Let’s start this week energetic with another story on wearable (solar) power after pointing to the latest high-tech research at MIT in the wearable solar power field last Friday and the amazing Diode-solar-cell by Meg Grant.

Diffus, a Danish design company who’s work connects culture, aesthetic and technology has designed a gorgeous looking Solar Handbag.

The eye-catching look of this solar bag design comes from the unique design approach by Diffus: instead of trying to integrate one of the ‘standard’ flexible displays into a bag and design around it, Diffus designs the bags’ by blending the technology into the style, making technology part of the design aesthetic.

The solar panel is broken into 100 single cells called ‘solar sequins‘, to create a large area to capture sun light around the bag.

From technological view, splitting up a conform, large area into smaller units increases the probability that some of the 100 cells will almost always have the optimum sunlight capturing position, increasing the overall efficiency of the solar handbag.

The total output capability for this Solar Handbag is rated by Diffus at 2 Watt, plenty of electrical power sucked out of the sun on-the-go and stored in a battery for use whenever needed. Another nice feature of this bag design – illumination inside the bag at night powered by the suns’ energy at day.

Optical fibers integrated into the inner lining act as search light for all the little stuff that is loosely floating around inside a handbag.

A unique approach I really love, using (wearable) technology as aesthetic design element instead of (trying) to hide it which often compromises aesthetic a lot.

My only hope is that Diffus can attract attention from brands to carry this gorgeous design into a commercialized product. I don’t expect that to be cheap but Fendi, Prada and Co. are famous for style at an elevated price point.

[via: Fashioning Technology]

Sunnybag is a new line of exclusive shoulder bags with integrated, flexible solar panels made by Austrian company Ponsold.

The first model available is the ‘Business Pro‘, made of finest dark brown cow-skin leather and includes a 1600mAh Li-Ion battery pack, 2 flexible solar panels with 3 watts of power output, connectors to more than 400 different cell phones, iPhone 2G, 3GS, iPod and USB-port.

The ‘Business Pro’ is a exceptionally good looking business bag with a large, 2 piece solar active area which will still charge the on-bag battery on a cloudy day.

I have expressed my opinion, my love for solar bags, which are one of the best marriages of technology and soft goods, multiple times. Flexible solar panels on bags don’t add much additional weight, they are robust enough to withstand the ‘treatment’ we give our bags but they generate almost unlimited electrical power for our growing number of electronic pocket devices. Power we never can have enough off, power we often badly need for that important call or other tasks we depend so much in our digital lifestyle.

The retail price of the ‘Business Pro’ SunnyBag is $299,- available via Sunnybag’s online shop.

I particularly like the statement of Stefan Ponsold, project leader of R&D in SunnyBag’s press release: ‘Our solar bags are more than a fashion statement, they are a personal statement about a commitment to sustainability, sensibility and responsibility.’

Italian’s high end fashion brand  Ermenegildo Zegna is making a big impact again in the innovative, technology enhanced fashion arena with the launch of the Ecotech Solar Jacket as part of the Zegna Sport collection.

Almost 2 years after Zegna introduced the first top brand solar jacket in the market, the Solar JKT which had removable solar panels on the collar, a position I am not very convinced to be the best location on a jacket to harvest solar energy, Zegna moved the solar panels in the Ecotech Solar Jacket to the sleeves on the upper arms.

As in the first solar jacket version, the solar panels and storage battery can be detached to use it as stand alone solar power system and to remove it when cleaning the jacket.

The solar panels and battery are connected inside the jacket via a textile cable system which can safely withstand the washing cycle.

To fully justify the ‘ECO’ label, Zegna not only integrated the solar power feature but also made the Ecotech Solar Jacket from 100% recycled plastic sources. This new groundbreaking production process combines high level technical performance with the protection of the environment.

The on-jacket storage battery is capable to charge almost any portable electronic device such as cell phones, MP3 player and the likes. A full charge of the jackets battery requires four to five hours of direct sunlight, so a extended walk in the sunny autumn afternoon gives you pone free load for your beloved gadget.

Zegna Sports technical partners for this advanced solar power jacket have been German based Interactive Wear and Italian based Thermore.

Watch the YouTube video below showing the ‘making off’ Zegna Sports Ecotech Solar-Jacket:

The KILLA Vintage series #1 bags are the first to combine two of the most popular wearable technologies into one product: wearable solar power and iPod control.

