Sun Safety Tips
🌞 Wild Design NZ | Sun Protection FAQ
At Wild Design NZ, we believe enjoying the outdoors shouldn’t come at the cost of your skin’s health. Alongside our UPF 40+ sun-smart apparel, here are some essential sun safety tips we stand by:
☀️ Slip on UPF clothing like our lightweight sun hoodies
🧴 Slop on broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen
👒 Slap on a hat — bucket hats for the win!
🕶️ Wrap on sunglasses to protect your eyes
🌳 Seek shade, especially during peak UV hours (10am–4pm)
🕒 Check the UV Index before heading out
Q: What does UPF mean?
A: UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor. It measures how much UV radiation a fabric allows to reach your skin. A UPF 40+ rating means our apparel blocks over 97.5% of harmful UV rays — offering excellent protection for sun-smart living.
Q: Can your sun-smart clothing help prevent sunburn?
A: Our UPF 40+ apparel significantly reduces UV exposure on covered areas. Not all our apparel has a UPF factor, but they are all polyester because it is one of the best fabrics for providing some protection from the sun, helping to protect your skin when you’re outdoors. If we don't specify a UPF, it just means it hasn't been tested for it's level of protection. It's always good to remember though that no fabric can block 100% of UV rays.
For more complete protection, we always recommend pairing sun-protective clothing with a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen on exposed skin, wearing a hat, sunglasses, and seeking shade where possible.
Q: Is your UPF rating permanent?
A: Yes — Some of our fabrics are tested for UPF performance (as stated), and the protection remains effective for the life of the garment if cared for according to instructions. However as mentioned before, all our polyester products will provide some level of protection. Avoid harsh detergents, fabric softeners, and rough surfaces to preserve both the fabric and its sun-protective qualities.
Q: Are your products suitable for water use?
A: Yes! Our sun hoodies, shorts and bucket hats are lightweight, quick-drying, and designed for adventures by the beach, boat, or bush. Just remember: water can reflect and intensify UV rays, so keep up other sun-safe habits too.
Q: What are the dangers of staying in the sun too long?
A: Spending too much time in direct sun exposure, especially without proper protection, can lead to short-term and long-term skin damage. Immediate risks include sunburn, heat exhaustion, and dehydration. Over time, frequent unprotected exposure increases the risk of premature skin aging, sunspots, eye damage, and serious health concerns like skin cancer — including melanoma, which is a significant concern here in New Zealand due to our high UV levels.
That’s why we created our UPF 40+ sun-smart apparel — to help you safely enjoy the outdoors, while staying protected and looking great.
Pro tip: Always combine sun-protective clothing with broad-spectrum SPF, sunglasses, and shade for complete protection.
Q: How can Wild Design products help
A: Our sun-smart apparel is made with polyester or UPF 40+ rated polyester fabrics, offering excellent protection from harmful UV rays. While our products reduce UV exposure to covered areas, we always recommend pairing them with a broad-spectrum SPF sunscreen on exposed skin, wearing a hat (a Wild Design one of course!), and seeking shade where possible.
No clothing can block 100% of UV rays, so practicing sun-safe habits is always the best protection.