High-Tech Fashion: Have Gadgets, Will Travel

Christian Gulliksen

06/01/2005

Scottevest
It used to be that when a man left the house, he needed only his wallet and a keychain—items that could be easily carried in the pockets of his trousers. But as mobile technology has evolved from a novel luxury to a necessity, we have found ourselves toting cell phones, PDAs, iPods, and more—without a purse in which to stow them. Lugging everything around can be cumbersome, and accessing a particular item—say a ringing cell phone—can be difficult when it is buried beneath loose change and receipts from the day’s purchases.
     
While a jacket can provide extra storage, Scott Jordan could not find one that had the space he needed to contain all his mobile electronic items—and that looked good. That is when he started to design the Scottevest. (Click image to enlarge)
 
As he became immersed in the creative process, he realized that he not only wanted room, he also wanted utility. “The difficult part was finding a way to use the gadgets while on the go,” says Jordan, the CEO and founder of Scottevest. “If you’ve ever tried to plug a hands-free headset into a cell phone and your ear before the caller gets sent to voice mail—while you’re driving—you know what I’m talking about.”
 
Jordan enlisted the aid of a design team to devise a solution; the patented Technology Enabled Clothing system was the result. It incorporates conduits throughout a garment’s interior that enable you to connect electronic devices such as a cell phone to a PDA. (Playing on acronyms familiar to users of office networks—LAN and WAN—Jordan refers to a conduit system as a Personal Area Network, or PAN.) The earpiece of a cell phone can be placed within easy reach of your ear—connected to a phone in one of the jacket’s 12 to 42 pockets—or the phone itself can be fitted to a law enforcement–style epaulet on the shoulder for speakerphone convenience. Travelers will appreciate that the self-contained jacket may be removed and sent through an airport’s X-ray machine. Plus there is even space for a laptop in the back pocket. It seems that the only factor limiting what can be brought along is weight. Other touches include an extendable keyholder, magnetic wind flaps, and removable sleeves.Scottevests are available in a wide range of styles and materials, including Finetex, fleece, leather, and cotton. The company has even added a worsted wool blazer, a tie, and a cap to the lineup. But the most critical accessory might be the solar panel for charging up all of the power-draining electronics you carry. Prices for individual products range from $40 to $535. 

Scottevest, 866.909.8378, www.scottevest.com