Operating at the intersect of fashion and technology, Billie Whitehouse is carving a reputation for herself as the Elon Musk of fashion. As the CEO, designer and director of Wearable X, Billie Whitehouse places as much emphasis on the wearables as on the tech.

Inspired as much by Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier as she is by Business icons by Musk, Billie Whitehouse is motivated by a simple passion for using wearable tech to improve people’s lives, unobtrusively and subtly. It is also much more nuanced, sophisticated and truly integrated than popular wearable tech items such as smart watches.

Having founded Wearable X as recently as 2014, Sydney, Australia native Billie Whitehouse has already been named as one of Business Insider’s 30 most important women under 30 in tech, and one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business, to name just two prestigious entrepreneurial honours.

Billie Whitehouse is a stirring amalgam of tech, quirky humour and appreciation for art and beauty. All these strands feed into her business, but define her as a person too. As she so eloquently puts it: “Design the life that you want, just as much as the career.”

12 Questions for Billie Whitehouse of Wearable X

Billie Whitehouse cleared some time in her Wearable X schedule to speak to AGENT about her business goals, her inspirations & aspirations, challenges and achievements, and shares the key lessons she has learned from the early startup phase of her business.

1. Tell us about your business and your business goals.

Wearable X specializes in the integration of technology in apparel. The company started with Fundawear, vibrating knickers for long distance couples in partnership with Durex (Reckitt Benkiser). They have also worked with Oakley, American Express, Fox Sports, Bud Light and Pepsi building custom technology and clothing for events, experiences and entertainment.

Most recently we have been working on Nadi X, which is activated yoga apparel with embedded technology. The sensors in the pants know what pose you are in, in real time, and give you feedback with gentle vibrations on the body—like a subtle massage, the pants guide your attention in yoga.

Nadi X was called “the Peloton of yoga”, and it’s been  featured in CNN, Refinery 29, MindBodyGreen, Sydney Morning Herald, and WWD. Wearable X was also named one of Fast Company’s most innovative companies in fitness in 2017.

Our business goal is to be a household technology that changes the way you connect with yourself, your loved ones and the moments in time that matter most.

2. What age were you when you realised you wanted to run your own business?

24.

3. Who are your business icons and inspirations?

Elon Musk, Philippe Starke and Jean Paul Guiltier. From a female mentor perspective, it’s Maria Grazia Chiuri, my mother (Leanne Whitehouse) and Madonna.

4. What has been your biggest challenge in business, and how did you surmount it?

People are the biggest challenge. But there are always limitations in technology and you have to have an imagination that goes beyond the limitations of right now and design for the future with really smart people around you.

5. What gives you the most satisfaction in business?

Seeing people’s faces when they feel the vibrations on Nadi X for the first time.

6. Work-Life balance: is it possible? How do you achieve it?

Yes it’s possible. Not being defined by one thing is the most important part of my life. Its not easy and often we need to the support of loved ones to be able to get to this point. I do genuinely believe that everyone can have this.

7. What is the first thing you do every day?

In my ideal scenario I would exercise first thing everyday. And I would say I do this 80% of the time. The days that I don’t I definitely feel it.

8. What screen saver picture is currently on your phone?

It is a beautiful mountain-scape. Covered with snow. A place I hold close to my heart.

9. What is the most important app on your mobile phone, and why?

Its the Wearable X app. For our new activated yoga line Nadi X. Mostly because we have worked so hard on this and we constantly show off the work we have done to customers.

10. What is the last thing you Googled?

The person I was just on a call with.

11. What item do you never leave the house without, and why?

My business cards.

12. What advice would you give to your younger self starting out in business?

Design the life that you want, just as much as the career.

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