NOVELTY - The article has an upper (12) secured to a sole assembly with an exterior surface of the upper. A solar panel assembly (30) has an array of solar cells (32) provided on the surface and a battery is connected to the cells by wires. The cells are positioned about forefoot and midfoot portions of the upper. Retainers formed of a resilient, flexible material secure the cells to the upper. The wires are positioned between the upper and an insulating layer of material. A powered element e.g. light, is connected to the battery.    USE - Footwear article.    ADVANTAGE - The utilization of the solar cells allows the powered elements on the footwear to operate without an independent power source, thus allowing users to operate an electrical device on their footwear for an indefinite period of time, without the need to worry about replacing the batteries, besides enhancing convenience for the user and reducing the operating costs. The wires are positioned between the upper and the insulating layer of material, thus providing protection for a user`s foot from the wires and providing increased comfort and safety to the users. The cells are formed of pentacene sheets, organic polymers and plastics, thus allowing the solar cells to easily conform to the complex shape of the exterior surface of the upper. The retainers are formed of a resilient, flexible material, thus allowing the retainers to be easily flexed away from the solar cells, and permitting the solar cells to be removed, hence facilitating replacement/repair of the solar cells.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a footwear article with a solar panel assembly including a set of solar cells on an exterior surface of an upper.    Footwear (10)    Upper (12)    Sole assembly (14)    Forefoot portion (16)    Midfoot portion (18)    Heel portion (20)    Inner side (22)    Lateral side (24)    Midsole (26)    Outsole (28)    Solar panel assembly (30)    Solar cells (32)    Battery (34)    Wires (36)    Powered element (38)