Getting cold feet? There’s an app for that.
A new Kickstarter campaign for Lundi boots has launched to help fund the startup brand’s mass production of stylish, tech-enabled footwear that can reach up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit from the touch of a smartphone synced via Bluetooth.
Through Lundi’s technology, the heat is distributed evenly around the feet. The built-in thermostat “regulates the boot so that it’s maintained and never exceeds the temperature for a person’s safety and comfort,” said co-founder Katie Lefkowitz.
The black leather footwear is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones and takes less than a minute to reach a desirable heat, depending on the temperature outside.
The battery is concealed in the boot’s one-inch heel and can run continuously for up to eight hours. Recharging, done through a wireless system, takes less than two hours.
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The shoes range in women’s sizes 6-12 (U.S.), available for preorder through Kickstarter for $349 (a pledge fee), but the purchase and shipping — expected to be in November — won’t go through unless the manufacturer receives $55,000 in pledges by May 5.
So far, more than $21,000 has been raised. After the campaign ends, the boots will be available to purchase for $775 through the Lundi website.
Lefkowitz, a former Los Angeles resident, said the idea developed after she moved to Boston for school and experienced a “rude awakening” during a chilly winter.
“People have controlled their own temperature indoors for over 100 years – it’s time that we control the temperature outdoors – and in a fashionable way,” Lefkowitz said. Her father Sheldon Lefkowitz, a nuclear engineer, is also a co-founder.
