When clothes are also electric

Dutch experts have unveiled Wearable Solar, which integrates solar panels into clothing to charge electronic devices.

The project was designed by Christiaan Holland of Gelderland Valoriseert, fashion designer Pauline van Dongen, solar energy expert Gertjan Jongerden, and students from the University of Applied Sciences in Nijmegen, Netherlands.

A total of two clothing prototypes were created this time, including skirts and jackets.

Designer Dongen said he had thoroughly researched the structure of the layer on human skin cells, and then interpreted it into his design.

For example, in jackets, flip-flop caps that can be easily opened on the shoulders and waist in the sun. Otherwise, they are folded and hidden without being detected.

"The jacket contains pretty solid solar cells, which is why I combine wood and leather to cushion it," the DVICE website quoted her as saying.

Designers say they have put together about 48 solar cells in their skin panels, allowing smartphones to charge up to 50% of the battery when the wearer spends an hour sunbathing outdoors.