"Blocks 90% of UV Rays"... Uniqlo Launches UV Protection Wear

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] Global fashion brand Uniqlo has launched 'UV Protection Wear' that blocks up to 90% of ultraviolet rays the moment you wear it, offering more than 40 diverse items including outerwear, knits, leggings, and hats.

Recently, interest in protective wear with added functionality to respond to environmental changes that directly or indirectly threaten health, such as fine dust, has been increasing. In particular, concerns about ultraviolet exposure that threatens skin health have intensified as ozone layer depletion continues due to rapid global warming.

Ultraviolet exposure occurs continuously not only during outdoor sports activities like golf or hiking but also during everyday activities such as commuting or walking, even on cloudy days or in the shade, making it difficult to manage UV protection with regular clothing. Additionally, even small amounts accumulated daily can cause freckles and wrinkles and, in the long term, lead to skin cancer, which is harmful to skin health. Therefore, consistent daily care, such as wearing specialized functional wear with UV protection, is necessary.

The biggest advantage of Uniqlo's UV Protection Wear is that, depending on the fabric, it is processed to reflect or absorb ultraviolet rays, allowing simple blocking of up to 90% of UV rays just by wearing it. Based on the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor), an indicator of the fabric's UV protection level, the products offer functionality ranging from UPF15 to 50+. For example, UPF40 means it can protect the skin from UV rays for about 10 hours, which is approximately 40 times longer than bare skin exposed to UV rays for 15 minutes.

Uniqlo offers products for adults, kids, and babies, composed of various materials and designs, enabling diverse styling according to lifestyle, including sports, office looks, and casual wear. The women's lineup includes outerwear, cardigans, leggings, innerwear, and accessories such as hats. The water-repellent 'UV-Cut Portable Parka' is lightweight and easy to carry, making it useful as outerwear to block intense sunlight even in summer. The 'UV-Cut Supima Cotton Crew Neck Cardigan' comes in 10 colors, offering a wide selection and comfortable wear thanks to high-quality materials. When paired with the 'UV-CUT Relax Jacket,' it can create a neat and clean office look.

A Uniqlo representative said, “Uniqlo focuses on developing products that easily respond to external environments with a single garment, like 'Heattech' and 'AIRism,' as part of our LifeWear philosophy to solve everyday needs through clothing.” They added, “UV Protection Wear is a simple solution for managing ultraviolet rays, which are easy to neglect because they are invisible, and unlike regular clothing, it is a new type of protective wear that blocks UV rays the moment you put it on.”