UPF 50 apparel line launched
Two friends in New York, US, have launched a collection of lifestyle apparel that protects the skin from the sun. Monique Moore and Anne Botica founded their brand, Mott 50, with the aim of creating “well-designed, stylish clothing offering sun protection”.
The T-shirts, tunics, dresses, skirts, trousers and jackets for women, and T-shirts, polo shirts and long-sleeved shirts for men, have an ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) of 50, meaning the clothes block both UVA and UVB rays. Typically, regular clothing provides a UPF factor of 5.
The clothes are made in three fabrics: a cotton poplin and a cotton pique, each treated with sun protection, and a blend of 92% bamboo and 8% spandex, which has a UPF of 50. According to Mott 50: “The fibre extracted from a bamboo plant is created by pulping until it separates into thin component threads of fibre which can be spun and coloured for weaving into cloth”.
The fabric is made in China, where Mott 50’s apparel is also manufactured.
The clothes are certified as UPF 50 by the International UV Testing Laboratory and have earned the seal of recommendation of the Skin Cancer Foundation. To earn its seal, the organisation requires that clothing reach a UPF of at least 30, and retain its sun-protective qualities after numerous washings and exposure to sunlight. A UPF of 50 is considered “excellent protection,” according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
