Innovative approaches to wearable technology applications in fashion design: Flexible solar panel clothing and accessory designs

Wearable technologies, which include technological products that can be worn as a part of an outfit or as a personal accessory, make people's lives easier. Thanks to the rapidly developing technology in recent years, great progress has been made in wearable technology products. The use of wearable technology products has recently become a rapidly growing fashion and a serious consumption sector. With the global climate crisis, sustainable approaches, the new orientation of the sector, and the Covid 19 pandemic, depending on the changing life conditions of people, it has become individualized and dependent on technology. As the use of technology increases, answers to the question of how to meet the energy need in the fastest and most practical way have begun to be sought, and the sun, the world's main energy source, has become an inspiration for the energy used in our daily life. In this case, the use of sustainable and renewable energy sources in the fashion sector and their application in the fashion sector appear as both an innovative and ecologically environmentally friendly approach. In recent years, it is seen that technological clothes and accessories have been used intensively in fairs and fashion shows in the fashion sector. Wearable technology products, starting with clothes, watches and wristbands, that remind daily activities and enable easy tracking of personal data by analyzing them; It continues its progress by enriching itself with belts, hats, shoes and bags. These products work by utilizing various smart sensors, a wireless power source or renewable energy systems such as solar energy.With the use of solar energy, a renewable energy source used in wearable technologies, it is possible to charge the phone by collecting sunlight through clothing and accessories. As a result, the idea of combining renewable energy sources with different designs emerged; This necessitated the formation of more functional and innovative approaches. With the use of solar energy, which is a renewable energy source used in wearable technologies, it is possible to charge the phone by collecting sunlight through clothing and accessories. In this research, studies on wearable solar energy systems, which are a part of wearable technology, are mentioned. First of all, "Is it possible to obtain more functional designs by including flexible solar panels in women's and men's leather clothing and accessory designs?" In this study, answers were sought to the question and the sub-problems brought about by this question. Flexible solar panels were used in this study, which includes designing various accessories that can charge mobile phones using solar energy systems, which are a renewable energy source. While designing, aesthetic elements were taken into consideration as well as the use of technology with flexible solar panels. A literature review was made, designers using solar energy systems and tests and sample applications were included. In the study, one women's jacket, one men's vest and five bags that appeal to different usage purposes were designed and produced. It has been tested whether the phone charging mechanism works in the designs produced, in daylight and in the ambient conditions that it will be exposed to. It has been observed that designs with instant charging feature without any storage space can charge a phone in daylight in approximately 2-3 hours. It is thought that the designs that ensure that the energy source is constantly portable and accessible will prevent the dependence on technology from slowing down the pace of life, and will allow the increase of innovative, sustainable and innovative alternatives in the sector. Keywords: Solar Energy Systems, Flexible Solar Panel, Wearable Technological Products, Design