The Science Behind- BOSS UV Protect

Fashion isn’t always famed for technology or practicality; style usually comes before substance, but designers at Hugo Boss are looking to change the game.

The Idea & Range

Without compromising their classic style they have created an initiative to protect their wearers from harmful UV rays. Unlike your average high street T-shirt or even your average high-end T-shirt, this one is able to offer full SPF 50+factor protection, blocking UV rays almost completely and on a permanent guarantee basis.

The idea is that the brand’s popular SS14 line can be worn more frequently in warm weather environments and offer a unique level of quality and function that competitors can’t replicate. Many holidaymakers pack Hugo Boss clothing into their suitcases during the year, now they can rest assured it is the appropriate choice to make.

The t-shirt itself comes in a regular fit with a comfortable crew neck, and also in an impressive collection of ten colours. The logo-printed t-shirt is a neutral style that can cover a variety of styles and dress contexts, meaning the UV t-shirt can be worn with almost anything you like.

Boss philosophy

The brand from Germany is a respected and innovative figure in the clothing industry that started off in 1924. Since then they have remained relevant through their continued excellence in design. The vision is that the label provides a fashion idea that suits every occasion, tying in with the high-quality portfolio and reputation in the process. A blend of sportswear, formal wear, business, casual and high fashion clothing are all incorporated into this umbrella philosophy of making clothing which calls on the brand’s expert understanding of lifestyle and desire to achieve the highest quality design.

Technical detail

SPF- Sun protection factor- the higher this figure, the higher the protection offered.

Below is an example of a typical summer t-shirt that has a lightweight construction with breathable gaps, crucially allowing UV rays to reach the skin and therefore providing low protection at a scale of less than SPF 5

Below is the more detailed weave, similar to that of the Hugo Boss UV protect. The gaps are more condensed and as such only 2% of the sun’s rays will be able to pass through to the skin- thus offering permanent protection to the wearer, SPF 50.

This SPF figure helps establish what fraction of the sun’s ultraviolet rays can penetrate through the material and reach the skin, typically a high street garment of the same style would offer less than 10, but this Hugo Boss t-shirt allows just 1/50^th of the sun’s harmful rays to go through the material, as opposed to 1/10^th on a t-shirt with SPF 10 protection.

Clothing is the first line of defence against sunburn and harmful rays, blocking or absorbing these reduces the risk of damage to the skin.

The obvious rule of thumb is that loose and lightweight materials, light in colour, offer the lowest amount of protection, whereas clothing with detailed and heavily constructed weaves offer the best, as the sun struggles to find a way through. It might not feel as comfortable in warm weather, but a dark denim product is up there with the best protectors from UV rays due to its thick exterior.

Impact on fashion

Hugo Boss has designed a t-shirt which- on appearance- looks no different to their most stylish and popular pieces in the range, to the naked eye it looks to be made in exactly the same way. Typically a t-shirt couldn’t offer a fraction of the cover that this t-shirt does, unless it was made of much denser materials such as nylon or corduroy, instantly making this a market leader in the niche protective clothing market. This suggests in future the brand could make all of its products in this way because clearly, it doesn’t sacrifice the style benefits of flimsy material or traditional stylish products.

On wearing the UV protect t-shirt, it still feels lightweight and breathable and crucially has a comfortable pure cotton feel. Upon closer inspection, the stitch is noticeably more condensed, suggesting it might insulate the heat and absorb moisture to a greater degree than traditional materials.

The crucial thing about this design is that it is just as easily incorporated into beachwear and holiday clothing as it is in contexts where UV protection isn’t important. It has an adaptable style aesthetic which makes it a cross-season product.

Style guide

Bold colouring is a popular summer fashion characteristic. This range of t-shirts offers a colour to match every outfit choice and is free to wear with shorts, jeans chinos or others. Take a look below for some ideas on how to incorporate this new style into your everyday outfits.

Wear it with:

And if you’re going to the beach…