Canadian fashion brand KILLA is opening the 2010 interactive fashion season with the launch of the Spring collection which once again demonstrates the dedication and leadership of KILLA and their brand ARCHITECT in technology enabled street wear.

A selection of gorgeous looking sweater and hoodies make use of the eTextile based keypads of QIO Systems which connect to a range of different function modules from PANiQ.

The PANiQ system includes modules for iPod and iPhone or Bluetooth, making it easy to have basic control via a touch on the textile sensor area on the sleeve.

As trivial as a remote control function might seem, as small as our pocket devices might be, having a quick access to some of the most used functions of these devices with a touch on the arm not only offers a unique twist to clothing but also a little luxury feeling we all deserve.

The interactive spring collection from KILLA is available via their online shop and the ARCHITECT shop in Vancouver, BC, Canada, retailing between $120.- and $160.-

Color changing clothing radiate a magical fascination by many. Recently I ordered color changing T-Shirts to see how the magic at work.

My experience: surprised views from people around me, questioning their world of fashion view as my T-Shirt keeps on changing it’s color pattern constantly. It helps that I am living in a very warm, tropical place with high temperatures outside and nicely cooled shopping malls, coffee shops and restaurants.

Coming in from the hot outside into these locations the T-Shirt starts changing color, in some areas faster than in others creating ever changing, random patterns.

The color changing chameleon effect comes from Bodyfader‘s Thermochromatic textile processing which offer a very robust impregnation of the Thermochromatic ink for textiles making them washable without loosing the color changing effect.

I know this color changing clothing have been popular in the 90s but they still make an impact occasionally. It’s a nice summer, sun and fun fashion style. Not necessarily wearable electronic but I am experimenting now on ways to activate the color change with a bit of electrical, conductive yarn magic.

If you are interested into Chameleon Thermochromatic clothing without electrical magic you could start looking around here.

Interactive Fashion specialist Killa is holding up with our informed forecast last October to launch a firework of cool and gorgeous looking interactive apparel in 2009.

The latest collection we got work off – and some first photos – is called ‘SWITCH‘ making it extremely chick to switch your iPod/iPhone or other personal device this summer.

The softness of the hoodies which will come very cozy on cooler summer evenings utilizes fully the softness of QIO Systems e-textile control buttons which easily follow the soft contours of the body.

The PANiQ modular system allows you to purchase from a selection of different functions such as iPod, Bluetooth or color matching earphones.

the SWITCH hoodies which are made in Vancouver, Canada, will come soon to online shops and retail stores across Canada in different color ways and pinstripe styles.

We will post an update as soon as we see these gorgeous looking SWITCH (me on) hoodies hitting the stores.

O’Neill, leading brand in the wearable electronic sport and outdoor apparel segment has introduced a ‘worlds first’, ready-to-wear active audio fashion line for the autumn/winter season 2008/09.

The new Audio Hooded Top for women and the Audio Hoody Sweat for men come with an integrated audio system. The practicality is obvious: listening to music all day long via earphones is not the most comfortable way to enjoy music.

Then, there are countries that do not allow earphones to be used while cycling or running in urban areas for example.

Last but not least, walking around in tense city traffic with earphones blocking out surrounding noise is not the safest way to cross a street.

So much for the practical side of having speaker integrated into apparel, providing a unique experience in music-listening.

Small lightweight speakers have been tucked into the hood of the sweat and top (removable for washing) and the iPod or any other audio player connects inside a dedicated storage compartment.

There is no need for batteries, the sweat speaker take the sound and electrical power from the player. I am sure it will not sound like an high end audio system but I would expect some decent sound audible mostly only for the wearer and hardly audible for people around.

All audio player with a standard earphone connector work with O’Neill’s active audio apparel. The Audio Hooded Top for women can be ordered online via this link for £82.95 ($131.-) and the Audio Hoody Sweat for men via this online store for €109.95 ($142.-)

Many people use music for motivation and relaxation during fitness and sports activities and many I know struggle with the earphone cord as it comes much too often in the way, removing the earphones rather suddenly and sometimes painfully from the ears.

Summit Wired, a young, innovative apparel company that engages in merging smart design, technology and apparel to create enhanced clothing for workout or leisure activity. Their first collection sets out to solve the above problem of earphone wires and music (iPod) handling for action loving folks.

Especially interesting for us are the IQ enabled items like the Grey Pullover Hoodie and the Ultra Fit long sleeved shirt.

Both have in addition to the earphone cord management an integrated super soft e-textile buttons from QIO Systems for iPod control. Summit Wired’s apparel make the wires and iPod ‘disappear’ from the area of action but still let you make quick changes to the motivational and inspirational music collection on your iPod.

The good looking unisex IQ apparel come for a very reasonable price of $90.99 for the Pullover Hoodie and $112.99 for the long sleeve shirt.

I like the clever and practical design as I do spend always time finding a ‘good’ place to tuck away my iPod, getting the wire reasonably stored away on my outfit to feel free for the action. Still, skipping or repeating a song means most of the time stopping, getting out the iPod, switching and starting again my workout or I just don’t change the music.

Compromises one can do if there is no other choice but with the availability of this smart hoodie and shirt it is definitely elevating the whole workout/fitness experience.

Fitting perfectly into the unstable autumn weather most of us facing right now is the Temperature Sweater, a creation from Despina Papadopoulos, founder of Studio 5050.

The cozy fleece sweater has in each sleeve a temperature display, one for Celsius and one for Fahrenheit so you don’t have to struggle converting from one unit to the other. The display is discretely integrated readable only for the wearer.

It’s convenient to check the temperature if it is really that cold or warm and it certainly gives a special touch to your wardrobe.

talk2myShirt always appreciates fresh ideas that add interactivity to clothing as an alternative design element to the conventional beads and embroidery details found in most of our clothing.

Integration of technology does not have to be always function driven, technology can be used in clothing design as aesthetic and emotional value that might or might not add a functional purpose.

Studio 5050 explores the relationship of design, fashion and technology made some of their visionary interactive fashion concepts commercially available like Moi or Embrace-me to name a few.

The Temperature Sweater has a price tag of $470,- and a 2 week delivery time.

I like the following remark Despina Papadopoulos made in an interview on the Wearable Art Blog: ‘We have a thermometer in our house, now we have one in our clothes.’