While the wearable technology market continues to grow and mature, the space has had a persistent image problem. Consumer wearables have largely focused on athletic wristbands, with critics suggesting that for women, who outnumber men among prospective buyers, alternative offerings have been largely relegated to glammed up versions of fitness trackers—with the “glam” often coming from overtly girly designs.
If wearables are going to succeed among consumers, and not just gym-goers, they need to become more fashion conscious. Look no further than Apple Watch, which seems to be embracing fashion by offering distinct collections and customizable straps. Google’s recent “strategic reset” of Google Glass also points to an issue the entire industry is dealing with—if the wearables aren’t “cool” enough to wear every day, mainstream adoption will be tricky. However, following successful wearable tech-fashion collaborations such as Tory Burch’s Fitbit collection, jewellery is now poised to have its wearables moment.
We Are Wearables Toronto, one of the largest wearable tech meetups in the world, will host a panel of experts specializing in digital culture, fashion and wearables to discuss developing and designing wearables for women.
The event will feature Ear-O-Smart, touted as the world’s first smart earring (it can monitor your heart rate, calories and activity level). Ear-O-Smart connects to your smartphone with Bluetooth, allowing you to monitor a wide range of fitness data. Most importantly, fashion is a fundamental part of the company’s product.
To read an interview with Ear-O-Smart CEO and AC Client Ravinder Saini, click here.
