By Jasmin Malik Chua, Source: Ecouterre

That mass of incandescent gas in the sky has you covered. But unless you want to feel like a walking gadget, harnessing the power of the sun requires more than slapping a bunch of photovoltaic panels onto your person. Wearable Solar, a nascent clothing line founded by Gelderland Valoriseer’s Christiaan Holland, fashion designer Pauline van Dongen, and solar-panel specialist Gertjan Jongerden, seeks to make garments that are as appealing to behold as they are to use. The team’s prototypes—a coat and a dress derived from leather and wool—feature a series of solar-powered flaps that unfurl in the sunlight. Alternatively, the sections fold away “invisibly” when not in use.

Wearable solar from Hammond Images on Vimeo.

POWER SUITS

Van Dongen says her designs mimic human skin cells, which show a similar layering. Some of the modules contain up to 48 flexible solar cells, enough to restore a typical smartphone’s charge by 50 percent after an hour’s exposure in the full sun.

Solar power offers an “intelligent and cautious way” to use the planet’s resources, van Dongen says.

The Dutch designer understands better than most that fashion cannot exist in a vacuum. “As a fashion designer, working in the field of technology, I see the importance of an interdisciplinary approach,” she tells Ecouterre. “In order to achieve innovation in fashion it is essential to connect different industries and fields of expertise.”

Solar power, she says, offers an “intelligent and cautious way” to use the planet’s resources. “I’m fascinated by the enormous potential of the sun.” van Dongen explains. We’re becoming more and more depending on connectivity. Therefore a smart garment, augmented with solar cells that can harvest energy, is an ideal solution when we find ourselves in an off-grid situation.”