H&M’s tech chief wants clothes to compete with wearables

A shopper carries an H&M bag in Las Vegas, Nevada, US. The Swedish company’s tech-focus comes at a crucial time for the clothing industry, as people increasingly move from shopping at brick and mortar stores to shopping online; and fast fashion brands come under fire for their often negative environmental impact. — Bloomberg

H&M’s chief technology officer is trying to make smart clothing mainstream, at a time when clothing manufacturers are struggling with complex supply chains and environmental pressure.

Alan Boehme is examining how H&M’s clothes could monitor your heart rate or hydration levels, and how artificial intelligence could shrink H&M’s supply chain, potentially decreasing the company’s carbon footprint. In September, H&M couldn’t keep up with demand because of delays and disruptions of product flows.