Ralph Lauren Corp. launched a compression shirt on the first day of the US Open featuring biometric sensor technology, demonstrating how Smart apparel technology is leapfrogging the athletic industry and going straight to broader consumer markets.
The shirt uses technology developed by OMsignal, a start-up in Montreal, Quebec that has pledged to take the technology to fashion brands. OMsignal began taking orders in May for its Biometric Smartwear compression gear, which was marketed toward elite athletes. In June, the company raised $10 million in new equity capital it said would enable it to bring the technology to the broader fashion and active wear markets.
Ralph Lauren described its Polo Tech shirt as “an innovative new product from a fashion brand that merges biometrics into active lifestyle apparel, marking a revolution in advanced technology designed to improve general wellness and increase personal fitness.” It will become available at retail next year.
As the official outfitter of the two-week U.S. Tennis Association tournament, Ralph Lauren dressed several ball boys in the Polo Tech Shirt during select matches at the Billie Jean National Tennis Center. The company said the debut marked the first time a global sporting event was used as a platform to launch a collection of wearable products. Marcos Giron, the No. 1 singles player in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, is playing in his first Grand Slam in Flushing, and he will wear the Polo Tech shirt during his practices. He will track his biometrics and make adjustments in real time to his play, form and breathing.
“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.”
OMsignal technology, which was developed by a team with expertise in neuroscience, sports medicine and engineering, embeds sensors in the shirt to deliver a wide variety of physiological data through seamless apparel directly to the users via an app on their smartphone.
With OMsignal, the data collected by the shirt is stored by a “black box,” which includes an accelerometer and gyroscope, which capture movement and direction. That ”black box” transmits the data into the cloud, where it is plugged into a number of algorithms that gauge important performance-oriented biometrics, including heartbeat and respiration, as well as some psychometrics, such as stress level and energy output.
“It was clear from our very first meeting that Ralph Lauren had clarity of mind about the future of fashion tech,” said Stéphane Marceau, CEO of OMsignal. “Its legendary Polo brand and unparalleled design and merchandising capabilities make Ralph Lauren a natural partner to bring smart clothing technology into everyday lives.”
