Levi, Koyono Jump on the Techwear Bandwagon

The iPod craze has forced a flurry of new apparel products designed to accommodate the device.

San Francisco–based Levi Strauss and Cleveland, Ohio–based Koyono are the latest to develop wearable technology clothing for the popular music player.

Levi announced it has developed an iPodfriendly pair of jeans called the RedWire DLX, which will be available this fall in men’s and women’s models.

The style integrates iPod plug-and-play technology, giving users quick access to music on the go. Levi has built a joystick into the watch pocket of the pants to navigate iPod functions, such as volume and changing tracks.

“In designing the jeans, we considered both function and fashion. The result is a uniquely functional––yet stylish––great-fitting jean,” said Robert Hanson, Levi’s U.S. brand president, in a recent press release.

Other features include an iPod docking housed within a side pocket and a retractable headphone built into the pants to prevent tangles. Levi designed the jean so that the iPod “bump” in the pocket is virtually eliminated. The cradle is equipped with technology housed in a red conductive ribbon, which allows users to remove their iPod from the pocket to view its screen while staying connected. The jeans are machine washable once the iPod is removed.

Levi has yet to release the suggested retail price.

Koyono has also developed a line of iPod-accesible jackets, due for release in March.

The company is using Eleksen’s ElekTex technology, which is a “smart” fabric interface for enabling volume forward/reverse controls of an iPod. The iPod plugs into the ElekTex panel, which is built into the jacket, and the user taps a keypad on the jacket to control sound, tracks and other functions of the MP3 player.

Koyono is using the technology on its BlackCoat model, a lightweight jacket made from water-resistant stretch cotton and waterproof encapsulated nylon. The jacket will be priced to retail for $179. Other designs are due out for summer with prices ranging from $149 to $1,000.

“We think the Eleksen fabric-control technology opens up a vast array of possibilities for how we can effortlessly integrate with our technology,” said Jay Yoo of Koyono. “We are looking at how we can use this innovation in all our designs. We consider ElekTex smart fabrics to be the next zipper.”

Apple announced that there are more than 700 products bearing the “Made for iPod” logo on the market or in development, assuring customers that an electronic accessory has been designed specifically to connect to iPod and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.

Other companies, such as Los Angeles–based Kenpo, Burton, Spyder and O’Neill, have developed similar products to accommodate the iPod. —Robert McAllister