Ralph Lauren is doubling down on wearable tech with its official 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics uniform for Team USA.
“Trying to come up with technology that’s wearable has to be about what the customer wants and needs,” David Lauren, Chief Innovation Officer at Ralph Lauren told Cheddar. “It really depends on who that customer is. This is a customer that’s walking in cold weather. We couldn’t decide what the temperature was going to be. Do you do a layering system? So technology just married perfectly with the need of the consumer.”
Ralph Lauren has been making uniforms for American Olympians since 2008. For the summer games in Rio in 2016, the company made a light-up jacket sported by then-flag bearer Michael Phelps.
This time around, Ralph Lauren chose to go with an insulated bomber jacket that keeps people warm for 11 hours, thanks to a heat-conducting ink. Its temperature is also adjustable by smartphone.
Lauren says the use of technology fits into the image the company -- and the team -- is trying to project in South Korea.
“When the U.S. team walks out of the opening ceremonies, we want them to feel like they’re representing our country,” he said. “And what is our country about? About leadership, about innovation, looking to the future. So there’s always symbolism in everything that the athletes feel and do out there. They’re on a global stage, and this is the stage for America, and how they look and feel is part of it.”
For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/ralph-lauren-unveils-2018-olympic-ceremony-uniforms-for-team-usa).
Some of America’s biggest retailers are working to increase their shipping speeds to please shoppers expecting faster and faster deliveries.
A group representing several big tech companies is suing Utah over state laws about children's social media use.
Google has agreed to pay $700 million to settle an anti-trust settlement.
Stocks were up after the closing bell as Wall Street continued to pin their hopes on rate cuts after last week's comments from the Fed.
Cheddar News' Need2Know is brought to you by Securitize, which helps unlock broader access to alternative investments in private businesses, funds, and other alternative assets. The private credit boom is here and the Hamilton Lane Senior Credit Opportunities Fund has tripled in assets under management in just six months from November 2022 through April this year. Visit Securitize.io to learn more.
Google has agreed to pay $700 million and make several other concessions to settle allegations that it had been stifling competition against its Android app store — the same issue that went to trial in another case that could result in even bigger changes.
Nicki Minaj just reached a milestone that no other woman in rap has reached.
Apple announced that starting this week, it will stop selling some versions of the Apple watch in the U.S.
Southwest Airlines will pay a $35 million fine as part of a $140 million settlement to resolve a federal investigation into a debacle in December 2022 when the airline canceled thousands of flights and stranded more than 2 million travelers over the holidays.
The House of Representatives recently passed a bill aimed at increasing transparency in healthcare.
