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Inside Coolibar

Events Sun Protection Clothing

Special UV Clothing Live Facebook Forum

ASK THE FOUNDER/PRESIDENT & EXECTUTIVE VP OF COOLIBAR ABOUT SUN PROTECTION CLOTHING

Tue. April 26
1:30pm CST
at
FACEBOOK.COM/COOLIBAR

What’s the difference between UPF and SPF in sun protective clothing ratings? What does UPF stand for? What makes Coolibar clothing sun protective? Are clothes with a UPF 50+ rating really any different from normal clothing?

Join us for a special live Facebook forum where President and Founder of Coolibar John Barrow along with sun protective clothing expert and Executive Vice President Michael Hubsmith will be answering your questions about sun protection clothing and Coolibar! Anyone is welcome to join the conversation.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity on Tuesday April 26 starting at 1:30pm CST (11:30am PST, 2:30pm EST). Our UV clothing experts will take any questions you may have for at least 30 minutes. If the questions keep coming, the conversation will keep going, so join us!

RSVP yes before next Tuesday to be entered into a drawing for a Coolibar UPF 50+ Light Featherweight Bucket Hat!

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Success Stories What our customers say

Equipped to Walk the Great Wall of China

Robert Loken Walking the Great Wall

Stephen Robert Loken of Norway, 42, recently spent 601 days hiking the entire Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Great Wall, which spans approximately 3,728 miles (6000km). To do so, he had to overcome extreme temperatures, ranging from a scorching 109oF (43oC) to a frigid -9oF (-23oC), face poisonous scorpions, venomous snakes, ferocious dogs and trudge through desert, forest and tundra.

While many people have walked the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, Loken was the first person in the world to complete the entire route from Jiayuguan, in Gansu Province, to Dandong, in Liaoning Province. Loken claimed all others have stopped at Shanhaiguan, in Hebei Province, missing the route’s last quarter.

Walking this route had been a dream of his since age 19, after walking Hadrian’s Wall in Northern England. At a youth hostel, he spotted six pictures of the Great Wall of China with the text: “The other wall”. To him, this aspiration was worth selling his house and belongings, quitting his job as an IT-consultant, and leaving his hometown for nearly two years.

Loken spent a hefty amount of time preparing for the trip, training and gathering the proper equipment to aid him through the entire walk. During his quest for items, Loken came across the Coolibar Travel Shirt, which he wore every single day throughout his journey. He also utilized a Coolibar sun hat and pants. “What stood out to me is how long [the apparel] lasted,” said Loken. “I used the shirt every day of the entire walk, and the only damage it got was from the thorns and bushes when I crept through jungle like terrain close to Beijing and in Hebei province.”

Robert Loken walked on top of the Great Wall as sand had almost engulfed it completely
Robert Loken walked on top of the Great Wall as sand had almost engulfed it completely

Coolibar clothing also helped Loken get through the Gobi desert without suffering heat stroke. “At the warmest, it was 43oC (109oF), and that was in the shade,” said Loken. “The problem however is that there is no shade in the Gobi desert apart from the one you bring along with you. The clothes were only hand washed for the entire trip, and they dried incredibly quickly. I ordered more shirts upon returning and am looking forward to using a new Coolibar shirt after all the battering the last one got.”

Home in Oslo, Norway, Loken reflected on his achievement of not only completing this walk, but raising research funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Regarding the journey, Loken said, “The most important thing is not about being the first person in the world [to walk the entire Great Wall], it’s about following my dreams. It was a life’s ambition. I lived up to it.”

Read more about Robert’s journey on his blog The Great Walker.

Shop Coolibar Sun Protective Clothing.

Robert Loken's Great Wall Route
Robert Loken’s Great Wall Route
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Events Inside Coolibar

AAD 69th Annual Meeting

Once again, Coolibar’s team of Sun Protection Experts made an appearance at the 69th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). The weekend of February 4th, more than 16,000 dermatologists and visitors from around the globe took over the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA for the largest dermatology meeting of the year. Seven of Coolibar’s employees spent hours, over the course of three days, speaking with dermatologists about the benefits of Coolibar sun protective clothing, distributing free sun hats, and passing out information!  Despite the record breaking cold weather, the dermatologists were out in full force, taking advantage of the opportunity to learn about our exciting new products (3D dri SUNTECT®) firsthand.  Exhausted, the Coolibar Crew returned with a renewed excitement for the essential sun protective hats, clothing and swimwear we design.

