This smart sports bra keeps stress levels at bay

A technology startup from Canada is bucking the trend of fitness-tracking smart clothing with the launch of a smart sports bra that instead monitors breathing, posture and heart-rate variability to keep stress levels down.

Vancouver-based Vitali is currently running a Kickstarter campaign for the eponymous smart bra equipped with sensors, which includes a 9-axis accelerator, gyroscope and compass motion detectors, that track changes in breathing, posture and heart rate. The data gathered is then transferred to a clip-on GEM module for processing. A personalized feedback is then given and can be viewed using a paired Android and iOS app or in the form of gentle vibrations.

In an interview with online wearable technology magazine Wareable.com,, the company's founder Cindy Gu said that apart from monitoring breathing and posture, she hopes that the sports bra can identify what triggers stressful moments, allowing wearers to make changes in their daily routines in order to feel calmer and more relaxed.

Fitness and comfort are also among the company's priorities. Just like other fitness-focused smart apparel, the Vitali sports bra is made of 73:27 nylon-spandex but the sensors are fabric-based and washable. They are likewise positioned in a way that is not intrusive on a woman's body, even if the wearer is sitting down, leaning forward or working out. The sensors also pack a 64MB memory storage and can last for two days on a full charge.

The Vitali smart bra is available in slate black and light white. Sizes ranges from XS to XXL.

Its crowdfunding campaign, where the bra can be preordered at a discounted price of $129, has already surpassed the initial goal of $50,000 with less than a week left. The first batch is expected to ship in February 2018. After that, the Vitali bra will go on retail for $249.