the time. Still, it’s nothing on the wearable tech we have today. Wearable tech is so advanced that some empowers you to text, call, browse social media, and have many of your bodily functions tracked all through one watch.
But how does wearable tech coincide with the fashion industry? Let’s explore below.
Well, Some Will Say It Doesn’t
There’s an overwhelming opinion that wearable tech isn’t trendy at all – and in some respects, it isn’t. When you compare an Apple watch to a stunning, dazzling Gucci watch with a bright yet sophisticated pop of color, it’s a no-brainer. Still, these handy little devices create a divide yet unity between the technology and fashion world. On the one hand, some watches look far better, but in terms of having a mini phone on your arm, they’re
And, watches are not the only thing to focus on. There’s plenty of other wearable tech options, like belts, headbands, armbands, ankle bands – there’s a band for nearly every part of the body. But in terms of fashion, watches are the closest wearable tech that many are now considering fashion.
Yes, if you’re thinking high-end fashion, you’re not likely to wear an Apple Watch out to dinner at a Michelin star restaurant – but you could wear it to informal events, work, the gym, and just about anywhere else. However, a casino with their interesting casino clothes and dress code – well, they might not appreciate a watch you can receive messages on!
Plus, you have the brands pushing the boundaries to inch these two giant industries closer together.
But Some Brands Have Pushed The Boundaries
Wearable tech doesn’t have to be as clunky as you may think. Some brands have combined style with practicality – like the Tag Heuer Connected range. Their range of wearable tech watches is diverse and beautiful, and their watches have the same capabilities as a FitBit. The price is a bit steep at nearly $2,000, but it is so worth it if you want wearable tech that you don’t have to take off if you’re going somewhere nice.
Similarly, brands like Samsung have made their watches look more like a Hugo Boss or Armani watch. The sleek black design of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic 4G effortlessly looks like it could be worn anywhere, with any outfit. Plus, you can answer your phone, make notes, view messages, and track your fitness from it. Plus, it’s a fraction of the price of the Tag Heuer – even if it doesn’t look as flashy.
The Celebrities Endorsing Them
Celebrities are well on board with wearable tech – especially fitness watches. Khloe Kardashian, for example, uses a FitBit 8 currently and tracks her fitness daily. And, most of the NBL use Whoops – a brand that has taken the wearable fitness tech industry by storm. The whoop differs from the examples so far because it’s purely a fitness band with no interface.
Users connect to an app to track fitness and recovery – calculating recovery by tracking specific markers when the person wearing it is asleep. When you look at the majority of celebrities that wear wearable tech, it’s mainly fitness tech. Gwenyth Paltrow, Ellie Goulding, and Lady Gaga are to name but a few.
Now, Is it The Future?
Wearable tech might not be the future of fashion per se, but fitness watches are definitely the future of watches. It’s such a trend to wear a fitness watch, and if someone isn’t wearing it for a trend, they’re wearing it because they’re genuine athletes that want to track their fitness – the Whoop band is a perfect example of that. Still, if you look at the likes of Tag Heuer, you’ll see some brands are making huge strides in bridging the gap between wearable tech and fashion.
If brands can work to combine the two more closely, focusing on the aesthetic design as much as the technology, then wearable tech could most definitely be the future of accessories, that’s for sure. Yet, there is still a resounding opinion that wearable tech, namely watches, isn’t the best look when going out somewhere nice, for example. A delicate and timeless watch wins with that one.
Wearable tech has come on leaps and bounds to get to where it is today. Technology, in general, is connecting many industries together and pushing the boundaries of what was once possible. Wearable tech is arguably at the forefront of that.
