4-in-1 Solar Powered LED Shirt

The solar powered LED shirt is first and foremost a fashion item. Rather than being purely utilitarian in nature, it uses technology as an enabler and active component of art. Whilst technology often favours function over form, it does so at its peril, sacrificing the beauty and yearning of true art. This garment celebrates the advancements in wearable technology and elevates it to the status of true fashion.

Illustration

Bring Harajuku district to your wardrobe. Inspired by the youthful carefree spirit and effortless aesthetics, the following shirt offers pieces for streetwear enthusiasts. People often opt for easy-going outfits which these separates are focused on. They are produced with various fabrics and textures for that statement look, such as ripstop, cotton twill, cotton poplin, and quilted cotton, ready to light up any day of week.

Inspiration

Iterations

Annotation

Fabrication

Utilising deadstock fabrics.
Ripstop, cotton twill, cotton poplin – deadstock.
Cotton quilt – repurposed from a bed quilt.

Trade Flats

Features

Main Shirt
The shirt silhouette is kept simple to feature the garment’s detachable vest. It features a classic collar shirt with contrast zip closure at centre front and concealed button stand on either side, which hides shirt-to-vest connectors that link both garments together. The sleeves can be transformed into two lengths, long or short, that can be unbuttoned with ease. A matching contrast zip as sleeve plackets with a button closure at cuff. On the back features a yoke with a centre back pleat and hanging loop detail.

Vest
The shirt is adorned with a two-way detachable vest that can be worn front or back depending on the wearer’s desire.

LED Side
The LED pattern is inspired by paper weaving, mimicking a braid and angular repeated shapes. It features two sets of snap closures at centre front. On the inner vest, there is a concealed zip pocket to hold the controller for the LED lights and snap off and on the closure panel and simply swing vest to the back and transform it into a back vest.

Solar Panel Side
Ten free form module solar panels (triangle) power up LED lights and their placement create complementing patterns. It features a matching contrast zip across back with a functional pocket. Two cargo quilted flap pockets at bottom of vest – one with a power pack and one with a cord for charging your device. The outer of each pouch pocket is a concealed vertical zipped pocket for convenience. An adjustable webbing straps with D-rings on the waist to create desired shape and comfortable fit.

Pattern Making

LED pattern sample

Main Shirt
The shirt is hand drafted with size 38 bodice and sleeve blocks. Additional design lines are added to match the design brief.

Vest
The vest is hand drafted with size 38 bodice block.

Toile

LED Sample
Anko LED strip used for proof of concept.

Main Shirt Toile
Toile sewn in calico and contrast fabric to check design lines.

Sewn components of main shirt and check fit.

Vest Toile

Attached vest toile to main shirt and check fit.

Electronics

The electronics are split into two sections.

Charging Circuit
The charging circuit consists of 10 solar panels connected in parallel to a buck converter which transforms the power output into a USB compliant 5V 3A supply. This connects to a USB power bank via USB cable to charge it. The USB power bank is then able to supply steady power to the lighting circuit and provide power for any other USB power compatible device such as a smart phone.

Lighting Circuit
The lighting circuit consists of 26 addressable nLITEn USB lighting strips which are connected to an nLITEn controller which powers and controls the individual LEDs. The controller connects to the USB power bank via USB cable for power. It features Bluetooth connectivity and will be controlled using the Bekonix IOT platform.

Design Evaluation

After evaluating this sample, there are several observations and considerations to be made going forward to the next phase of design:

• Laser cutting the vest panel for LED pattern to reduce time and better cutting accuracy;
• Exploration of a no-waste pattern to the main shirt to increase sustainability; and
• Addition of padding (wadding) to the vest to create more dimension and provide increased room for wiring.

by Aurélie

Bold. Joyful. Effortless.
Avant-garde x youthful playfulness x eclectic sensibility.

Designer profile: www.byaurelie.com.au/about