Archive for the 'SolarFashion' Category

Noon Solar starts selling the Spring/Summer 2008 solar bag collection. The first model launched is the Logan satchel which comes in three different finishings: the all leather Black Logan for $ 476.- the Midnight/Slate Logan and at the bottom the Chocolate/Olive Logan. The last two models go for $ 452.- each.

Noon Solar is not just making Solar bags, their solar bags are made of materials that can either bio-degrade naturally or be reclaimed and re-used. This ‘cradle to cradle’ philosophy, rather than the common ‘cradle to grave’ product lifespan helps minimizing the growth of our already overflowing landfills.

The use of an high end solar-to-electricity conversion module which shows the loading status of the battery, a very helpful feature to manage your power hungry gadgets, stores the sun energy for rainy or cloudy days.

Additionally the power module can be charged via mains to have power in your bag in case the sun is hiding too long. A handy power source when out and away from the power grid.

How do you get your hands on one of those cool but hot Logan satchels? Send an e-mail to: info@noonsolar.com that includes your name, shipping address and type of cell phone you own. Each bag will be shipped with the corresponding cell phone connector identified in the e-mail. On top of that, you get an ipod/iphone adapter.

Noon Solar will send you a PayPal invoice that can be settled via PayPal or with with a credit card (no need to be a PayPal member). Alternatively you can give them a call at 773-225-6141 and give the credit card number over the phone.

The ‘Willow tote‘ solar bag for the ladies will be available for sale in a week or two according to Noon Solar. We will let you know when the Willow tote hits the store.

Bookmark to:

The magic or practicality of renewable energy provided by sun light and transforming it into electrical energy via solar cells has attracted Italian fashion designer Ennio Capasa from CoSTUME NATIONAL to create a range of high end - high tech Solar Handbags combining fashion, functionality and technology wrapped in Italian design.

Fine strips of mini-solar panels in contrasting colors on the front of the bag supply a small battery concealed in the lining.

The bag scome with a selection of connectors that adapt to every brand of cell phone, iPod and other digital accessories.

For women, the Solar Bag comes is two stylistic variants: the burgundy or black suede bauletto or the classic handbag. The male version offers a city bag made from brushed calfskin or buffalo.

For years, Ennio Capasa has experimented with sustainable materials — bamboo mixed with cashmere for example, and with new concepts. The solar handbag is his latest exploration in sustainable fashion using solar technology in combination with bag design, making Italian luxury contemporary.

CoSTUME NATIONAL is a luxury goods brand creating innovative style by merging street and couture with day and evening wear elements.

Ennio Capasa founded together with his brother CoSTUME NATIONAL in 1986 with stores in Milan, Rome, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Tokyo.

Generating your own electricity for your cell phone, audio player or PDA has never been more fashionable. The launch date of the solar bags is set for September 2008.

[via: fashion & runway]

Bookmark to:

My first reaction seeing the 2CLight Solar Light cap was: oh no, again a funny cap with an add-on like a fan but looking a bit closer how the cap works I must say: the 2CLight Solar Light cap is a unique and useful product after all.

The concept is simple but brilliant: a flexible solar panel is integrated into the peak of the cap together with a micro processor controlled charging and discharging system that provides control of the lights brightness.

The light comes from two ultra bright LEDs which give off enough light to even read by night. The solar generated electricity is stored in a small battery in the cap.

The light switch is placed next to the LEDs in the peak of the cap, easy to reach. The small electronic components and the flexible solar panel does not change the wearing comfort and characteristic of the cap.

A fully charged battery will give light for 2-4 hours at maximum brightness and up to 36 hours by low brightness setting.

The photos below show some situations where the Solar Light cap can actually be very useful: reading when out camping, checking the map quickly if you got lost in the great outdoors, fishing at dusk and dawn to see the tiny fish you catch, all kind of work you have to do outside after sunset where you need a flashlight, this cap frees both of your hands for doing the job.

2CLight’s Solar Light caps come in three basic styles: Baseball, Trailblazer and Sportsman, each style offers various color choices. The retail price is $ 35.- available direct by 2CLight.

A truly wearable solar powered bright idea!

Bookmark to:

In time for the sunny season Sunload started rolling out the 2008 Solar bags we wrote about back in January.

The first in our overview is the SolarRucksack (backpack) which comes in two sizes, small and large and many color shades.

Sunloads Solar bags come with a ‘on board’ storage battery and can operate any electric device via a USB connection or 12V car adapter.

The solar charging electronic Sunload uses is one of the best i have seen in the market. Controlled via a keypad with illuminated load status display, the internal lithium-ion battery has a power rating of (70Wh) and a capacity of 4.500mAh. This capacity allows many charges for an iPod, iPhone, Blackberry and similar portable devices.

The large solar panel delivers ~6W, a voltage of ~16,7V and current of ~360mAh when the sun hits it head on. All in all, a real power house bag.

The SolarRucksack comes in many different colors like: black, brown, red, orange, royal blue, navy, silver or tricolor and some more on request. The price is €599.- ($ 942.97) direct by Sunload.

Next to the new Solar Rucksack, Sunload has the SolarShopper, a nice and practical shopping bag (material: truck tarpaulins).

