Solar-Powered Fashion

"Wearable Solar" Project

Solar-powered clothing has been considered for decades but were unable to attract the interests of the general public. With advancements in technology and a rising demand for portable power sources, solar-powered fashion may enter the mainstream and appeal to growing numbers.

Solar-powered fashion is most recently seen in the “Wearable Solar” project. It is a collaboration among a Dutch fashion designer, Pauline van Dongen, a project leader, Christiaan Holland from HAN University of Applied Sciences and an expert on solar energy. This project works towards a future of wearable technology and aims to merge photovoltaic technology with clothing that is fashionable yet comfortable to wear. The idea originated from developing the wearable solar clothing solely for the people who attend music festivals, such that it allows them to easily locate their friends and tucked-away stages using their phones. Solar cells convert the solar light that is captured into electricity and these cells when augmented on the body, can contain sufficient power for the body itself to become a real source of energy.

In an article on The Atlantic Cities, author Metcalfe addresses the lack of usefulness of the solar-powered clothing when the cloud cover is thick, stating that users will be “looking like Batman for no good reason”. The wearable solar technology allows for greater flexibility and customization in the design of the clothing as the number and arrangement of cells attached to it can vary. The drawback of wearable solar clothing would be that the cost might also be rather prohibitive. The wearable technology will not be ready for the commercial market unless improved (aesthetically-pleasing and cheaper) versions are developed with the advancements of technology. Although development is still in its early stages, the incredible potential in solar energy and its incorporation in fashion are bound to reshape the fashion industry dramatically.

Apart from being a fashion statement, this will be of tangible benefit to users since people are increasingly more reliant on their smartphones daily and it is no longer within our capabilities to go without one for even an hour. An hour of solar energy we receive on our planet is equivalent to the amount of energy we consume in a whole year. Therefore, the integration of photovoltaic technology and fashion aims to capitalize on the vast potential of the Sun as our source of sustainable energy and it contributes to reducing our dependence on depleting fossil fuels.

Leave a comment...

A coat and a dress has been designed for the “Wearable Solar” project. The coat (left image below) features 48 rigid solar cells while the dress (right image below) incorporates 72 flexible solar cells, designed to be placed close to the body. It is also designed to be versatile - for both wool and leather prototypes, the parts that have solar cells attached to it can be opened up to receive solar light and hidden when it is not required. It is claimed that both prototypes, have the capacity to store sufficient energy when it is exposed in the full sun to fully power a smartphone in 2 hours.

Image source: http://www.wearablesolar.nl

If you wish to find out more about this fashion technology, do not hesitate to head over to their website!