Students design solar powered clothes to charge your gadgets

Although solar paneled clothes and apparels for charging has been developed before, but designers at CSU (Colorado State University) are developing solar powered clothing from natural fibers by which GPS units, tablets and phones could be charged. Professor at the CSU's Department of Design and Merchandising, Eulanda Sanders and an associate professor Ajoy Sarkar (Indian origin), with a group of their four students are making prototypes for charging clothes that can be worn while skiing, snowboarding, biking or hiking.

Solar powered clothing

Rather than using natural fibers the group is relying on petroleum based materials. Eulanda and Ajoy want to produce clothes from linen and cotton that are strong and safe enough to handle the elements. The main aim with these clothes is that not only they’ll be trendy and comfortable but also usable and easy to clean. Its a cool idea but what matters the most is the high price for making such a technology.

The group has already made some prototype vests and jackets with the help of a $15,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The clothing will be showcased at the National Sustainable Design Expo where the group has already filed their name in the competition for sustainable design at Washington this weekend.

Via: Discovery