I have seen many men driving down the freeway in the dead of winter with their convertible top down, absolutely determined, despite the cold weather, to let the wind blow through their hair. Undoubtedly their heater is on full blast and their female companions are always bundled up like Ralphie’s kid brother in A Christmas Story, but they push through. While he might feel like he looks cool, in fact he just looks cold—and uncomfortable. So the guys at Teiimo have come up with the perfect solution—the Iilation Jacket. Blending traditional style and wearable technology they’ve come up with a heated leather jacket that includes integrated Bluetooth, a hands-free set and cellphone charger.
Made for both convertible lovers and motorcyclists (or anyone who’s perpetually cold really), the design was originally intended for classic car enthusiast who may not wish to ruin the authenticity of their vintage vehicles with modern upgrades like Bluetooth, heated seats or USB ports. Depending on usage, the jacket can run on 1.5-6 hours of battery and be recharged by outlet or being plugged into your cigarette lighter while on the road. Now collectors and their co-pilots can be warm, comfortable, listen to music, charge their phone or even take calls on the road without ever having to tinker with their mint-condition convertibles.
Similar designs are available for both men and women, with minimal seams and classic lines, hiding the technology seamlessly inside the German leather. Dual pockets sit on the front of the jacket while the center back is accented with a quilted pattern of wool insulation. The heating zone runs across the neck, shoulders (front to back), back and pockets. Each area can be controlled separately with a five-level control and heats up almost instantly. The noise and echo cancelling microphone and two amplified stereo speakers are situated in the collar and functions as a hands free calling or streaming music device with a touch on the arm.
Teiimo has passed the prototype phase of their production with success and have now taken to Kickstarter to mass produce the Iilation Jacket. Currently ready to begin jacket production, they are also hoping to finalize an accompanying app to allow you to control the features from your phone, offer additional accessories and a “send some warmth” feature where a loved one can send you a heat signature hug by text to let you know they’re thinking of you. Their Kickstarter campaign will run from October until November 30, and jackets begin at a $2,250 pledge.
