Michael Kors jumps into Android Wear with new Access line
The just-announced Michael Kors Access line combines the trendy looks of the popular designer with Google’s growing wearable platform. Watches will go on sale this fall and start at $395.
The new line is clearly for those with requisite fashion sense, as demonstrated by a promo video with a group of young women with better lives than you driving through the streets of Beverly Hills.
Michael Kors will include custom-designed watch faces, which has become a common offering when a company rolls out a new watch.
The watches have the “flat tire” component on the bottom of the face, just like the one found on the Moto 360. This is used to house the ambient light sensor and display drivers.
It was a busy week in the world of Android Wear, with Fossil announcing that it will sell two more models, the Q Wander and Q Marshal to follow-up with its Q Founder watch.
Why this matters: This new watch line is likely a direct result of Google making Android wear work with the iPhone. The buyers of many fashion-conscious watches are often drawn to Apple products: the smartphone used in the video even looks suspiciously like an iPhone. Plus the squarish look of the Apple Watch may not appeal to all, which is why wearable companies are giving Android Wear a go to see if they can steal away some sales.