Swarovski, best known for their blingy crystals, has a history of innovative collaborations with product and fashion designers. Nearly 8 years ago, a collaboration with Swarovski and Hussein Chalayan resulted in the first wearable tech garments, decorated with crystals and lasers, to be shone on the runway.
No stranger to fashion tech, Swarovski’s latest fashion tech collaboration is with Misfit. The offerings radically reconsider the materials that tech products can be constructed from. To note, the Misfit Shine set itself apart from other activity trackers by creating an elegant activity tracker, minimal in design, entirely constructed from metal not plastic. Now the Shine is available with a crystal surface that allows the LED lights (indicating a user’s progress) to glimmer through the faceted glass interface.
A purple solar-powered version is also available for pre-order which Misfit claims will never need external charging.
Let’s pause here for a second to focus on the significance of this particular feature.
If the solar-powered Shine works as promised, one of the greatest usability hurdles that affects a user’s persistent use will be entirely eliminated, moving us one step closer from perceiving these products from being gadgets to authentic lifestyle products. And for that alone Misfit deserves to be lauded.
Whether bling is your thing or not, the Swarovski Shine is simply another voice to add to Misfit’s accessory collection.
Personally, I prefer studs to shine, leather to lace, but I can appreciate a brave fashion risk when I see one.
The collection, including several new accessories for the all-metal Shine, is available for pre-order here.
