STYLE:

Musician will.i.am and tech innovation company Honeywell have partnered together to create a new tech-savvy face mask that features an impressive assortment of built-in features.

The high-concept XUPERMASK features a silicone face seal and an elastic strap to help it remain in place and be easily adjustable. It claims to be durable enough to be work for up to 365 days a year.

Notably, the mask has been decked out with three dual-speed fans and a non-medical grade HEPA filter for breathability. XUPERMASK also offers noise-cancelling headphones and microphone capabilities, Bluetooth connectivity, LED lights, and a magnetic earbud docking system.

“We created XUPERMASK to change the game of our new normal,” will.i.am said in a press release.

The mask, which boasts a seven hour battery life, is being sold in two colors: white/gray/orange and black/black/orange. It launches on April 8 and can be purchased from the XUPERMASK website.

The product joins a growing list of “smart” face masks meant to enhance the functionality of the standard face coverings. Last month, tech company Razerconfirmed that it had begun production of its Project Hazel RGB masks that come with a detachable ventilator and wireless charger.Junya Watanabe‘s standout The North Face collaborations continue, as Rei Kawakubo’s protégé delivers more built-in backpack designs. For Fall/Winter 2019, the pair have mashed up a high-neck jacket and a classic daypack, taking functional layering pieces to bold new heights.

Though the appropriately-named “Tortoise Jacket” is marginally less flashy than its Fall/Winter 2018 counterparts, its no less clever, with plentiful details packed into the monochrome package. Handwarmer pockets, sturdy snap and zipper closure, velcro cuffs and safety orange quilted lining ensure that the jacket will protect its wearer from winter chill, while a touch of camouflage on the inside reinforces Watanabe’s workwear inclinations. Of course, the key detail is the daypack embedded in the rear of the jacket, complete with oversized branding, adjustable straps and internal carrying straps.

Expect the soon-to-sell-out Tortoise Jacket to hit Goldwin’s web store on August 30 for ¥159,000 JPY (approximately $1,500 USD).Li-Ning and Stefano Pilati’s Random Identities recently announced their footwear collaboration, which includes both all-black and an all-brown versions of Li-Ning’s Aurora 2020 silhouette.

The all black version of the shoe was previewed during Li-Ning’s Spring/Summer 2020 runway show, however the Aurora silhouette initially debuted in 2004, when it was only available to athlete’s competing in the Athens Olympic Games. Fifteen years later, Pilati has added his own take on the shoe, drawing inspirations from the cycling and the underground club communities in his home city of Berlin.

To bring his vision to life, Pilati ended up recasting the shoe to turn it into a low-top trail boot. He also combined elements from both cultures through the addition of a built-in LED light system that shows through a light on the tongue. The battery-operated lighting offers three different speeds, including strobe. The system’s different functions reference Berlin’s wild club scene, along with the headlights and reflective gear used by cyclists at night. The silhouette is topped of with a sturdy outsole, other reflective details and a bungee-cord lacing system.

The all-black Aurora 2020 and all-brown Aurora 2020 will be available beginning January 17 for $250 USD at select retailers like Dover Street Market and SSENSE.