RALPH LAUREN is entering the world of wearable tech, bypassing devices by creating a partnership with OMsignal, the maker of shirts that monitor cardiac activity by means of interwoven sensors. The ball boys at the US Open are to wear the form-fitting black T-shirts featuring the trademark polo logo at select matches at the Billie Jean National Tennis Center. Marcos Giron, the top ranked singles player of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association, will also be wearing the shirt during his practices, using the data to make adjustments to his play, form and breathing.
Canadian-based OMsignal is the brainchild of a team of experts that include specialists in neuroscience, sports medicine and engineering. US Open tournament director David Brewer says the shirts could revolutionize how players train and compete, although David Lauren, Senior Vice President of Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations at Ralph Lauren, remarks that everyone could benefit from the technology.
"Our vision is that this will transcend sports to help us at every age and in every aspect of life," says Lauren. "Reaching far beyond just the needs of elite athletes, Polo Tech will offer innovative technology for all ages and lifestyles to promote general wellness and quality of life."
