Auckland entrepreneurs Ashlee Rose and Kristy Taylor believe it can.
The two mums are the founders of TAKE.IN, a wearable technology company preparing to launch what they describe as the world’s first biofeedback necklace designed to help people better understand and regulate their emotional state through breath awareness.
Combining jewellery design, wearable technology and research into the nervous system, the necklace measures breathing patterns and provides feedback intended to help wearers recognise how stress and emotion influence their breathing throughout the day.
The idea emerged after the founders identified what they saw as a gap in the growing wearable technology market. While many devices focus on fitness, productivity and performance metrics, they wanted to create something centred on emotional wellbeing.
“People are overwhelmed with data, but still feel stressed and disconnected,” says Ashlee. “We want to make breath awareness as fundamental to wellbeing as movement.”
Their approach is supported by a growing body of research exploring the relationship between breathing, emotional regulation and brain function. Studies suggest people experiencing higher levels of anxiety are often less accurate at recognising internal body signals, including their breathing, which may contribute to interpreting normal bodily sensations as signs of threat.
Research has also found that slow, controlled breathing can activate the body’s relaxation response, helping shift the nervous system into a calmer state associated with improved emotional regulation.
Rather than simply tracking those patterns, the TAKE.IN necklace is designed to encourage users to become more aware of them. Guided breathwork sessions and behavioural insights are intended to help build long-term awareness and healthier responses to stress.
Kristy emphasises the aim is to make emotional regulation more accessible rather than adding another layer of health data.
“We’re not trying to optimise people – we’re trying to help them regulate,” she says. “This is jewellery designed with intention. Something that supports how you feel, not just what you do.”
Available in gold-plated, polished stainless steel and dark grey anodised finishes, the TAKE.IN Breath Intelligence Necklace is now available for pre-order, with the first deliveries expected in November 2026. Find out more at takein.co.nz