Check out our photo album of the bustling Coolibar booth. 

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Inside Coolibar

Employee Escapades – Rose in Puerto Rico

Proud employee Rose began working for Coolibar this past July. She recently ventured to Puerto Rico in order to escape Minnesota’s below zero temperatures and once there, finally got an opportunity to test out our gear for real.

This January, my boyfriend Aaron and I took a trip to Puerto Rico to celebrate my birthday and our 5 year anniversary. We rented a car in San Juan and drove to a surfing town called Rincon on the west side of the island where we spent 2 days. We spent a lot of time in the water because the waves in Rincon were amazing! We also drove around to neighboring cities and did a little exploring. We then drove to the opposite side of the island and spent a few days in a gated community called Palmas Del Mar. Our favorite activities were to just lie on the beach and relax or go for long walks. We even went hiking a little in El Yunque rainforest. Our Coolibar clothes made it so easy to stay safe in the sun and fully enjoy our trip.

I used the Fitness Jacket and Aaron used the Short Sleeve Swim Shirt and the All Terrain Winter Travel Kit. We really liked the swim shirt and the Winter Sport sunscreen…even though we weren’t doing any winter sports.  I got the kit because it had sunscreen, aloe and lip balm.

It got up to about 85 degrees usually. The swim shirt definitely helped to keep Aaron cool. The days I wore my fitness jacket, it helped to keep me cool, and then when the sun went down, it helped to keep me warm.

We wore our Coolibar clothes while swimming, walking on the beach, hiking, and riding in the car. The swim shirt was great for both of us! One day we went for a long walk down the beach, and Aaron was wearing his swim shirt. On the way back down the beach to the hotel, I was getting really hot and could tell that my sunscreen was wearing off, but it was far away so I couldn’t reapply. Aaron let me where his shirt for 10 minutes, and I almost immediately cooled down and my skin was protected from sunburn.

I was really impressed with both garments. Aaron used his shirt every day of the trip for all different kinds of activities and he admitted that the shirt did a great job of protecting his skin and keeping him cool.

The clothing definitely enhanced our trip. When applying sunscreen to Aaron’s arms and legs the first day of the trip, we missed a spot on his hand and on his lower left ankle. That night, Aaron complained about a burn on his hand and ankle and we were both shocked at the severity of the burn. If we hadn’t been diligent about him wearing his swim shirt and using the sunscreen on areas that were left exposed he would have probably had severe burns on his whole body, and we would have spent the second, and maybe even the third day of our short trip holed up in our tiny hotel room, waiting for Aaron’s burn to heal enough to go back out into the sun.

When I returned, people commented that I barely had a tan. I had a nice, healthy glow, but I definitely didn’t look like I got too much sun!

Rose

Coolibar employee

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Inside Coolibar New Products Sun Protection Clothing

Swimwear Preview 2011

Trips to the beach and jaunts to the pool are just around the corner. Or perhaps you still have that sunny winter getaway planned. Start thinking sunshine – and sun protection for the months ahead or your upcoming vacation. Take a sneak peek at some of our NEW UPF50+ swimwear and beach basics before your Coolibar catalog arrives in early February.

Don’t currently receive our catalogs?  Request a catalog today! 

For a Sun Safe Lifestyle

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Coverage is key. But regular summer clothing (even with long sleeves) is not enough to block dangerous UVA and UVB rays. If it were, it would be too heavy and hot. That’s why we developed the highest quality, lightweight UPF 50+ fabrics available: Coolibar SUNTECT®. Then we designed our apparel for stylish, easy wear, and superior comfort. So, relax and enjoy being outdoors the Coolibar way! It’s sun protection for life – your life – we guarantee it.

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Events Parenting School sun safety SunAWARE

Coolibar’s School Sun Hat Contest

For the third consecutive year, Coolibar is sponsoring a School Sun Hat Contest.  Five winners will be selected at random to receive hats for their classroom.  The contest promotes the SunAWARE acronym to teach simple steps to prevent and detect skin cancers.

Preventative sun safety habits begin in childhood and the classroom is a great place to reinforce those behaviors.  Our contest makes School Sun Hats available to classrooms that may not have the resources.

SunAWARE

The 2011 contest is now open to students, parents, teachers and supporters.  Contest winners will be announced in May – Melanoma Awareness Month.  Contest entries will be accepted until May 13, 2011.  Winners will be announced on May 19th

Enter Today! 

Download and return a completed School Sun Hat Contest Entry Form.

