Jeans jacket mimicking touch created by H&M, Boltware

H&M and Boltware, a Berlin-based wearable technology solution company, have jointly developed Wearable Love, a jeans jacket that can mimic the feeling of being touched. The jacket shoulders are embedded with flexible sensors and tactile elements. The customer needs to download the Wearable Love app that connects these sensors via Bluetooth for transmitting the signals to the jackets to mimic the feeling of being touched.

The development is seen as being relevant during times of social distancing. Each jacket has a registration code for the app that is given to the customers when they buy them.

The wearer needs to create a profile on the app after which they can invite friends and loved ones via the app’s love list. This allows them to create touch patterns that they can send to the wearer as a digital reminder that they are thinking of them, according to European fashion media reports.

The Boltware device is a puck and base that acts as the heart and brain of the garment. The puck is removable and can be charged through a wireless charger and has life of about 2 weeks, while the base remains permanently attached to the garment. The puck can also be docked into different pieces of clothing.