Since 1997, The Alex & Me Company has offered many different types
of sun protective UV swimwear, UV clothing, UV hats and
accessories. Our SPF/UPF sun protective apparel is fashionable, cool,
comfortable, lightweight and recommended by thousands of dermatologists
for their SPF/UPF protection.
The Alex & Me Company only carries only the best in sun protective UV swimwear, UV clothing and UV accessories. All our
manufactures fabrics have been tested to prevent the sun’s harmful
UVA/UVB rays from damaging the skin. In addition to providing maximum
UV protection, Alex & Me has searched high-and-low, looking for those
UV sun protective clothing fabrics and designs that are extremely
comfortable and yet fashionable.
Your Quick Guide for Sun Protective Clothing and Swimwear:
SPF if for Sunscreen; UPF is for Clothing & Swimwear
SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.
Some manufacturers and even some websites describe their clothing as
SPF protective. However, as we all know, SPF was designed for and
describes a sunscreen's protectiveness and not clothing. However......
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor.
To help the consumer better determine the unique protection a garment
has, a
UPF rating system has been developed. The UPF rating system was first
developed by the Australian Government to inform and protect their
citizens from the sun's very harmful rays in the Land-Down-Under.
Shoppers should only consider
buying a UV garment that as a UPF rating (Ultraviolet Protection
Factor) and moreover, from a reputable company and/or manufacturer that
promotes the UPF rating system. Such great and widely know companies as
Patagonia, Marmot, Columbia, Speedo, Sportif, and RailRiders only use
the UPF rating system. Alex & Me Company was the first multi-brand
UV Retail store in the US and to this end, we only carry such brands
that use the UPF System to ensure our thousands of loyal customers that
they are only getting the very best protection from their UV sun
protective apparel item.
Below is the
Australian/New Zealand Standard for Sun
Protective Clothing and Swimwear, which is now considered the industry standard in rating such sun
protective clothing:
|
UPF Ratings and Protection Categories
|
|
UPF
Rating
|
Protection
Category
|
% UV
radiation Blocked
|
|
UPF 15 – 24
|
Good
|
93.3 - 95.9
|
|
UPF 25 – 39
|
Very Good
|
96.0 - 97.4
|
|
UPF 40 and over
|
Excellent
|
97.5 or more
|
|
UPF50+
|
Considered the Ultimate in UV Sun Protection
|
Health Note: UPF Sun Protective Clothing and UPF Sun Protective Swimwear is specifically designed to block the
sun’s harmful UV radiation from damaging the skin (widely known as UVA/UVB/UVC
rays). Exposure to such UV radiation can
not only cause sunburn, but also long lasting damage resulting in premature
skin aging and/or skin cancer. To help the consumer better determine the
protection a garment has, a UPF rating system has been developed.
|