Intel has collaborated with international fashion design house and curator Opening Ceremony; luxury retailer Barneys New York; and the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in a bid to explore and offer smart wearable technology, as it looks beyond PC.
As part of the deal, Intel and Opening Ceremony would design a smart bracelet concept based on the chipmaker’s technology with the design assistance from Opening Ceremony.
Intel’s New Devices Group Business Development and Strategy vice president Ayse Ildeniz said the latest initiatives will combine Intel’s technologies with Opening Ceremony’s design prowess, Barneys New York’s track record to identify the next consumer trends, and CFDA’s commitment to advance innovation within the fashion industry.
"Our shared vision is to accelerate wearable technology innovation and create products that both enhance peoples’ lives and are desirable to wear," Ildeniz said.
Further, Barneys New York will be responsible for selling the new device in their stores.
Barneys New York COO Daniella Vitale said that in collaboration with Intel, Barneys New York will be one of the first retailers to merchandise a smart accessory from Opening Ceremony.
"One of the greatest opportunities for wearable technology as a concept to be successful is fairly simple – to design a beautiful accessory that our customers would desire," Vitale said.
The collaboration between Intel and the Council of Fashion Designers of America is aimed at creation of a community for technology developers and fashion designers mainly focused on wearable technology.
