I thought the most logical place to begin a blog about wearable technology might be to talk about the first work that I encountered that piqued my interest in the field (if it can be called a field yet). It is the work of Elena Corchero. She incorporates solar cells, resistors and LED lights into jewelry and accesories, which charge throughout the day, and come alive at night.  The electronic components are integrated directly into antique and hand-embellished fabrics and wired together into working circuits using conductive thread. The Solar Vintage project has an aesthetic that appeals to women who appreciate beautiful fashion, and the self-powered pieces appeal to those with an environmental conscience.

I was so taken with Elena Corchero’s work at first because of my love for jewelry. The first piece I ever saw was a solar powered necklace that charged by day and was illuminated at night. I love the idea of dynamic jewelry that changes throughout the day as the wearer moves from one environment to the next. Additionally, I appreciate the environmental considerations of this project. There is a great deal of work out there using solar cells and LEDs, but the Solar Vintage project integrates fashion and technology in a way that many other products do not.

Visit Elena Corchero’s site:  http://www.lostvalues.com/projects/solar/