Only a short time ago, SoundCtrl talked about the musical clothing line for Korean boy band 2PM. Sounding like something out of a futuristic novel, that idea has its ups and downs. One had to wonder what care and maintenance would be like for clothing that needed to have its QR codes kept clean and intact for function. Still, the idea of bringing together the everyday necessity of what people wear, with the everyday luxury of music, also sounds like a somewhat expected change in product development for the music business.
Debenhams, a department store chain in the United Kingdom, alongside an apparel and technology brand called C. Vox, (Communique Vox) has approached this integration in a different manner from 2PM. The duo may have come upon a smart position with the focus being placed more on ensuring product functionality and understanding consumer/listener habits. Today the store chain is launching a new piece of apparel they are calling the “sound technology jacket,” as described on the product’s page from Debenhams’s website, which is part of an overall sound technology line.
C. Vox, which prides itself on consumer oriented development and emphasis on convenience, has designed this new coat to manage the basic needs of a pedestrian music listener while in the cold. (Think busy NYC sidewalk). Considerations like ease of use, minimal device exposure and resistance to damage from washing, make the jacket seem less like an expensive item of extreme delicacy, with a life expectancy of only how long one manages not to have to clean it.
The main elements and capabilities of the jacket include built-in, concealed headphones and speakers, a built in microphone and basic controls for play, pause, and skip. The controls, which are liable to be the most accessed, are located on the inside of the coat by the fasteners and also allow for alternation between private headphone listening and playback through the speakers. You could, in theory, have your own theme music playing, for everyone to hear, as you walk down the street! Standard playback tech makes the headphones compatible with any mp3 device and smartphone. Ordinary phone calls can also be taken via the jacket’s controls.
As reported via Digital Spy, an added aspiration of the jacket is “protection against street crime.” Digital Spy also quoted the head of menswear for Debenhams, who supported this ideal, stating that the sound technology jacket is a “perfect, safety-conscious way to conceal gadgets whilst still being able to freely use them in public; it’s the must-have item for any commuter.”
The sound technology apparel is currently available for men and kids, designed in the form of hooded sweatshirts, gilets (sleeveless vests), and the primary jacket. The prices range widely from £14 ($22 USD) for kids apparel to £84 ($134 USD) for the men’s jackets, with varying prices for the different apparel styles. Debenhams advertises delivery to 66 countries, including the U.S.
Kira is an old school music nerd with a love for all things creative; always searching for music’s common ground. She graduated with an M.A. in Performing Arts Administration from New York University. Drop her a tweet @shadowmelody1
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