Plans are afoot for the release of a wearable smart-heated base layer to keep sports enthusiasts, outdoor workers and the general public warm during the winter months.

FuelWear’s Flame Base Layer is a layer of upper-body clothing, which features sensors that detect when your body needs to be warmed up – with the product’s intelligent heating system making you warmer when required.

The layer features two heating elements in the front and one in the back to keep the torso at a comfortable temperature and promote good blood circulation, in order to prevent fatigue and discomfort. The heating control system can also be set to manual to allow users to set their own heating levels.

FuelWear’s idea features a battery indicator to warn users when their layer’s power levels are low, while the clothing item is also made from ultra-soft bamboo fabric for optimum insulation. The battery pack is located on the front of the layer to ensure that it doesn’t impede movement and the Flame Base is also fully-machine washable.

FuelWear, the idea of two graduates from the University of Toronto, is currently running an Indiegogo campaign for the Flame Base product to raise funds for development and to garner feedback from potential users of the device.

As it stands, the company is looking to raise CAD$20,000 (US$18,000, €14,000, £11,000) for the product, but has already gained just over CAD$50,000 (US$45,000, €35,000, £27,500) – according to figures shown on its fundraising page.

Interest in sophisticated clothing is continuing to mount, with a number of other developers looking at the impact certain technologies can have on the body.

The sports market appears to be an industry most likely to benefit from development, as fashion brand Ralph Lauren recently unveiled its own Polo Tech high-performance smart compression shirt, which uses sensors knitted into the fabric to read heartbeat, respiration and other biometrics.

Another product grabbing the intention of tech enthusiasts is the Lechal trainer, which generates tracking data and provides user-feedback through insole vibrations.