AiQ: Smart textiles solutions
It’s not easy to get to meet with Nadia Kang, AiQ Smart Clothing Inc.’s chief marketing officer—most of the time she’s jetting to and from exhibitions in various parts of the world.
Founded in 2009, AiQ got into the smart clothing arena early on. Its parent company, TexRay Industrial Co., Ltd., provides a complete vertically integrated supply chain. Using resources available within the group, such as the stainless-steel fibers developed by King’s Metal Fiber Technologies, another TexRay subsidiary, AiQ embarked on related R&D before the conditions for a market to develop had fully emerged.
Unlike other businesses that focus mainly on product development, “AiQ doesn’t manufacture just one item,” Kang states repeatedly. “Clothes are just a vehicle for technology. We see clothing as a link between people and devices, a human‡machine interface.”
Most Taiwanese manufacturers operate within the worldwide “original equipment manufacturer” (OEM) supply chain. AiQ is one of the few to go the “original brand manufacturer” (OBM) route. Delivering integrated solutions is AiQ’s strategy: integrating software and hardware, as well as front-end and back-end functions, through a fully vertically integrated service offering. “AiQ is a technology brand; if you can imagine ‘Intel Inside,’ then we are ‘AiQ Inside,’” Kang explains.
That’s why AiQ advertises worldwide and is present at all major international exhibitions. Mention smart fabrics anywhere in the world today, and people will think of AiQ; mention AiQ, and they’ll think of Taiwan.
Nadia Kang’s remarks reveal her quiet excitement and pride in her company’s achievements. In 2019, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry invited AiQ to participate in “Wired to Wear,” an exhibition featuring more than a hundred creative innovations from brands, designers, engineers and artists from 15 countries and regions. Included were demonstrations together with NASA, Google and other high-profile organizations. AiQ was invited to showcase its latest motion capture technology, cementing its standing in the world of smart textiles.
After talking with Taiwan’s smart textile manufacturers, something that TexRay chairperson Ray Lin said comes clearly to mind: “It’s not that Taiwan has so many advantages; it’s just that when the smart textile market opens up, Taiwan companies will be right there.”
Originally a bicycle parts importer, Peter Chou is blazing new trails in the sports and leisure industry with his 2PIR brand. The brand name—based on 2πr, the formula for calculating the circumference of a circle—symbolizes the wheels of a bicycle moving forward to explore uncharted territory.
Nadia Kang is an indefatigable ambassador for Taiwan’s smart textiles. In 2019, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry invited AiQ to take part in “Wired to Wear,” an international exhibition of wearable technology.
Combining textiles with electronics, Taiwan’s smart textiles industry is expected to boom. The photo shows a triathlon team in Nantou County training in 2PIR triathlon suits.
Combining textiles with electronics, Taiwan’s smart textiles industry is expected to boom. The photo shows a triathlon team in Nantou County training in 2PIR triathlon suits.