it’s been 10 months now since levi’s announced it’s collaboration with google to create world’s first smart denim jacket, and the product finally took centre stage at this years SXSW conference in austin, texas. the garment contains google ATAP’s ‘project jacquard’ technology, which uses conductive threads to turn levi’s iconic trucker cycling jacket into a smart wearable with a touch-sensitive left sleeve. the innovation works on the idea that the structure of textiles is similar to that of touchscreens, so by weaving in conductive threads in the place of simple cotton, it’s possible to create a soft wearable that recognizes certain gestures just like a screen.