Cheil’s new suit controls smartphones on its own

The new Rogatis Smart Suit 2.0 automatically unlocks a smartphone when it is taken out of the suit pocket, transfers business card data via texts or email, and sets the phone to vibration mode when it is returned to the pocket.

Cheil Industries’ fashion business yesterday unveiled the upgraded tech suit from its menswear line Rogatis.

The suits runs on near field communication technology from the nation’s No. 2 mobile carrier KT, which also developed the app that enables the features of the business suit.

The unveiling of the suit came a year after Samsung’s fashion company introduced its first Smart Suit with a QR code installed. Fashion recommendations including weekly styling tips are given when the user scan the suit’s code with his smartphone.

“We have strengthened our business wear to face the era of the Internet of Things (IoT),” said Choi Hun, Cheil Industries executive in charge of menswear. “We tried to raise the competitiveness of businessmen by incorporating IT technology in a stylish yet comfortable suit.”

The NFC chip in the suit is made of thin vinyl, which can withstand heat up to 180 degree Celsius for five minutes and be submerged under water for 24 hours. This means the suit can withstand dry cleaning and ironing.

The Smart Suit 2.0 will be sold at Rogatis stores with a price tag between 400,000 won and 600,000 won, almost the same as its other suits. It will work with Android phones and the iPhone 6.

“It is an affordable price for salary men in their 30s and 40s,” Choi said.

Consumers who buy the Smart Suit 2.0 also get free mobile content including lecture videos provided by Samsung Economic Research Institute on topics from economy to business management, culture and art.

Samsung smartphone owners will also get free access to Samsung music.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [ojlee82@joongang.co.kr]