Strapped for cash? Well, now you can pay with your jacket

The new jacket allows the wearer to pay with a chip embedded in the right cuff

FORGOT to bring cash or just too mean to buy your round? Well now there really is no excuse for appearing financially embarrassed as the fashion industry has gone high-tech.

 

A new jacket comes with an electronic chip embedded in its cuff for contactless payments of up to £30.

The shower-proof anorak costs £150 and the chip is like those found in debit and credit cards.

They can be tapped against terminals instead of having to rummage for wallets and purses or even proper money.

Fashion brand Lyle & Scott has launched the limited edition jacket – using Barclaycard’s bPay technology – which is going on sale online and in its shop in Carnaby Street, in London’s West End.

Available in Admiral Blue or True Black, it allows the wearer to make contactless payments at more than 300,000 locations across the country.

Today, the transaction limit was raised from £20 as the technology was being increasingly embraced by “smart” watches and other technology.

We embrace our heritage but we are proud to have created an innovation team with the aim of ground-breaking products designed to fi t this growing trend

Jonathan Brigg, Lyle & Scott project manager

Lyle & Scott project manager Jonathan Briggs said: “We embrace our heritage but we are proud to have created an innovation team with the aim of ground-breaking products designed to fi t this growing trend.”

The number of contactless payments in the UK rose by 331 per cent in 2014 amounting to more than £2billion, according to the UK Cards Association.

Barclaycard also offers bPay contactless wristbands and key fobs.

Apple Pay began in the UK in July, enabling iPhone 6 and Apple Watch users to pay using contactless.

Samsung and Android are set to launch their own versions.