The current era holds excitement for fitness enthusiasts and apparel brands catering to the growing demand for sportswear, athleisure, activewear, yoga attire and more. At the helm of innovation in wearable fitness fashion is Billie Whitehouse, who is the CEO, Designer and Director of Wearable X. Founded in 2013, US-based wearable clothing brand Wearable X has a mission of amalgamating design and technology to enhance the overall quality of life.
Billie Whitehouse specialises in the unique integration of hardware, software and apparel for wearable technology products. Renowned for her groundbreaking creation, Nadi X, a cutting-edge apparel technology designed to optimise yoga experiences, Billie’s focus extends beyond aesthetics, aiming to make fashion a vehicle for improving consumers’ well-being.
With expertise as a garment engineer, Billie’s designs embody sharpness, experimentation, innate confidence and subtle femininity, all seamlessly integrated with the latest technological advancements. In an exclusive interview with Team Apparel Resources, Billie candidly shares insights into her personal journey and unveils the fascinating intersection of fashion and technology, offering a glimpse into her inspiring tech odyssey.
AR: Can you recall your first significant encounter with technology and how it influenced your perspective?
Billie: Oh, absolutely! Back in the ’90s/2000s, I was an early adopter of a pedometer like it was the hottest accessory. Plus, I was the first person at my high school to get a phone. I have been always naturally inquisitive and curious about the future.
AR: How do you spend your leisure time in this tech-heavy world?
Billie: I am often found in my Nadi X and try practising yoga whenever possible. I recently took up kite surfing (I highly recommend learning new skills often) and love just being by the ocean. And yes, I do like tracking and measuring all these activities!
AR: What role does technology play in your daily life, both personally and professionally?
Billie: Technology is the centre of communication, right from keeping up with the family and friends to a deeper understanding of yourself. The best technology falls into the background and becomes invisibly integrated into your life.
AR: Share a challenging tech learning experience you encountered and how it ultimately benefited your role in the fashion industry.
Billie: There are plenty of experiences! A significant one for me was realising the difference between who we believed were our customers versus what the data really showed. Once we delved into who the customer really was, we were able to design for them accordingly. Being able to access this information is the key to what technology can do for the fashion industry. How someone uses your product and why – that’s truly what matters.
AR: Are there specific apps or gadgets that you can’t live without?
Billie: Nadi X for practising yoga, stability and recovery, Whoop for daily tracking and my walking desk.
AR: Do you have a favourite tech-related quote or mantra that motivates you in your professional journey?
Billie: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This is my go-to quote. Although not exactly tech related, it’s the mentality that’s needed to integrate with technology solutions.
AR: What invoked the idea of Wearable X?
Billie: Wearable X started off on the back of our success in creating Fundawear – vibrating underpants for couples in long-distance relationships. We have been building on this language of vibration and how this can be used to bring awareness onto the body. We are specifically interested in how this platform and Nadi X smart yoga system can be helpful for those with lower back pain.
