Tommy Hilfiger adds solar charging to $600 winter jacket

Jackets with detachable solar cells have been added to the Autumn 2014 collection line of US fashion brand Tommy Hilfiger

The garments include a space on the back for fitting an array of seven or 10 detachable solar panels.

These photovoltaic cells employ flexible amorphous silicon technology developed by New York-headquartered Pvilion. The idea is to harness sunlight to enable a wearer to charge an array of smart devices.

The solar cells are linked to a battery-pack integrated into the jacket. These connect via internal wiring to two USB charging ports installed in the garment's front pockets.

Pvilion notes the battery pack can hold 1,500mAh of charge - sufficient to fully repower up to four separate smartphone-size device.

Fashion breakthrough?
The two wool jackets mix conventional fabric with tartan. A man's and a woman's version of the limited edition jackets are now available for sale at $599 (€482) in stores and via the company's website.

Reviews of the jackets are mixed, with many commentators arguing the panels seriously detract from their aesthetic effect.

The development is most significant because it shows a high-profile US fashion brand interested in a wearable power application. The expensive limited edition garments are most likely intended to test consumer and market reaction to couture wearable technology.

Tommy Hilfiger is following a trend started by Ralph Lauren earlier this year. The New York fashion house supplied polo shirts incorporating discrete biomonitors to ball boys - and one player - at the 2014 US Open Tennis held in August-September.

Tommy Hilfiger adds solar charging to $600 winter jacket

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