Tommy Hilfiger PV-Integrated Jackets Charge Portable Electronics

Pvilion Solar, Inc. has partnered with Tommy Hilfiger to design and produce a Solar Powered Jacket exclusively for the 2014 holiday season. The product features removable solar panels that provide energy to power electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets. These specialty jackets will be available in select Tommy Hilfiger stores across Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia, and online. The three-quarter length women's jacket features a bold blue nylon accompanied by a tartan developed by British wool mill Abraham Moon. That tartan also appears on the men's jacket, instead against a warm olive green. Both are water resistant.

The detachable Pvilion solar panels snap easily on and off the back of the limited-edition jackets, while a cable running discreetly through the garment’s lining connects the panels to a removable battery pack in the jacket’s front pocket. A special snap-flap closure provides easy access to the battery pack, and its double USB port allows the user to conveniently connect it with up to two mobile phones, tablets or e-reader devices via USB cord. The battery pack can also be charged via a laptop or external power outlet, and when not in use, it stores energy for use at a later time.

The water resistant, lightweight removable solar panel unit is made with flexible amorphous silicon technology developed by Pvilion. When exposed to full sunlight, the high output solar cells can fully charge the battery pack which, in turn, can fully charge a standard 1500mAh mobile device up to four times.