Best in show: Solar clothing
Last week, researchers at solar firm Konarka Technologies said they'd made a breakthrough in the move to incorporate solar power into clothing. Their finding was a new, more efficient type of photovoltaic wire that could one day be added to clothing, shop awnings and sails to generate renewable electricity. Here we take a look at the history of solar fashion so far, from bags to jackets
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Konarka already produces this 'power plastic', an organic photovoltaic material that converts sunlight into electricity. Now the company is working on a new type of wire that uses similar materials and could one day be incorporated into clothing for decorative and gadget-recharging purposes
Photograph: Konarka
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For its 1996-97 autumn/winter haute couture collection, Lapidus designed a solar-powered parka lined with Mylar in black and white silk, complete with micro-lithium batteries and voltaic mono-crystalline solar captors
Photograph: Pierre Vauthey/Corbis
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1 October 2008, Buenos Aires: A model wears a jacket with an integrated solar module from a collection by Argentine brand Indarra.dtx. The module converts sunlight into electric power that can be used to charge mobile phones, iPods, digital cameras and rechargeable batteries
Photograph: Enrique Marcarian/Reuters
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A solar-powered jacket launched in 2007 by the Italian firm Ermenegildo Zegna, featuring two small solar panels embedded in the jacket's removable Nehru-style collar. The panels are wired to a battery the size of a deck of cards in the breast pocket. With four hours' worth of sun, the battery can be used to charge appliances such as mobile phones and iPods
Photograph: Marco Vagnetti/PR
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5 November 2007, Munich: Fashion designer Willy Bogner puts solar-powered lights in ski suits, employing thin-film technology developed by lighting company Osram
Photograph: PR
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The Voltaic Generator, by New York-based Voltaic Systems, is the first solar bag powerful enough to charge a laptop. The bag has high-efficiency cells and includes a battery pack custom designed to efficiently store and convert the electricity generated. It also charge mobile phones and most other hand-held electronics
Photograph: PR
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Noon Solar's stylish bags use flexible solar panels, allowing each one to charge a mobile phone or iPod
Photograph: PR
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US company Reware have built the world's first heavy-duty solar beach tote, enabling you to spend the day at the beach while keeping your iPod, phone, or camera totally charged
Photograph: PR
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6 August 2007, San Diego, California: A model wears a solar bikini, designed by Andrew Schneider. The bikini uses 1" and 4" photovolotaic film strips sewn together in a series with conductive thread
Photograph: Mike Blake/Reuters
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Another view of designer Andrew Schneider's solar-powered bikini, which produces enoiugh power to charge an iPod
Photograph: Solent News/Rex Features
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14 May 2008, Tokyo: A model wears the "photovoltaic-powered bra" by Triumph International, which can generate enough solar power to display an electronic sign board and/or recharge the battery of a mobile phone
Photograph: Yoshikazu Tsuno/AFP
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A solar parasol by Spanish designer Elena Corchero. The parasol converts the sun's energy into electricity during the daytime and uses it to light up small decorative LEDs
Photograph: PR
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