Wear It Smart 2015 | The first Quebec conference on Wearables

On October 1st, Vestechpro, the apparel research and innovation centre affiliated with Cégep Marie-Victorin, hosted the first Quebec conference on Wearables at the Société des arts technologiques (SAT).

The event attracted some 200 “technophiles”, including several world-renowned experts, researchers, professionals and entrepreneurs from different sectors, such as apparel, aerospace, health care, sports, video games, security and intellectual property. Together, they explored one of the most promising technological sectors of the day: smart wear clothing.

Today, the development of a new generation of wearables, initially associated with social recognition and a certain sense of style, is focused on more basic considerations, i.e. the physical and emotional well-being of the individual. These state-of-the-art technologies, now better integrated in fibre and textiles, have turned smart wear into a means of communication between physical reality and the digital universe.

In conjunction with the conference, an exhibition organized in the lobby became a focal point for discussion and networking. The representatives of several research organizations and start-ups (Groupe CTT, Sensaura Tech, Greybox Solutions, Hexoshin, Service Concierge, Vestechpro), were present, and the participants were able to learn more about the Montreal smart wear and accessory business and research community.

           
Relive Wear It Smart 2015

“The diversity of the sectors represented at the conference constituted an undeniable advantage. We intend to maintain and promote this cross-sectoral diversity in our future events. This first success, which can be attributed in part to the excellent collaboration of our first partner, Montréal Fashion Bureau, will enable Wear It Smart to reinforce Montréal's position in the field, and to increase awareness among decision-makers about the many opportunities offered by these multi-application technologies” stated Paulette Kaci, Vestechpro's executive director.

The event generated considerable media interest, both locally and nationally, and social media helped the promotion of Wear It Smart among a naturally media-savvy audience. Real-time messages on a Twitter wall contributed to the buzz, and over 830,000 Twitter users participated.

« La pluralité des secteurs représentés a été un avantage indéniable de cette rencontre. Nous souhaitons maintenir et encourager cette diversité intersectorielle dans nos évènements futurs. Fort de ce premier succès qui s’explique en partie par l’excellente collaboration du Bureau de la mode de Montréal en tant que partenaire principal, Wear It Smart continuera, à l’avenir, de renforcer la position de Montréal au sein de ce secteur, et de sensibiliser les décideurs aux nombreuses opportunités que présentent ces technologies aux applications multiples » a précisé Paulette Kaci, directrice générale de Vestechpro.

L’évènement a engendré de nombreuses retombées médiatiques régionales et nationales alors que les réseaux sociaux ont contribué à la diffusion de Wear It Smart auprès d’un auditoire naturellement branché sur les TIC. Un mur de gazouillis diffusés en temps réel a permis de multiplier le nombre de réactions et de rejoindre au-delà de 830 000 utilisateurs de Twitter.