OREANDA-NEWS. High-tech and fashion are converging to create smart apparel – against this backdrop, Deutsche Telekom has launched its "Fashion Fusion" initiative. Encouraging innovative ideas for the fashion of tomorrow is part of its plans to become a digital lifestyle brand. Teaming with renowned partners, Deutsche Telekom starts the "Fashion Fusion Challenge": in an international competition, young talents throughout Europe will have the unique opportunity to draw upon the aid of experts from industry, the fashion sector and the startup scene to realize their visionary concepts for high-tech apparel, wearables and digital lifestyle products and bring them to market.

Partnering is a key concept for Deutsche Telekom, which together with excellent partners is presenting this innovation initiative: global technology company Intel and innovation magazine WIRED Germany will support "Fashion Fusion" with expertise, materials and energetic efforts. The global sports brand Adidas contributes fashion know-how to the project with Dirk Sch?nberger being part of the Fashion Fusion jury. As international expert and innovation driver in the fashion industry, the partner PREMIUM with #FASHIONTECH gives the professional setting for the presentation of Fashion Fusion.

The patron of Fashion Fusion is Claudia Nemat, Member of the Board of Management of Deutsche Telekom AG and responsible for Europe and Technology, who says the initiative is part of the company's long-term innovation strategy. "The next big thing in fashion will be apparel and accessories that are smart and connected. The visionary concepts of today might be hanging in your closet tomorrow. That's why it's very important for us to be a partner for innovative, connected products and services. With Fashion Fusion, we are connecting important players and promising talents throughout Europe and giving them the opportunity to turn their visions into reality."

The application phase for the Challenge is open now. Students, young professionals and startups from the fashion, design and technology sectors may submit their concepts until August 1, 2016. Applications can be registered in one of the three categories: Connected Devices & Accessories, Digitally Enhanced Fashion and Smart Services.

A jury of prestigious representatives from industry – such as Anita Tillmann (Premium Exhibition), Dirk Sch?nberger (Adidas), Christin Eisenschmid (Intel in Germany), Gesche Joost (Digital Champion) and Nikolaus R?ttger (Editor-in-Chief, WIRED Germany) will select the best ideas.

"It could be a smart watch or a handbag with a solar-powered charger. Sports apparel that is smart and sustainable through material or product recycling or jackets that switch to an improved insulation mode in winter. Fashion Fusion supports visionary ideas and concepts that have the long-term potential to establish themselves on the market," explains Smart Fashion producer Lisa Lang, the curator of the challenge concept, who played a major role in launching the competition.

The heart of the Challenge is the Fashion Fusion Lab: a three-month workshop in which up to ten selected teams will work on fine-tuning their fashion concepts. Together with experts from industry and specialists in the areas of innovative fashion and technology, the teams will produce high-quality prototypes of their concepts. The participants can draw upon the Lab's significant expertise and will be given accommodation and all the necessary materials they need to bring their ideas to life. The Lab is an open innovation platform that is supported by hub:raum, Deutsche Telekom's incubator.

The first Fashion Fusion Challenge will culminate in the presentation of the prototypes at #FASHIONTECH during the Berlin Fashion Week in January 2017. The best team will also win a cash prize of 20,000 euros and the opportunity to bring its creation to market, together with Deutsche Telekom and its partners.

Fashion Fusion Lab is a long-term project and each year may open co-working spaces and workshop rooms in a different European metropolis.