 

Coolibar: School Sun Hat Program
Children’s sun protective hats are an excellent way to protect vulnerable young skin, from ears to chin. Coolibar has specially designed children’s hats that are offered to schools and not-for-profit organizations, at a significant discount.  All of Coolibar’s sun hats include a generous brim, providing optimal sun protection for outdoor school activities, such as recess and physical education. Three UPF 50+ hat styles are available – chin strap, reversible bucket and legionnaire style, starting at just $7.47 each.  Additionally, Coolibar provides discounted adult hats for teachers and parents to model healthy sun-protective behavior.  For complete sun protection add a Gallon of sunscreen with a convenient pump.  For more information visit Coolibar’s School Sun Hat Program.

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Inside Coolibar New Products

Behind the Scenes – Spring 2011 Photo Shoot

Behind the scenes footage from Coolibar’s spring 2011 photo shoot in the FL Keys, including a sneak peak at our New Spring UPF 50+ Apparel. Look for our catalog in your mailbox starting February 7, 2011!

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Thank you to all of the amazing staff, crewmembers and models.

Kevin White – Photographer – KW Photography
Zack Swanson – Photo Assistant
Nelson Chavez – Photo Assistant
Steve Boxall – Digital Technician
Steve Siewert – Art Director
Lu Daitzchman – VP, Branding – Coolibar
Anna Dawson – Branding Coordinator – Coolibar
Amy Jo Henriksen – Merchandising Analyst – Coolibar
Mia Velez – Stylist
Kelley Quan – Hair & Make-up
Gaby Schuetz  – Producer – Select Services
Kristina Kitchen – Stylist Assistant

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Inside Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing What our customers say

Corrine in Her Beach Shirt

A Coolibar customer letter.

8/31/2010

Dear Coolibar:

As a very satisfied first time customer of Coolibar clothing, I wanted to show you that it was a pleasure wearing my [Savannah Wide Brim] hat and outfit [with the Beach Shirt] on a very hot day and still feeling cool!

The material is wonderful even in long sleeves!  So easy to launder and quick drying too.

The hat is great and the ties keep it from blowing away, which I did not know they were for that purpose. My niece showed how to use them!

I advise people interested to request your catalog at coolibar.com as they have clothing for men too.  What a great product!

I talk about my Coolibar outfit often.  It is even casual enough to wear at luncheons with my friends and out shopping.  I cannot praise the product enough and I thank my niece all the time for sending me such a wonderful birthday gift!

She just ordered me one in yellow for this year’s birthday, can’t wait to get it!

I can now enjoy boat rides better without a beach towel and baseball hat to cover me from the sun and wind.  They are so quick drying!! 

Corrine

Delaware, OH

Corrine in her Beach Shirt
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Inside Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing

Gift Ideas

It’s the same battle each year, finding the perfect present for each person on your gifting list. This holiday season, Coolibar has put together an array of healthy, stylish and unique gift options that will please everyone on your list.

 

 

 

 

Fab fashionista: Winter Hats, Jewelry, Scarves, ZnO Sun Wrap, Ruche Top, Travel Tunic

Make an outfit: Wide-Brim Grosgrain Trim Fedora, Ruche Top, and Danon Circle Necklace

 

 

Confident chap: Scarves, Winter Hats, ZnO Long-Sleeve T-Shirt, Sun Shirt

Make an outfit: Bamboo Ribbed Knit Scarf with ZnO Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

 

 

Water cruiser: UV Sunglasses, UPF 50+ Swimwear, Sun Hats, Sunscreen

Perfect pairings: sailing- Barcelona sunglasses;  surfing/swimming – Ladies Water Jacket, Men’s Short-Sleeve Swim Shirt; sandcastle building – Toddler Water Polo Swim Set, Toddler Girls Ruffled Swim Set

 

Outdoor enthusiast: Solar Chargers, All Terrain Sunscreen, Titanium Umbrella, Bird Watching Kit

Camping and hiking: The Solar Charger can keep small electronic devices powered in remote locations.

 

 

Active athlete: Galen Labs Hydrosols, Goji Cookies, Men’s Athletic Jacket, Bike Jacket for Men or Women, SPIbelt, Convertible Polo for Men or Women, Tropical-Weight Polo for Men or Women

Spray for athletes: Galen Labs Hydrosol set includes a Mini Tea Tree Hydrosol that can be used to treat athlete’s foot or eliminate sneaker odors. 

