Sleek and stylish wearable tech is increasingly claiming a spot in the fashion space, with users wanting their gadgets to be as much a fashion statement as they are functional. To satisfy the surge, brands from Dior to Saint Laurent have been introducing tech accessories and collaborating with tech brands, creating pieces from debonair leather cases to full-on logo embossed portable speakers. Here are the best fashion wearables among current offerings to elevate your accessories game.
Planet Beyond
Planet Beyond combines the worlds of fashion and technology with wireless earphones that look like pieces of jewellery. More than just devices for sound, these futuristic earphones are the brainchild of MIT and Harvard scientists and designers, and are as technologically advanced as Apple or Bose products. The jewellery aspect — eye-catching metallic designs of leaves or sun rays — is crafted sustainably from recycled materials and repurposed factories. The main earpiece arrives in three different colours – gold, silver and gunmetal – and is priced at $115 USD (approximately HK$894) per pair, while the interchangeable accessory add-on — the part that looks like jewellery — is priced at $55 USD (approximately HK$427) and available in four different styles.
Louis Vuitton Horizon Earphones
Louis Vuitton is breaking into the audio technology sphere with its first-ever wireless in-ear headphones: the Horizon Earphones. Made in collaboration with Master & Dynamic, these cutting-edge devices arrive in various colourways — black, white, or red monogram, yellow and blue LV stripes, neon yellow, and pink monogram flowers — that boast a combination of matte and glossy surfaces that bring to light Louis Vuitton’s iconic emblems and lettering. The audio technology includes noise-cancelling and ambient-listening mode, as well as autonomy and wireless inductive charging. Additionally, the Horizon Earphones’ charging case mirrors the shape of the Tambour Horizon watch with its sleek curved shape and concave lines. The charging case provides the earphones with a total of 10 hours of battery life, with the a single charge providing 3.5 hours of listening time. The Horizon Earphones are priced at HK$8,500 including the charging case and are available at Louis Vuitton boutiques worldwide and online.
Hermès Apple Watch Series 4
State-of-the-art Apple tech meets old-world legacy Hermès craft in the latest luxury rendition of the Apple Series 4 Smartwatch. Featuring GPS+ cellular functions, the timepiece is a heart monitor, workout partner and smartphone rolled into one, designed to make your life easier in the most aesthetically pleasing way.
For this series, the watch face has been revisited to showcase a colour-changing display that reflects its leather strap. The buckle pays homage to the equestrian heritage of Hermès, and is attached to interchangeable straps to suit your style. Choose between two models of different screen sizes (40mm or 44mm), available in various colour combinations and strap styles: the classic ‘single tour’ one-strap design, and the elegant ‘double tour’ bracelet-inspired strap, which wraps around the wrist twice.
Apple.com and Hermes.com.
sacai x Beats Earphones
First spotted on sacai’s AW19 menswear runway, the Beats by sacai earphones are the ultimate expression of stylish sonic jewellery, made to compliment the coming-together of sports-inspired and formal styles in today’s fashion landscape. sacai founder Chitose Abe combines the modernity of technology with the tradition of decorative jewellery, offering removable beaded-design earphones available in three unique customisable colourways: “Burned Red”, “Deep White” and “True Black”.
Featuring a magnetic construction that allows the earphones to hang around the neck when not in use, the accessory has an 8-hour battery life and Fast Fuel charging, whilst also offering RemoteTalk functionality and a Flex-form cable to ensure easy storing in its sacai-branded case.
Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon Connected Watch
Created for jet-setting fashionistas, Louis Vuitton’s first foray into smartwatches focuses on travel rather than the fitness and health functionality common to most other smartwatches. The French maison’s long history featuring the art of stylish travel continues with the logo-adorned timepiece, powered by Wear OS by Google and a snapdragon Wear 3100 platform. Based on the brand’s iconic Tambour Moon design, the smartwatch highlights two signature features – the LV Guide and My Flight – focused on creating bespoke luxury travel recommendations based on the city that the watch finds itself in. Compatible with both iOS and Android phones, the watch is also customisable from a multitude of watch faces, colours and detachable straps.
Bang & Olufsen x RIMOWA Beoplay H9i Headphones
Bang & Olufsen x RIMOWA Beoplay H9i headphones
RIMOWA
Celebrating the link between sound and travel, RIMOWA and Bang & Olufsen have joined forces for a limited-edition pair of H9i headphones, housed in a signature RIMOWA light grey aluminium case. Featuring noise cancellation, touch control and wireless connectivity, the sound superior over-ear accessories are crafted in the same anodised aluminium material as the luggage, along with a touch of leather that elevates its design quality.
Bose Frames
Bose Frames, available in the Alto and Rondo designs
Bose
Bose has stepped far beyond the future of music with the debut of Bose Frames, the first-of-its-kind audio augmented reality shades. The revolutionary wearable focuses on your ears instead of eyes with built-in sensors, hidden speakers and a microphone fitted to help soundtrack your day. To the unknowing individual, these frames look just like any other black nylon-framed sunglasses fitted with polarised lenses. Available in two timeless silhouettes (the Alto and the Rondo), the Bluetooth-fitted audiowear are inconspicuously stylish with the ability to take your calls and blast your favourite tunes all whilst protecting your eyes from the harshest glares of the sun.
Editor
Kelly Lim & Joanna Fu
