Luminescent plastic gives women what they want

Luminescent plastic gives women what they want
By Lou Reade

Bayer Polymers has finally discovered the secret of what women want: a handbag with an internal light.

The company is helping German handbag designer Bree to realise the concept, using an innovative electroluminescent plastic.

Bayer has developed the material, which lights up under a small voltage, with Lumitec of Switzerland. A small panel of the material will be incorporated into the bag, allowing its owner to find mobile phone, lipstick or keys easily.

To date, the technology has been aimed at the automotive industry.

“Incandescent lamps in cars will soon be a thing of the past,” says Eckard Foltin, head of the Creative Center at Bayer Polymers.

A prototype bag will be seen at a leatherwear trade show in Germany next week. Bree believes the group can start selling the bag commercially “in the coming year”.