Italian’s fashion company Ermenegildo Zegna is extending it’s Wearable Electronic collection after entering this market with the iJacket and the planned launch later this year with the Bluetooth iJacket under the Zegna Sport collection.
At the currently running men’s fashion show Pitti Uomo in Florence / Italy, Zegna showed the Solar JKT, an outdoor jacket with solar cells integrated into the collar.
Two solar modules, one on each side, convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The electricity is routed via conductive textile cables to a buffer battery, which can be used to charge a device directly or store the power until needed.
The solar modules measures 9 centimeters by 5.5 centimeters each and can generate up to 1 watt of power by full sunlight.
The battery measures 7 centimeters by 6 centimeters by 1.3 centimeter and weighs just around 100 grams. It requires four to eight hours to load. A fully loaded battery can charge a cell phone or iPod in less than four hours. A 5-volt connection is available for USB devices and a 6-volt connection for cell phones.
The integrated wearable electronics was developed by Germany’s Interactive Wear using the solar technology from Solarc based in Germany as well.
Zegna plans to ship the Solar JKT jacket for the Spring/Summer 2008 season. Pricing information is not available yet. Judging on the price of the iJacket, it will not come cheap but it is a Zegna and exclusivity has its value – right?!
