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Inside Coolibar

What our customers say

Geared Up for Coffee Farming

A few weeks ago we received a message on the Coolibar Facebook page from an enthused Coolibar customer. “I’ve done my share of shopping for your wonderful clothing this year. I wear your long sleeve blouses almost every day. I have a coffee farm in Kona, Hawaii.” This comment from Marian sparked our interested as it’s not everyday you meet a Hawaiian coffee farmer who shares the same passion for sun protection as we do! We decided to contact her and find out more about her Kona coffee farm, Hualalai Mauka, and how sun protection plays a role in her life as a farmer. 

Our farm is 4 acres in the northern end of the Kona district on the Big Island of Hawaii. We live in a little farming and artsy village of Holualoa. We only sell 100% pure Kona coffee. We have customers all over the world including Latvia, England, Australia, Poland, Sweden, France and Finland.

In addition to coffee, we grow pineapples, bananas, papayas, avocados, citrus, sugar cane, macadamia nuts and some other tropical fruit. All of our crops are labor intensive. My husband and I do most of the work ourselves. Neither my husband nor [I] had any prior experience in farming.

We live at 2000 foot elevation. We typically have sunny mornings and cloudy afternoons in this area. Most of the time there is rain for a while in the afternoon. The temperature is in the mid-70s.

We go into Kona for coffee and a walk in the morning. Kona is the hottest area in the state of Hawaii. It is mostly sunny all of the time. I wear long sleeves and pants when I go into town.

I am in and out of the house all day. Whenever I think that I will have a nice shady afternoon in the office, I find myself working outside. I need to be covered up in anticipation of all of the last minute calls to attention for out crops or to show visitors around the property.  Even though it is cloudy in the afternoon, I try to wear long sleeve shirts and long pants.

I was diagnosed with a mild case of Lupus several years ago. I burn easily. I have an ongoing battle with sun problems on my face and arms.

I use Coolibar items almost every day. I mostly wear the shirts. I also use the zip up swimming shirt and long swim pants whenever I go in the water. I wear the long sleeve pull over t-shirts. I [particularly] like the bamboo one (ZnO Long-sleeve T-Shirt). I also like the styling of the Coolibar clothes and the fabric because it looks neat still after washing. The shirts are also nice and cool.

People I see think I am a bit strange for wearing long sleeve shirts when it is 90o in downtown Kona or at the beach especially when they are wearing very few clothes. I do a lot of talking about how good the Coolibar clothes are and the need for sun protection.

Marian

Kona, Hawaii

Marian wearing her Coolibar Everyday Blouse holding Hualalai Mauka coffee
Marian wearing her Coolibar Everyday Blouse holding Hualalai Mauka coffee
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Inside Coolibar

Announcing the 2010 Coolibar Holiday Catalog

Under the Coolibar Tree: Healthy Skin, Stylish Coverage, Relevant Gifts  

It’s here – the 2010 Coolibar Holiday Catalog! Look for it in your mailbox starting this week. 

This special winter catalog offers you the best in sun protective apparel and more! Being sun-aware doesn’t mean giving up style! Our SUNTECT® UPF 50+ fabrics are amazingly versatile outdoors and in. Plus our unique selection of boxed gifts, cool weather options and terrific accessories (from companies whose commitment to quality matches our own,) make the perfect holiday gift for yourself or someone special on your list. Request a catalog or visit Coolibar.com for even more styles and gifts. 

Coolibar Holiday Gifts
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Events Videos

Albinism Crisis in Tanzania (Video)

Recently Coolibar was contacted by ABC’s 20/20 about a story on the persecution of those with albinism in Tanzania.  Through this connection Coolibar partnered with a non-profit organization called Under the Same Sun, which provides resources to assist those disadvantaged by disability, discrimination and poverty allowing an increased quality of life.  Coolibar donated sun protective clothing and hats to two schools in Tanzania, a safe refuge for children with albinism.  Tune in to 20/20 on Friday, August 27th to watch the full story.

“Coolibar’s goal is to be the pre-eminent authority on sun protection worldwide.  There is a problem with the people suffering with Albinism in Tanzania.  Albinism is really just a lack of melanin in your skin; it’s the stuff that gives you the natural protection against the sun.  The rate of albinism in Tanzania is significantly higher.  Typically it affects about one person in 20,000 and in Tanzania it’s about one in 4,000.”

 “Specifically what Coolibar is doing to help is we’re donating hats and we’re donating clothing; tops, shirts, blouses and so on.  It’s actually getting bundled up here in Minnesota and is going to be shipped over to them.”

