Touchscreen sensitive fashion gloves by emke are now available to New Zealand. Images supplied.
A new line of stylish gloves have just become available to New Zealand by emke and mean you can keep your hands warm and still use your smartphone and other touchscreen sensitive digital devices. Perfectly timed for winter, emke was created by New York-based Australian entrepreneur Emily Truong who came up with the concept while travelling through Europe during winter 2014.
“I was used to warmer weather and it was impossible to find a pair of touchscreen gloves that didn’t look like ‘tech’ gloves,” says Emily. “So I figured, if I can’t find the product, I’ll create it myself. I worked closely with the manufacturer to have a design that was both warm, stylish and practical.” She came up with gloves that have a base of 80% premium wool, with an additional layer of 100% cotton which means they are warm and soft on the skin. The clever touchscreen tip is made of a conductive yarn that matches the colour of the gloves which keeps the touchscreen functionality discreet.
Originally emke was launched in the USA for the Fall/Winter 2015/2016 season before expanding into the UK in Fall/Winter 2016/2017. They’re now available to New Zealand customers online for $29 (NZD). “We decided New Zealand was the best place for our next launch because we know it’s a strong market for fashionable accessories, and it can be very cold over the winter,” adds Emily.
The gloves were two years in the making with Emily developing the product and finding the right manufacturer to create her perfect gloves. She has a background in accounting and finance, and previously worked in company restructuring but starting emke meant she had to learn the ropes of being a business owner as well. “It’s always difficult starting up a new business from scratch,” she says. “I was learning everything for the first time. But I was very passionate about the business and truly believed it was a product that young, working professionals would like. It’s been a very rewarding experience so far and I certainly have no regrets.”