Why should Apple have all the fun? Eight of Fossil Group's fashion brands are getting into the wearables game.
Brands like Emporio Armani, Chaps, Diesel, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, and Skagen have plans to release more than 100 products—including display- and non-display watches and fitness trackers—in 40 countries in time for the holiday season.
"The industry has been slow to adapt to growing consumer desires for new styles and options for wearables," Greg McKelvey, chief strategy and digital officer at Fossil Group, said in a statement. "With the diversity of major fashion brands we offer, customers will be delighted with the sheer volume of styles and options available when shopping for a wearable that fits their personal style."
Details are scant, though Fossil said its devices will work on "two operating systems," presumbly Android and iOS.
Fossil itself introduced its first connected wearables in October: The Q lineup (above), created in collaboration with Intel, includes two watches and two bracelets.
A month later, the watch maker acquired Misfit Wearables' app platform, engineering team, and brand for $260 million. The move, according to Fossil, means it now owns a tech company "that has already solved many of the hardest problems in wearables," including battery life, it said in November.
While Misfit continues developing activity trackers under its own name, Fossil intends to use Misfit tech across its other labels during this year's massive product rollout. At CES, we saw the Misfit Ray, a slim and fashionable heart, fitness, and sleep monitor that can track your daily steps, distance traveled, and calories burned.
Fossil is not the only fashion brand to get into the wearables space. Fitbit teamed up with Tory Burch, Apple has a Hermes version of the Apple Watch, and Intel partnered with Opening Ceremony, among others.