What is sun protection clothing?

Sun protection clothing has a UPF rating, UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and indicates the amount of UV radiation that can penetrate a fabric and reach your skin. It measures both UVA and UVB rays (kind of like a broad spectrum sunscreen). UPF 50+ clothing only allows 1/50th of the sun’s UV rays to penetrate the fabric therefore blocking at least 98% of UV rays from reaching your skin.

There are different qualities that make a fabric or clothes more likely to have a higher UPF: dark and bright colours, dense/tight weave, looser fitting, and more coverage means better protection. If clothing gets wet or stretched it will lose some of its protective ability.

Why wear UPF clothing?

Wearing UPF 50+ clothing is one of the best ways to protect your skin from damaging UV rays. It provides consistent and reliable coverage, and you never have to worry of if you missed a spot with your sunscreen.

A typical white t-shirt has a UPF rating of about 5. This means it allows 1/5th or 20% of the sun’s UV rays to penetrate the fabric and reach your skin. All this exposure really adds up over time. And while you may not get a burn, there is still damage being done and this damage is cumulative and irreversible.

Also, depending on the fit, the coverage, and the weight of the fabric, many clothes we wear provide even less protection. If you can see light pass through your clothing or if it pulls across any part of your body like the shoulders, it’s probably not providing adequate protection.

Where to find UPF clothing?

Sun protective clothing is often marketed for beach wear and outdoor activities such as golfing hiking, sailing, fishing, etc. However, the sun doesn't just shine at the beach or out enjoying certain activities. It shines everyday and the damage from UV rays is cumulative and irreversible. Hence the importance of everyday sun protection and the casual, every day wear clothes from MorrisonRowe.