But the uniqueness does not stop there. The Vintage series #1 bags are made from 50 year old WW2 German vintage back pack and satchel and can last another 50 years, long enough to survive the fast moving fashion world of today.

KILLA partnered with QIO Systems using their PANiQ textile interface and modules to control the iPod/iPhone family and other Bluetooth enabled mobile devices.

The flexible solar power system comes from Solarc, a German company we have posted some time ago about their sexy solar bags. The KILLA Vintage series 1 # bags have a power pack as well storing the sun’s energy for later use.

This unique bags are available only in a very limited numbered and tagged edition, 20 units per year and can be purchased by KILLA’s new wearable electronic shop ARChitect in Vancouver, 46 Alexander Street, Vancity, BC

By launching the extraordinary Vintage series #1 bags next to the gorgeous hoodies and jackets with device control, KILLA is definitely claiming the #1 spot in the technology enabled, wearable electronic fashion business.

Noon is offering a great saving opportunity for environmental conscious fashionistas by giving a 20% discount on their gorgeous looking solar energy harvesting bag and tote collection.

Reducing the carbon footprint even if it is a baby foot (print) can make a big difference. One solar charging bag will not save the planet but if many people using a solar charging bag it will make a big difference.

Noon Solar bags incorporate soft, flexible solar sheets to keep cell phones, iPods and other USB rechargeable devices juiced up as you go through life.

The bags keep on charging no matter what you do: place it near a window while you are at work, in the car while you drive around or have a stroll around town while enjoying the sunshine, the lithium-ion battery pack inside the bag will take all the sun energy to provide a quick refill for all the gadgets in your bag at day or night, wherever and whenever needed.

You can claim the 20% discount by using HOLIDAY08 during checkout at www.noonsolar.com The rebate is available from now until Dec 20, just in time for the holiday gift giving season.

Argentine clothing line Indarra DTX created an impressive collection of Interactive apparel ranging from iPod controlling jackets and pants to cellphone charging jackets.

Fashion Designer Julieta Gayoso, founder of Indarra DTX said that technology has become today such an important part of life that it is necessary to be available with a person everywhere.

Her mobile fashion collection includes the Touchpad jacket with a smart textile interface allowing the control of an iPod from the sleeve. The fabric is touch sensible and allows to change tracks or turn up the volume with a tip on the sleeve. Convenient, simple and keeps the iPod safe in the pocket.

The second iPod ready apparel are the Joystick Pants for men and women which come in a cool look and have a joystick like iPod control just above the side pocket. The twist here is that this controller operates wireless the iPod which can be in a pant pocket or in a bag up to 18 meters (59 feet) away from you (your pants). I must admit: a great feature but one have to make sure the receiver on the iPod doesn’t get lost.

Having the hands full with other stuff while running around doing all kind of errands, the quick skip of a song or hitting pause to listen to public announcements becomes very convenient when it can be done on the sleeve or the trouser without having to take out the iPod from a pocket.

With mobility comes the power management problem. Often enough our little gadgets run out of battery power just in the wrong moment (as there would ever be a right moment). Julieta added to her mobility collection the FV Module Jacket integrating a flexible solar panel into a jacket. The solar panels is connected to a storage battery in the inside pocket where up to eight electronic devices can be recharged at the same time whenever there is sunshine around you.

The solar panel is removable, no point to have it on a jacket when there is no shun shine. But when the sun hits the panel fully, a cellphone for example can be charged in around 2 hours.

At this moment Julieta Gayoso’s collection is only available via Indarra DTX for the local (Argentine) market but she is working on a second interactive fashion collection and hopes to begin exporting products outside Argentina in 2009.

It’s refreshing to see more companies, big or small, coming out with interactive clothing giving the interested consumer diversity and choices.

It’s eight month since Voltaic announced the ambitious Generator Bag the should be able to supply even notebooks with enough power from the sun to run smoothly of the grid.

The 17 watt of power generation would be the most powerful solar bag on the market and I really would like to see if this is possible. But there might be finally and end to the long wait, Voltaic’s site got updated showing the new solar panels we have written about it which should be according to Voltaic more powerful as the previously planned to use solar panel.

Though Voltaic still shows the ‘shipping soon’ message on their site I have found an online store called ‘MoMA Store‘ who will sell the Generator Bag for $ 598.- with estimated stock available on Aug 30.

Let’s cross our fingers that this time the Generator see the (sun) light at the end of a long development tunnel and is ready to hit the road. Might be just the briefcase you have been looking around for the back-to-school preparation.

