Want to merge your love for fashion and energy efficiency, and never let your phone go flat?
Here are five different solar panel-encrusted garments that are not only environmentally friendly, but high fashion and extremely handy when on the go.
1. The solar parka
The solar parka is the latest addition to designer Pauline Van Dongen’s range ‘Wearable Solar’.
It’s been designed to provide shelter, comfort and off-grid renewable energy to wearers. It features one solar panel that is thin, flexible and waterproof and is buttoned onto one of the coat’s front pockets. When it’s exposed to full sun, the solar panel can generate enough energy within two hours to charge the battery of a smartphone. Because of its protective nature, it’s great for outdoor use when power is not easily accessible.
Find out more here.
Solar jacket. Image: jeanbaptisteparis
2.The solar bikini
Bikinis are literally only worn when outdoors, in the sun, making them the perfect place for generating solar energy. New York Designer Andrew Schneider has taken advantage of this, and has created a bikini that can charge a smartphone or media player while the wearer soaks up the sun. The bikini has 40 flexible and thin photovoltaic strips which are connected via a conductive thread, with a USB port at the end. Wearers can even go swimming in this high-tech bikini, however charging whilst in the water is not advised.
Find out more here.
Solar dress. Image: designmilk
3. The solar dress
Another member of the ‘Wearable Solar’ family by Pauline Van Dongen is the Solar Dress, a prototype that combines high fashion with connectivity. It contains 72 flexible solar cells attached to panels on the front of the garment, which can be folded outwards to capture sunlight. Van Dongen claims that like the parka, the Solar Dress can generate enough energy within two hours to charge the battery of a smartphone. At the London Wearable Futures conference, Van Dongen said that her line Wearable Solar was about integrating solar cells into fashion. “It’s really about the true integration of technology and fashion, which can transcend the realm of gadgets,” she said. Van Dongen hopes that wearable technology will become apart of everyday life.
Find out more here.
4. Solar powered jacket
High fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger has partnered with solar PV designer and manufacturer Pvilion to produce an impressive solar jacket. The wearable solar jacket features detachable solar panels that can ‘snap’ easily on and off the back of the jackets, and has a cable that runs through the garment lining and connects to a removeable battery pack in the front pocket. It has a convenient double USB port that can conveniently charge mobile phones, tablets or e-readers. The battery also allows the energy generated to be stored and used at a later time, which is handy for when the sun goes out.
Find out more here.
5. Solar powered backpack
Solar backpack. Image: Max Lee
Project Solaire have designed a wearable solar backpack that includes a solar panel in the fabric which relieves the frustration of a dead battery when out and about. The backpack is ideal for backpackers or festivals goers to use when they are far away from a power source. The 7-watt dual solar panel is water resistant, removable and can charge two USB connecting devices. A mobile phone can be charged up to 30 per cent in just 10 minutes.
Find out more here.
Feature image: >Learn 2 Teach, Teach 2 Learn