 

Winter wanderer: ZnO Long-Sleeve T-Shirt for Men or Women, Winter Hats for Men or Women, Scarves and Gloves for Men or Women, All Terrain Winter Travel Kit, UV Sunglasses

Layer up: Wear our ZnO Long-Sleeve T-Shirt during the winter months under your clothing as an added layer.

 

 

Green thumb: Garden Gift Set, Aurora Garden Glow Lights, Firefly Garden Light Stake, Garden Hat

From Garden to Kitchen: Garden Bon Bons, prettily boxed like chocolates. Once planted, these nutrient rich seed balls will sprout into gourmet basil, parsley, chive and thyme varietal plants, on-hand for a range of seasoned dishes. To plant, slip on Coolibar sun protective gardening gloves, which are included in the set.

 

Savvy globetrotter: Grid It, Travel Shirt for Men or Women, Men’s Outback Hat, Women’s Packable Wide Brim Hat

Keep organized while traveling: The Grid It is the ultimate organizer. Designed with a firm backing and tight elastic bands, this ingenious travel accessory provides endless configurations to hold digital devices, tools, and personal items firmly in place. Insert it in your briefcase or luggage.

 

Health conscious food lover: Gourmet Gift Sets

Food pairing suggestion: Harvest Song Ventures Classic Preserves Gift Basket holds three award-winning varieties of their artisanal preserves, each crafted from only “sun-drenched fruit and as little as possible of anything else.” Prized both by five star restaurants and home kitchens, their luscious flavors complement conventional or exquisite dishes, cheeses, breads, wine and beer. Sour cherry preserves recommended with sheep’s milk cheese, apricot preserves recommended with mountain unpressed cow cheese, preserved walnuts recommended with hard cheese or blue cheese.

 

Cheery child: Infant Winter Hats, Boy’s Winter Hats, Girl’s Winter Hats, Mittens, and Scarves

Holiday gifting items on sale now! Visit Coolibar.com to see all specials and more gift giving options.

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Inside Coolibar New Products Sun Protection Clothing What our customers say

NEW Coolibar Convertible Polo Review – We’ve got more up our “sleeve”

UPF 50+ Convertible Polos

Over the past months, Coolibar’s merchandising team has been hard at work designing new sun protection apparel, always keeping practicality, purpose and fashion in mind. One of the more exciting parts of creating new products is putting them up to the test!

One of our new developments, the Coolibar Convertible Polo, is an innovative short sleeve golf polo containing separate matching sun sleeves that fit snugly to protect arms from UV rays. This unique polo also contains ZnO SUNTET® fabric which embeds millions of tiny particles of zinc oxide (the same ingredient that is used in better sunscreens) into every fiber.

Recently, we came across the perfect opportunity to obtain some solid feedback on our new Convertible Polo.  Dr. Manju George, a board certified pediatric dermatologist who provides personalized care for children and young adults at her private office in Florida, was excited to be one of the first to try this new sun protection polo and give us her input.

1. What are your overall thoughts on the Coolibar Convertible Polo?

It looks a lot better when you wear it; more appealing on the body 

2. How many times in a wearing did you put the sleeves on and take them off?

Two or three

3. What activities did you partake in while wearing the sleeves?

Outdoor soccer and playing in the park

4. How would you rate the ease of taking the sleeves on and off (Easy, Somewhat Easy, Moderate, Somewhat Difficult, Difficult)?

Somewhat Easy

5. How well did the removable sleeves “stay put” while on your arms?

Stayed well

6. What are your overall thoughts on the ZnO SUNTECT® fabric for this garment?

I love the fabric. Very lightweight and very comfortable!

7. Did the fabric help keep you cool?

Yes!

8. Would you recommend this garment to a friend?

Yes!

9. Any additional feedback?

Love the color!! [She tried our Passion Pink Convertible Polo]

Women's Convertible Polo in Passion Pink

Coolibar welcomes comments and recommendations. If you get an opportunity to try our new Convertible Polo, please feel free to provide us with your feedback on our Blog comments section or on Facebook.

The Coolibar Convertible Polo for Men and Women is now available at Coolibar. Save $10 each when you purchase two or more!

Coolibar’s SUNTECT® brand fabrics have a guaranteed Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 50+ for the life of the garment. Remember to avoid unprotected exposure at any time but especially between the hours of peak ultraviolet radiation (between 10:00am and 4:00pm) and seek shade. Wear sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeve shirt, a hat with a three-inch brim, and sunglasses. Be SunAWARE and be safe. 

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