Clothing of the future has been developed in the Belarusian city of Bobruisk after the president dropped a tip. Heated jackets have become particularly popular during this unusually cold winter. To activate the “heater,” you just have to connect a power bank – the same kind we use every day to charge our phones. One click of the button will keep you warm even at 30C below zero! Our correspondent has looked into what the smart clothes are made of, whether it is safe to wear it in rain and snow, and how to wash a jacket with wires.
At the press of a button
OAO Slavyanka began sewing innovative things in 2024. The idea came from the head of state. As he visited the company’s shop during the opening of the First National Trading House, the president noted that in the course of creating modern apparel it is necessary to learn from the experience of Chinese manufacturers. The factory immediately set about sewing Belarusian heated jackets and is now the first and so far the only enterprise in the country that specializes in such products.
“Innovations always distinguish leaders from successors. For our enterprise these words are an incentive. This is why when the task of creating domestic heated jackets was formulated, we immediately got down to work,” noted Teimuraz Bochorishvili, Director of OAO Slavyanka. “We had to develop the manufacturing technology from scratch and certify the manufacturing facilities. There were certain difficulties with that as the certifying authorities did not immediately understand what kind of product we had brought them because electric heating is a function that is more often associated with appliances than clothing. But we have successfully overcome all the difficulties.”
The company experimented in the course of creating heated jackets. For example, it used a classic material for the lining initially but during testing it lost 13-15 degrees of heat: the plates heated up to 55 degrees, but only 40-42 degrees reached the human body through the lining. Then the company decided to use the innovative material graphene, which helps distribute heat evenly and retain warmth.
“I tested the first jacket myself. At 15C below zero I put it on, connected the power bank, and walked down the street, enjoying the fact that I felt comfortable in a fairly light garment,” admitted Teimuraz Bochorishvili. “We understood that the jackets would appeal to, for example, visitors of shopping centers, who can turn off the power bank once they are inside and feel comfortable even in their outer clothing.”
Large industrial enterprises have also shown interest in the product. One of them has recently ordered heated vests for its employees.
“When a factory has large manufacturing facilities, it is very difficult to heat them. But the problem can be solved in another way: an employee puts on a vest like this under their work clothes, turns it on, and feels comfortable,” noted the CEO.
Neither rain nor snow are a problem
Two types of smart jackets are on sale now: with three heating elements and with five.
“They are sewn into the product in the back area and the chest area while connecting wires lead to a special side pocket with a hidden zipper, which is convenient for storing a power bank. To activate the heating function, you just have to plug in the wire, and in a few seconds you will feel warmth,” assured Darya Norova, Deputy Head of the Experimental Workshop at the garment factory. “It has three operating modes: red heats the jacket to 55C, blue to 45C, and green to 35C. Depending on the model, the switch is located on the outside or on the inner side of the jacket.”
To see it for myself, I put on one of the jackets and connected the device. Sure enough, the clothing heats up in just a few seconds! To turn off the heating mode, following Darya Norova’s instructions, I press and hold the thermostat button for 5 seconds. There is another option: you can simply remove the plug from the battery socket.
The heating elements inside the product are so light that they are practically imperceptible. To avoid accidentally damaging them, I carefully take off the jacket and put it back on the hanger. Seeing this, Daria Norova explains that there is no need to be so careful. The plates may be thin, weighing no more than 49g, but they are made of durable, high-quality composite fiber. They cannot be broken or deformed, even if you fold the jacket several times. Heat is supplied by carbon threads sewn around the perimeter. Thanks to their properties the thermoelements are able to maintain high temperature inside the clothing for a long time. But at the same time, there is no feeling of overheating, which is very important.
“The most common question is how the jacket works in contact with water. But there is no need to worry about that either. The heating elements are insulated and have been certified to confirm they are safe for humans. We also select moisture-resistant fittings that fasten and unfasten well in the cold, do not freeze, and do not crack. And the USB port is covered with a special plug. This is why you can wear this jacket in the rain, wash it in the washing machine or take it to the dry cleaner. The key thing is to follow the product care instructions on the product’s tag,” Darya Norova assured.
Frost drives up demand
The first smart jackets went on sale in March 2024. The company makes no secret of the fact that buyers were initially wary of the new product, but very soon appreciated all the advantages. As a result, the trial batch of 100 units of each model was completely sold out.
“Seeing that there was demand, we increased the output last year. To date, the factory has already produced more than 4,500 heated jackets. We mainly sell them in our brand stores. Some of the products have been shipped to the Russian Federation. Due to weather conditions the demand is only rising! We plan to expand our product line in the near future. For example, heated pillows will soon be available on store shelves,” noted Natalya Suna, Head of the Marketing Department.
At present jackets with heating elements are available in four models made from different materials. At the end of 2025 OAO Slavyanka presented another new product: ecowool jackets. It is a new generation of synthetic filling that is resistant to moisture and extreme cold and can retain heat even at 25C below zero. At the same time, the down jacket itself is practically weightless: even the long women’s model weighs no more than 500g.
Keep in mind
The obvious advantage of heated jackets is that they are equally suitable for winter sports enthusiasts, who need warm clothing that does not restrict movement, as well as for ordinary city dwellers who, for example, can turn on the heating feature when outside and turn it off when entering public transport. The jacket can run for up to 5 hours from a power bank. For convenience, every model has a special pocket with a hidden zipper where the device can be placed.
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OAO Slavyanka has also developed heated vests that have been tested in Antarctica! Last winter they were tested by members of a Belarusian expedition, who were pleased with this new product.
By Yulia GAVRILENKO,
photos by Yaroslav ZARETSKY and from the company’s archives,
7 Dnei newspaper.
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