Samsung Pushing Fashion with Latest Wearables

Samsung is trying to take wearables beyond watches and bands into something closer to traditional fashion, including a full suit, a purse, a bag and a line of shirts—all equipped digitally.

Samsung’s Smart Suit 4.0, for example, has an NFC tag embedded in the sleeve button—a prior version had the tag taking up space within a suit pocket. The upgrade, Samsung said, is intended to make it a lot easier for a wearer to manipulate the tag while wearing the suit.

The Smart Suit 4.0 has its own "mobile app (that) works as a platform application and features various useful functions, depending on the user’s customized settings. It could automatically connect to the proper mode (office mode, business meeting mode or driving mode), open up the user’s designated app or transmit the user’s e-business card to the other’s smartphone," Samsung said.

The business of sartorial sensors—many of which can be used for payments—is booming, with Barclays pushing a up-the-sleeve banking jacket. MasterCard is also tailoring its wearable offerings and Tractica is predicting far more wearables rollouts.

Samsung's new full line of wearables—branded as "The Humanfit"—includes "On Bag," which is described as an IT-infused purse with a built-in battery. That battery could wirelessly charge a smartphone, monitor battery power level and could automatically locate the phone. The line of bio-smart shirts is called Body Compass and include "ECG (electrocardiogram) and EMG (electromyogram) sensors that track the user’s heart rate and respiration and suggest customized exercises in consideration of the user’s health status," Samsung said.

Another part of the line is called Perfect Wallet, which are NFC-equipped wallets and card cases.