Our Clothing Doesn't Cut It Anymore...

I thought about this the other day ... when was the last time our clothing changed in any kind of functional way?

Sure, fashion comes and goes. Wide ties were in. Then wide ties were out. Then no ties at all.

You could say that clothing has evolved to suit us over the last few thousand years, and it works very well - but does it really?

Think of all the recent changes that aren't accommodated by your standard dress, or your standard accessories:

• Everyone carries a smartphone these days. Where do you keep it? Is it safe stuffed into your front pocket? How about your purse?
• Same thing for your iPhone/iPod/MP3 player - although that might also be your phone, but I still see a ton of people with their music players.
• There's a trend to start making smaller denomination currencies - bills - into coins. Are you carrying more coins around with you than you used to? Are they bigger and heavier?
• Although the smartphone has consolidated many accessories into one device, many people still carry a camera. Or a pocketknife. Or a flashlight.
• And how about that set of keys?

The point being is that - for men at least - all this stuff must find a home in your pockets. More and more women travel without a purse - think how easy it is to misplace, lose or have stolen - so have the same problem. And they likely have fewer, smaller pockets.

Only one company I know about has tackled this issue with a line incorporating something they call TEC - Technology Enabled Clothing. I've bought a lot of stuff from them over the years, and while there have been some hits-and-misses as far as durability, the fit and practicality works well for me.

Their Internet-based, so you have to buy on-line. This is another trend that the retail world is trying to come to grips with.  Almost all of my shopping is now virtual (although I did have to get a pair of shoes resoled - that's hard to do online).

These guys even make underwear - which I bought several years ago, and ordered some more recently
(they actually double as a swim suit in a pinch).

The cotton stuff you get at Costco just doesn't last...