Ever considered integrating a micro‑solar panel into a statement jacket?

Weight first: a 1‑mm polymer‑based PV array is about 50 g for a 30 cm² panel, not terrible but still noticeable when you’re running a marathon in a blazer. Efficiency will hover around 15–20 % in real‑world light, so you’d harvest maybe 1–2 W during peak sunlight. That’s enough to trickle‑charge a phone or power a small LED, but it won’t power a laptop unless you’re wearing a full‑bodied suit made of photovoltaic material. Design-wise, place the panel along the shoulders and chest where the fabric can stretch a bit—keeps the wearer comfortable and distributes the load evenly. Use a thin, breathable conductive mesh to route the charge to a small storage module sewn into a pocket. If you really want to make a statement, you can add a little animated LED display that flashes “Powered by Sun” when the voltage hits a certain threshold. Bottom line: it’s a cool concept, but you’re looking at a trade‑off between fashion and function. If the goal is to showcase innovation, go with a prototype that powers a novelty gadget; if you need a reliable power source, a larger, heavier panel might be unavoidable.

You’ve nailed the core constraints—weight, flexibility, and visual flair. For the panel, a 0.5 mm organic thin film PV would drop the mass to about 20 g per 30 cm², still enough to power a 5 V USB charger if you average 3 W in sunlight. Use a silicone backing so it stays attached but lets sweat escape; otherwise the wearer will be sweating the wrong kind of way. Wrap the wires in a thermally‑conductive thread that dissipates heat to the jacket’s seam, then route the charge to a tiny 200 mAh Li‑Po in a zip‑pered pocket. The LED could be a 0.1 W status lamp that blinks every 30 seconds—just enough to announce “I’m powered by the sun” without turning the whole garment into a disco. Next step: build a small test patch, mount it on a mannequin, and pull on a light jacket to feel the distribution. If the seam pulls, add a lightweight mesh support. If the panel curls, switch to a flexible substrate. The goal is to keep the jacket looking like a jacket, not a solar farm.