“The main focus of our donation is for students and teachers in a couple of schools.  All together it will be about 500 people that we’ll be outfitting with our products and protecting.  We operate in a space where there is a lot of opportunities for us to work with communities and organizations who are not for profits or are serving people who are in need.  This is one of the first times that we’ve helped people in other countries, so we’re very happy to be doing that.  Coolibar’s mission is to help people enjoy the outdoors and their activities in the outdoors, and this type of work fits in very closely with that.”

Provides resources to assist those disadvantaged by disability.
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What our customers say

Peace of Mind

A Coolibar customer letter.

8/17/2010

Dear Coolibar:

My new sun shirts for kids arrived today – delighted!

I want to express my highest regard and sincere appreciation for your children’s pool wear.  I bought your merchandise for the first time two summers ago, one for everybody in the family.  My husband thought I was crazy.  They were on sale but still not within our penny-pinching budget.  It is NOT very like me to charge up a hundred dollars of merchandise that cannot be returned!! Even he and I were dubious about our “his” and “her” swim shirts, but wanted to do right by our skin.

Since then, our three children have worn this sun-safe swim wear to countless beaches, to indoor and outdoor swimming pools, to rocky, muddy wooded streams, in the backyard in the blazing sun, to water day at Nursery School and, this the second summer, to our over-chlorinated outdoor pool almost daily.  We have put your product to the test two full summers in a row, and I would STILL put these shirts on them next summer if they would fit.  Aside from a little pilling on the front, there is little or no sign of wear, no fading or thinning or stretching of the material.  I compare their two-year-old shirts with this new merchandise, and you would not believe how little difference there is!  Pool friends and consumer mom’s marvel at our Coolibar stuff as their kids’ Lands End or LL Bean or Target swim shirts just disintegrate after the harsh pool chemicals.

You have given me such peach of mind that my three babies’ skin is protected.  Now, keep those clearance sales coming…I’ll be back in two summers!

Jennifer

Mechanicsville, VA

Coolibar Child Sun Protective Swimwear
Coolibar Child Sun Protective Swimwear
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Events

Over 10,000 Dermatology Professionals in one Location

Last February, Coolibar attended the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, held in Miami, FL.  This was the 8th consecutive year that Coolibar exhibited at this meeting and roughly 1,100 dermatology professionals stopped by our booth to say hello and receive a free Coolibar UPF 50+ hat.

This year we brought with a staff of 8 employees to show off our latest and greatest products for the upcoming season.  We love attending these gatherings and meeting the doctors who recommend our products face to face.  Your feedback is immeasurable. 

This year we left with several insights;

1.)    UPF Rating, Skin Coverage and Comfort are most important to you.

2.)  You want to see more hat styles.

3.)  You would like more products created with our ZnO SUNTECT fabric.

We’ll keep these suggestions in mind for next season’s assortment.

 See you in New Orleans for the 69thAnnual Meeting.

Coolibar at the 2010 AAD Annual Meeting in Miami, FL
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What our customers say

Love those Baby Rompers

Coolibar Infant Swim Romper

“As a mom I am delighted to share with other moms my discoveries of the greatest products I come across…and Coolibar certainly offers a few worth bragging about. I was looking for something sun protective for my baby that was bright and colorful and combined style with function.    When I received my Coolibar catalog there were quite a few items that matched what I had in mind.  I’ve purchased a couple of baby rompers, a hat for myself and some sunscreens and was very satisfied with the quality of the merchandise, quick delivery and samples I received with it.  Living in Florida, we go to the beach often and I feel very confident that my baby is well protected from head to toe (see photo).  I love those baby rompers, very functional and protective, not only from the sun, but also sand and other elements, kids usually get into. We always get so many compliments and inquiries of where we got them from. Way to go Coolibar, keep up the great work!!”

Natalja – West Palm Beach, Florida

Coolibar Infant Swim Romper

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Inside Coolibar Videos

Introducing…The Coolibar Blog (Video)

John Barrow - Coolibar President

Over the years, we at Coolibar have been introduced to many “Movers and Shakers” in the world of sun protection and skin cancer prevention.  We also have the most amazing customers who have inspired us with their stories of strength and determination. 

We decided to create The Coolibar Blog as a place to bring all these voices together in one spot to share our collective experience of the best ways to live life safely in the sun.

We hope you enjoy our posts and contribute to the conversation.

Who is Coolibar anyway?

Coolibar is a sun protection clothing specialist.  We see ourselves as an authority on all things related to sun protection, that’s what we do.  We live, eat, sleep, and breathe sun protection.  Essentially what we’re doing is we’re taking sunscreen ingredients and adding them into the manufacturing process, so that we’re embedding the sunscreen ingredients into the fabric.

Most of our customers have some health related reason for purchasing from us.  There is a growing group of customers that purchase from us because they simply want to buy the best sun protective products they can get.

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