The integration of solar panels into bags and backpacks are a common sign but now this solar power sucking technology is popping up in smaller cases as well. Point in case: Mobilefun‘s Solar Powered Case for iPhone 3G.

Power consumption on the iPhone 3G is a big concern as people struggle to survive one day without the need to recharge, something very difficult to do when away from home or office.

Mobilefun’s Solar Power Case can add a bit more time for browsing, reading emails or chat. Using glass based solar panels which have around 3x higher efficiency in converting sun light into electrical energy than their flexible counterpart, the Solar Powered Case charges in around 3 hours the 1500mAh battery inside the pouch giving a full recharge for the iPhone.

Because of the higher solar panel efficiency, the Solar Power cases will charge in normal daylight condition or in a bright office quite well just the 3 hours for a full charge will need direct sun exposure of the case (I wouldn’t leave my iPhone in full sun for that long).

If there is no sun at all, an included USB cable lets you charge the Solar Power Case battery from your computer makeing sure you have enough extra juice for a long day on the road.

Available from mid August by Mobilfun, the Solar Power Case comes in two styles/colors, the black more masculine style and the white feminine style with a price tag of around $54.- each.

[EcoGeek via Gizmodo]

If you are still looking for THE solar bag, you can choose from an even wider range now. Noon Solar put out their latest and greatest collection of solar handbags for the Fall 2008 season.

Noon offers the most fashionable solar bags made from materials carefully chosen for their sustainability, longevity and beauty. As proof point might serve that Noon Solar sold out every collection since it’s first model hit the streets in 2006.

Noon’s solar bags are hot – literally like the new Augusta model coming in three color ways: Ivory, Midnight and Rust at a price point of $412.-

The Augusta model has a two sided design allowing the solar panel to face the sun or your body. It comes with a front pocket that tabs down with collar studs, one 10″ divider pocket, 2 interior zipper pockets – 1 for lithium-ion storage battery and electronics, and antiqued brass hardware.

Noon Solar has also a new model for the boys, the Sawyer, a messenger style bag with lot of room for your stuff: 2 side pockets measuring 6×6,” 2 pockets under front flap, 2 pen/pencil pockets, 2 interior zipper pockets, one for lithium-ion storage battery and electronic accessories, interior cell phone pocket and small flat pocket – thats basically a complete portable office with it’s own power supply.

The Sawyer has also 3 color ways and goes for $377,- ($479.- for the all black model). Not sure why the all black model costs that much more, maybe it’s because the Macbook in black is also more expensive.

Both models are made of Bavarian, chrome-free, vegetable tanned and dyed, full-grain cowhide leather, hand dyed hemp/cotton fabric with natural pigments, and organic hemp/cotton lining. The greenest fashion bag you will get in the market.

Check out the complete collection on Noon Solar’s Website. Finally, Noon Solar is providing the option to buy directly online via Google Checkout

The bags come with power bank, all the essential standard cable and cable plugs specific for our devices which you have to indicate during checkout. With these bags you are ready to start saving the planet and benefit from free electricity.

Solar bag manufacturer Sakku from Switzerland has added a new model to their Solar bag range called ‘Buddy’.

This little sunshine Buddy comes in many rainbow colors to match the bright and sunny mood of summer time. As in their previous solar bags, Sakku uses again recycled materials for the bags, offering 100% environmentally sound power/fashion bags.

In their first models, Sakku used old sails from sailing boats to create the solar bags in the most environmental preserving way. The Solar Buddy uses the fabric of recycled sun umbrellas and sunshades which come in many colors and print pattern.

A very unique design twist, reviving ‘sun proven’ materials and giving them a second life, that’s what I would call ‘sustainability par excellence’. The use of those recycled fabrics not only helps to ease the load of our landfills, it also makes each Solar Buddy a unique bag as each bag is produced with slightly different parts of an old sun shade.

Check out all the different style variants of the Solar Buddy bag, an explosion of colors for this cuddly Buddy.

The Buddy is available in two variants: the ‘direct’ charges portable devices directly from the flexible solar panel and the ‘akku’ comes with an integrated rechargeable battery, storing the solar energy continuously.

Sakku has the Buddy available now on their Swiss site with a price range of between € 175.- ($274.68) for the direct model and € 245.- ($384.44) for the akku model. Sakku planes to bring the colorful Sun Buddy to their US online store as well.