The PhD student in mechanical engineering at Iowa State University created the solar tie by imbedding thin-film photovoltaic cells in the fabric. He says it works really well, but not as well as the solar handbags he has made for women.

"I have two solar purses," he told ENS in an interview, "and I'm currently testing them, to nail down final data about how fast they charge things and how durable they are."

Hyneck is now in contact with potential distributors for the solar handbags, but not for the solar necktie.

He has only one solar tie, which is sitting folded on a shelf in his home office.

"It was just a concept idea. We made a jacket with that print and we had extra fabric so made a tie out of it," he said.