Development of UV protective clothing for college going girls

Abstract

An increase in outdoor activities and habits of human frequently result in more exposure to UV radiation of sun. UV radiation is a known carcinogen and also responsible for sunburn and tanning. Different protective measures such as sunscreen lotions and protective clothing/accessories are being used for protection against harmful UV effects of sunlight. Sunscreen gives protection for a certain period of time therefore sun-protective clothing is the single most effective way to protect oneself from the harmful UV rays for a long time. The clothing items for sun protection available in the market and online shopping web portals are not trendy and cost effective. Therefore, the study was conducted to develop such products that are trendy, cost effective, comfortable, easy to wear and designed from fabrics having desirable properties required for UV protection. The four different styles (shirt, shrug, mask with cap and scarf based) of sun protective clothing (two each) were designed and constructed. Suitability of protective clothing was assessed on the basis of structural features, aesthetic features and functional features by wear trial. All the items were highly appreciated by the respondents for the intended use.