Solar Clothes

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New solar cell technology results in portable Solar Cells on Clothes

It may seem like something out of the Jetson, but solar powered clothing is actually a new functional fashion initiative. New solar cell technology has allowed designers to incorporate solar cells into clothing since 2000. The solar cells being incorporated aren't like the big, stiff panels that line rooftops, however. These solar cells are flexible, washable, and in some cases, printable.

There have been a couple of different drivers behind solar powered clothing. One of them has been the dozens of other gadgets that people have started to regularly carry with them. From cell phones to MP3 players, people want to take their world with them when they go, and they don't want to be dependent on a grounded electrical source.

The push for a completely portable solar cell led to some of the first solar clothes. Primarily outerwears, these clothing items were designed to be wearable power sources for their owners. Many had a place where a USB port or other power converting application could be plugged right into the clothing and used to pull out power that had been generated. Other designs used the generated power to heat the wearer, which was thought to have good applicability in Northern climates and for Arctic explorers.

However, outwear was only the tip of the iceberg for the portable solar power cell movement. Gradually, new iterations of solar cell technologies grew thinner and more flexible. This allowed them to be placed on soft cottons and other daily wear fabrics, giving designers even more toys to play with for their clothes.

Initially, they were often incorporated as novelty pieces. Lighted T-shirts by couture designers, especially in Asia, were quite the eye catching visual piece. They had no plug in for power sharing, but were instead designed to be continually decorative. However, their mass appeal was limited since the price points for the clothing were so high.

Astonishing Developments in the Field of portable Solar Power Cells

New solar cell technology is helping to bring down the price. The newest iterations are solar cells that can be laser printed. Sold in rolls as though they were lighting gel film instead of energy generating units, these newest solar cells are being tested all over the wearable accessories industry to find the best application for them.

For many, the idea of portable solar cells on clothes has some appeal, even as a novelty item. Most do prefer solar cells that can be used to charge portable appliances, though, as there is nothing more frustrating in the digital age than being without power. However, everyone agrees that if the solar cells are going to be worn they need to be relatively unobtrusive on the wearer. No one wants to fully embrace the futuristic look just yet.

Even as a new market, there is a lot of potential for solar clothing to really become a fixture in the market. If costs can be controlled and utility maintained, most consumers have indicated a willingness to buy the clothes. It's all a matter of matching the right look to the right innovation.