The Heatable Capsule Collection. © Schoeller Textil.

In a smart alliance against the cold and in an exclusive partnership, Telekom, AlphaTauri and Schoeller Textil are launching the Heatable Capsule Collection.

“How many jackets do you need to get through all the shifts in temperature during fall and winter? The moment may have arrived where just one jacket will do. And how cool would it be if everyone could optimise the warmth of their jacket individually and adapt it to their personal feel-good factor?” the Swiss innovator says.

“And all in a product without compromises, where sophisticated design and intelligent fabrics join forces with technological competence?” For this ambitious aim, the three well-known companies put their heads and their core competencies together.

With the Heatable Capsule Collection, Telekom brings its technological components to the table, AlphaTauri designed the collection and Schoeller developed the heating technologies and fabrics as well as the electronic components.

The Heatable Capsule Collection kicks off with a jacket and a gilet in two different colourways. Wearers decide the level of warmth for themselves in the jacket or gilet. The clothing items are operated by an app and Individual zones around the pocket and kidney areas can be heated.

The collection, for men and women, targets the lifestyle and technology-oriented consumer segment, or so-called ‘urban explorer’. “The apparel is cross-seasonal, suitable for all cooler types of weather, and practical when travelling, hiking or for other sports. The partially heatable gilet can be worn alone or under a jacket,” says Schoeller.

“The ideal feel-good temperature can be selected from two heating levels in the jacket and gilet. Thanks to Schoeller E-Soft-Shell heating technology the heat function is completely integrated into the fabric and localised as close as possible to the wearer’s body. Beyond that, the inbuilt sensors can measure the microclimate temperature inside the jacket.

The jacket is already being further developed with additional features, where connectivity and AI will become increasingly relevant.”

Best of three worlds

With the Heatable Capsule Collection the collaborative partners demonstrate how, through connectivity, fashion can be profitably developed for the customer.

The Heatable Capsule Collection. © Schoeller Textil.

 As the leading European company for telecommunications, Telekom is responsible for the technology. This includes the app, with which the user can adjust the warmth levels in their jacket individually. If the heating function isn’t needed, the integrated power bank can be used to charge a smartphone when you’re on the go.

“Thanks to its functionality and smart features, AlphaTauri inspires as the ‘stand-alone’ fashion label by Red Bull. Intelligent designs with a high feel-good factor and urban styling are what characterise the collections by AlphaTauri,” explains Schoeller.

Schoeller rounds the cooperation off with its innovative textiles and technologies. As an experienced smart textiles company, Schoeller is responsible for the E-Soft-Shell heating technology as well as all fabrics and electronics used in the collection. The centrepiece of the heating technology is a heatable fabric lining with an integrated network of conductive yarns. The construction allows customized definition of textile-integrated heating areas.

“In combination with other Schoeller fabrics and technologies, like corkshell for additional thermal insulation, combined with fine-tuned electronics, the result is a high-performance material concept that sets new benchmarks with regards to heatable apparel,” Schoeller adds.

Telekom Fashion Fusion

The Heatable Capsule Collection was created as part of Telekom’s Fashion Fusion Programme. Whereas in the past, the emphasis had been on the sponsorship of talent in the development of innovative prototypes in cooperation with a variety of events like the IFA and the #Fashiontech Conference, in 2019 for the first time it took on the development of market-ready products.

Antje Hundhausen, Founder Telekom Fashion Fusion and VP Brand Experience at Telekom explains: “We want to offer customers products with genuine added value. On the path to being a digital lifestyle brand we are continually working on the improvement of individual lifestyles. The Heatable Capsule Collection is a beginning, to revolutionise fashion through technology. It makes the day to day – regardless of weather – more comfortable and makes fashion more interesting. The 5G technology will be capable of networking everything in the next few years, creating opportunities for fascinating uses. Because even fashion can profit from technology.”

Antje Hundhausen, Founder Telekom Fashion Fusion and VP Brand Experience at Telekom. © Schoeller Textil.

Ahmet Mercan, Head of Global Consumer Products at Red Bull and General Manager of AlphaTauri said: “Innovation is key, for AlphaTauri! The Heatable Capsule Collection is an example of how true value can be created for the customer thanks to the respective expertise and a shared mind set: only when players are willing to question the status quo, can something new and innovative be created. This collectively created capsule also showcases the AlphaTauri design signature: a fusion of fashion, function and innovative features with added value for the consumer”

Ahmet Mercan, Head of Global Consumer Products at Red Bull and General Manager of AlphaTauri. © Schoeller Textil.

 Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO at Schoeller Textil AG commented: “We are proud to have made a significant contribution to the functionality of the collection with our E- Soft-Shell heating technology and our innovative textiles and technologies. For Schoeller, smart textiles are a strategic focus for an exciting textile future. For us the cooperation was a great learning experience and our first opportunity to provide the heating technology for a commercial product.”

Siegfried Winkelbeiner, CEO at Schoeller Textil AG. © Schoeller Textil.

The Heatable Capsule Collection will be available online from AlphaTauri and Telekom as well as in AlphaTauri stores and from selected retailers from the AW20 season.

www.schoeller-textiles.com