Available in many different colors like: traffic white, light ivory, zinc yellow, signal yellow, pure orange, traffic red, carmine red, yellow green, moss green, sky blue, cobalt blue, silver, grey, jet black. The price is €499.- ($ 785.15) direct by Sunload.

By adding constantly new models, Sunload has a large selection by now which makes it easy to select the best fitting Solar bag for almost any occasion an, taste and purpose.

Wherever you go, wherever you are, any time the sun is shining, the Solar power will be with you.

Bookmark to:

Noon launched last autumn the most stylish looking Solar totes and satchels which have sold out already. If you did not manage to get your Noon Solar bag you have another chance: in a few days Noon will launch the Spring 2008 Solar totes and satchels collection looking as gorgeous as the last line.

The new models (pictured on the left) are the Sawyer, a unisex messenger bag in mustard and chocolate and the Oakley, a maroon tote.

Among the solar bags in the market, Noon’s solar bags are not only very fashionable looking, they come with a high end solar-to-electricity conversion module. The module shows the loading status of the battery, a very helpful feature to manage your power eating gadgets. In case of rainy days you can load up the bags power module via mains to ensure enough power is in your bag for an extra charge of the portable devices while on a extended road trip.

Noon takes the environmental sustainability to the a highest levels using carefully chosen materials for their bags based on sustainability, longevity, and beauty.

Materials that can either bio-degrade naturally or be reclaimed and re-used. This ‘cradle to cradle’ philosophy, rather than the common ‘cradle to grave’ product lifespan helps minimizing the growth of our already overflowing landfills.

The Spring 2008 Solar bag collection will be available in April online and in retail stores in US. As soon as the new bags become available we will beam it up here on our blog to make sure you get your Noon Solar bag before they are sold out.

[source: treehugger]

Bookmark to:

SOLARC a German company developing, producing and selling high-quality, low power photovoltaic devices is fully in line with our 2008 expectation: the year of Solar fashion.

Being environmental conscious has never been more fun, trendy and good looking.

SOLARC’s new solar bag has been developed in cooperation with Artbag24, another Germany based company that makes hip bags with exchangeable covers, making it possible to switch between a wide selection of designs.

The same concept was taken over to SOLARC’s new solar bag model with the addition of a flexible and powerful solar module integrated in the cover of the bag.

This solar bag will charge easily ‘on-the-go’ small electronic devices such as PDAs, GPS, cell phones, MP3-Players, by using one of the many device specific cable plugs Solarc is offering.

The solar charging system includes an electronic unit with integrated battery and a variety of plugs for cell-phones, PDAs, MP3-player …

Below a small selection of the many different designs the Solar bag is available:

The concept of selecting from a wide range of designs with integrated solar panel not only makes the bag an eye-catcher but also an energy-catcher.

This sexy Solar bag is available directly by Solarc for 149,90 EUR ($229.37)

Bookmark to:

Fashion with function comes always to my mind if seeing those flexible solar panels in Bags and sometimes (like yesterday) even in Jackets.

Functional Solar Fashion is certainly the correct description when looking at the Noon Solar bag (on the left) where form and fashion is fused by solar power.

Voltaic (on the right) comes to my mind when thinking about function and innovation. They have been the first to combine bags with solar panels and offer the most advanced features in their extensive solar bag range.

Besides being a big fan of solar bags, I have another reason to direct your valuable attention to this topic again. I have found a nice video on YouTube that shows both solar bags, a Noon Solar model and a Voltaic model in action.

Have a look for yourself and see if this is something you might want to have too:

As for my part, I do not want to miss anymore the possibility to charge my iPod while hanging around in the sun with my DIY Solar bag.

Bookmark to:

Zegna announced in June last year the introduction of the Solar-JKT as part of the Zegna Sport range for Spring/summer 2008.

We still have Winter time but Zegna started selling the Solar-JKT in their shops in Hong Kong for around $ 1,050.- Not a bargain but Zegna is all about quality, style and innovation and not price.

The key innovation of the Solar-JKT is of course the integrated or let’s be more precise - attached - solar panel collar. According Zegna’s description, spending one hour in the sun gives for example power for 35 minutes talk-time on a cellphone, not too bad. Staying in the sun the whole day, you could talk forever.

The solar panel collar can be removed and used as separate solar charger at times the sun is too powerful to justify wearing a jacket.

iPod, PDA, cellphone are charged from the jackets battery via USB connector or with the adaptors included in the jacket for Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Motorola or Blackberry.

We have not found any online shop yet that has the Solar-JKT on offer so for the time being you have to make a shopping trip to Hong Kong to pick up the power jacket.

Having seen the Solar-JKT, I am not sure if the use of solar panels in the collar is the best place on a jacket to collect solar energy. They are small and it will be difficult to have both panels fully exposed to the sun while wearing the jacket.

Well, at least Zegna delivers in time what they announced back in June last year and there is always hope for an improved version for next season.

Bookmark to:

Sunload a Germany based company that puts sun in bags has already a nice range of different Solar bags starting from the Messenger models available in many different color combination to the Business bags and trolley up to the briefcase with solar panel.