SPF clothing for a life outdoors

Coolibar, a Minneapolis based clothing design company, is working towards making the world a safer place for people looking for some fun in the sun. They recognised the growing risk of skin cancer from sun exposure and created a brand of UV protective clothing that can be worn for any outdoor activity. Their range includes swim wear, leisure wear, and clothes for gardening golf and walking, as well as accessories such as umbrellas, hats, bags and sunscreen.

UV protective clothing was first designed in Australia, where high skin cancer rates proclaimed a need for advanced sun protection that wouldn’t need constant reapplication, or wear away and wash off. Scientists found the answer by creating fabrics specially woven with UV absorbing chemicals. A graded Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UVP) for clothing was introduced and soon sun protective clothing hit the Oz market via pharmacies and anti-cancer societies.

UPF clothing is designed to be cool and lightweight, while covering as much skin as possible, for example, Coolibar’s Sun Block Jacket has hidden vents that make the most of the gentlest breeze. Caring for your protective garments is also easy as most fabrics are wrinkle-resistant and machine washable. The jacket blocks 98% of UV rays.

Many people know, but forget, that the sun remains a danger even on cloudy days. To address this, Coolibar has a range of umbrellas that offer protection whatever the weather. All feature their patented double-tier design, are coated with durable titanium-coated nylon and weigh 1lb or less; less than half a kilogram. They also block 98% of UV rays. Styles include a fashion umbrella - ‘elegant enough for weddings’ - a travel umbrella and beach umbrellas.

Other accessories include a protective drape that covers your face completely and makes you look like a storm ship trooper, a face shield that covers the lower half of your face and should be paired with a hat, shade wraps designed with women in mind and that cover your head, and an extra-length sun shawl that is generally worn pashmina-style, but can be used in a variety of ways.

An interesting accessory is the sun sleeve, which is advertised for people who ‘like to hang one arm of the window when they drive’. It’s essentially just a tube of fabric that fits over your exposed arm. It comes in two colours, white and sand. And while I don’t think that it’ll take the fashion world be storm, it does serve an important function. I’m sure farmer’s wives the world over will ensure that their husbands never leave home without one.

UPF clothing is a godsend for those who live in sunny climates; especially for those with sensitive skin that always seems to burn no matter how much sunscreen they slather on. As one who has been every shade of red, and who has lost untold layers of skin to the sun, I look forward to seeing these UV protective garments widely available the world over, and not just in specialist clothing stores and pharmacies.

Recommended site:

http://www.coolibar.com/