High-tech Fashion
Technology you can carry is good. Technology you can wear is even better
By Tyler C. Hellard
1. Geek Wear
The BlackCoat Work Premier MFI Hybrid Tech iPod Jacket ($249US) gives you features you didn’t even realize your current jacket was missing. It’s waterproof, designed for comfort and undeniably stylish. It’s also designed for high-tech living with a number of pockets for gizmos and gadgets, as well as integrated iPod controls for fluid
and uninterrupted access to your tunes. (koyono.com)
2. Sunny Disposition
Without question, the Noon Logan Satchel is a good-looking bag. As far as bags go, you could certainly do a lot worse than Bavarian, chrome-free, vegetable-tanned and dyed, full-grain cowhide leather with hand-dyed hemp/cotton fabric. But the genius (and justification for paying $412US) of the Logan is the embedded solar panel, battery pack and adapters for iPods, cellphones and other gadgets. (noonsolar.com)
3. From Dre’s Head to Yours
When the people at Monster Cable set out to create high-end, high-style headphones, they decided to get legendary hip-hop producer Dr. Dre in on the design action. The result is Beats By Dr. Dre headphones ($400US), which combine incredible audio fidelity with a style that’s second to none. As you might expect, these headphones provide an emphasis on deep, ultra-clear bass sounds, but will appeal to hip-hop and rock audiophiles, alike. (beatsbydre.com)
4. Dog Tag Data
Some people treat stylish technology with an extreme seriousness. If you need portable data storage and have money burning a hole in your pocket, consider making the Olinari Sterling Silver Dog Tag ($250 to $350US) your next fashion accessory. Each tag is handcrafted and comes with a 2GB Sony Micro Vault USB drive, which securely locks inside until you need it. (olinari.com)
5. Rain, Rain, Go Away
People will try and cram technology into anything. The Ambient Umbrella ($125US) completely proves this. In addition to doing all those things you’ve come to know and love about an umbrella — namely, stopping rain from hitting your head — the Ambient receives a constant weather feed from AccuWeather.com and has a light embedded in the handle. This light glows when precipitation is in the cards, the goal being that you’ll never be without your umbrella on rainy days again. (ambientdevices.com)
