Nearly half of sun-protective clothing does not protect against the sun

Ultraviolet rays are strong in summer, and sun-protective clothing with light texture and fashionable styles are popular among consumers. The results of a comparative test on clothing's sun protection effect (i.e., UV protection performance) reported by the China Consumers Association on July 30 showed that nearly half of the clothing on the market labeled as having sun protection and UV protection properties do not meet the relevant national standards.

According to my country's "Anti-UV Performance", if the ultraviolet protection factor (UPF)>40, it can be called an anti-UV product. Staff from the China Consumers Association recently purchased 26 clothing samples claiming to have sun protection functions from 10 physical stores and e-commerce channels including Beijing Wangfujing Department Store, Sanfu Outdoor, and Tmall, involving 24 brands, and commissioned the National Textile Products Quality Supervision and Inspection Center to conduct testing. The results showed that only 14 samples had UPF values ​​greater than 40, 3 samples had UPF values ​​of 20-40, and 9 samples had UPF values ​​less than 20. Some clothing also falsely marked UPF values ​​in order to promote their sun protection functions.

Experts say that the UV protection performance of clothes is affected by factors such as fabric composition, thickness, color depth, and whether it is coated. Among conventional fabrics, synthetic fibers such as polyester and nylon have better sun protection properties than natural fibers such as cotton and silk. Fabrics with tight structure, thickness and dark color have better sun protection properties. However, summer clothing must also consider breathability and coolness. Consumers should make comprehensive and balanced considerations when purchasing clothing. It is understood that no clothing sample in this comparative test can simultaneously meet the "good breathability" standard of my country's "Physical and Chemical Performance Requirements for Clothing" and the "UV-proof product" standard stipulated in the "UV-proof Performance".