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Inside Coolibar What our customers say

Travel Adventures in Coolibar

Like most companies, Coolibar employees are busy. They devote the majority of their waking hours to Coolibar yet still make time to travel, explore and do the things they love. A true testament to our brand is when an employee takes Coolibar along on their adventure and returns with an even greater enthusiasm for our products and mission. Such is the case with Seth.

Meet Coolibar employee Seth Epstein. Seth has been with us for roughly 8 years in various rolls and currently reports to the Interactive Marketing Department. He recently had the opportunity to not only visit the Philippines but be guided by a resident, a friend serving in the Peace Corps. He took Coolibar with him and shares his thoughts on its usefulness.

My travel buddy (who also happens to be Coolibar’s IT Director) and I packed our favorite Coolibar apparel and even gathered some items to share with my 2 friends living in the Philippines. Despite knowing I work for Coolibar, Gina insisted on reminding me about the importance of sun protection. They had been using massive amount of sunscreen to prevent burning from the intense sun in MogPog.

Considering our Midwestern roots, and my Viking ancestry, the high temperatures and oppressive humidity was almost unbearable. My friends weren’t sure what to expect when I told them I was bringing sun protective clothing. Joe, who had worn cotton shirts with cut off sleeves for 6 months straight to beat the heat, ditched them for a long sleeve UPF 50+ swim shirt. Not having to go through his daily sunscreen ritual to cover his arms was also appreciated. I gave up trying to wear any of my cotton shirts after a couple of days (they were wet and heavy) and lived in my Coolibar the rest of the trip.

Every time I travel with Coolibar, I discover more about the versatility of our fabrics. I spent more time in my aquaSUNTECT clothing out of the water than in. Wearing something quick drying, lightweight, and breathable allowed me to truly enjoy this amazing country, with less distraction from the island heat. I want people to know how amazingly lightweight this stuff is, you can’t go wrong traveling with Coolibar.

-Seth

Follow up note: Our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost loved ones and are recovering in typhoon-devastated central Philippines. Our friends, who are located north of the damage, survived the typhoon and are currently helping with relief efforts.

Me, Joe, Gina & Oumkarn (fellow Coolibar employee)

Quick-dry Coolibar dries despite the humidity

 

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Inside Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing

Coolibar Clothing versus Regular Clothing

One of the most common questions our customer service team receives is, “What is the difference between Coolibar clothing and regular clothing?” Here’s our answer:

Regular light-weight clothing provides little protection.
Most light-weight clothing provides less sun protection than SPF 30 sunscreen. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation (SCF) cites a study conducted in Australia that claims a white cotton T-shirt has a UPF rating of 5, allowing 1/5th of the sun’s UVR to pass through, and even more when wet.

Even if you don’t burn through your clothes, UV passes through.
The SCF states UVA (aging) rays account for up to 95 percent of the UV radiation reaching the Earth’s surface. Even though UVA rays are less intense than UVB (burning) rays, they are 30 to 50 times more prevalent. They are present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours throughout the year, and can penetrate clouds and glass.

UVA rays are longer wavelength than UVB rays, which allows them to pass through windows and clouds.
(Image from the Skin Cancer Foundation)

Coolibar Clothing is UPF 50+, which blocks 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
Coolibar SUNTECT® fabrics are engineered and repeatedly tested to provide effective, long-lasting protection from UVA and UVB rays. All Coolibar clothing is rated UPF 50+ from the first to the last day worn. We manufacture several types of fabrics for different activities including swimming, fitness, travel and leisure.

Sun protection is embedded in the fabric.
The sun protection comes from a combination of factors including: zinc oxide or titanium dioxide sunscreen ingredients permanently embedded in the fibers and/or a tight weave construction.

Skin coverage matters.
Coolibar clothes are strategically designed to cover up more skin than regular summer clothing, so you need less sunscreen for complete protection.

Technical properties provide additional comfort.
All Coolibar clothes are lightweight, breathable, quick-drying and easy to care for.

If you have any additional questions, please call our team of sun protection experts at 1.800.926.6509 or visit www.coolibar.com

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Inside Coolibar Sun Protection Clothing What's Hot

Five ways to add sun protection with a scarf

I love scarves. They are the most versatile styling tool available (in my opinion), taking drab outfits from blah to voilà in a matter of seconds. Now that it’s fall, I try to incorporate a scarf into my look daily for both fashion and function. The Coolibar Aire Scarf is one of my favorite accessories as it does double-duty, providing some flair and UPF 50+ sun protection.

Here’s how I use my Coolibar Aire Scarf:

The Coolibar Aire Scarf saved my skin in the car, while practicing outdoor yoga, touring towns during travel, cruising on the boat and sitting on the outdoor patio.

 

Cover forehead and ears
Fold it in half the long way three times. Tie over once in back.

Cover the neck
Pull scarf tight at opposite ends. Place it in the middle back of the neck so you have equal amount of fabric on each side. Wrap it around the neck in opposite directions, slightly overlapping, until you have about 8 inches left on each side in front. Tie over once or twice (depending on your preference) and adjust so tie is off to the side.

Cover shoulders
Simply drape over the shoulders and tie once in front, looping one side of the excess fabric inside and over from the bottom.

Cover delicate chest area
Hang around neck, with equal amounts of fabric dangling in front on each side. Take one side and wrap it in a complete circle around the other until you create a loop. Pull the same side you used to create the loop, through the top of the loop. This will make a knot that will allow the fabric to drape nicely.

Cover legs fast
On vacation, or at the beach with bare legs? This scarf is even long enough to wear skirt style. Just wrap and tuck.

Enjoy!

-Amanda
Coolibar employee

Shop the Coolibar Aire Scarf.

Free shipping, no minimum on your next order at www.coolibar.com.
Offer expires September 30, 2013. Use code SEPT13. See website for promotion details.

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Events Inside Coolibar

Preventative Medicine and Sun Protection

Coolibar sun protection clothing is excited to attend the Osteopathic Medical Conference & Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, September 30 – October 2, 2013. After manufacturing UPF clothing for over 12 years, we’re looking forward to introducing our line of Coolibar sun protective clothing to Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) for the first time!

Good health stems from good, preventative living – the premise of Osteopathic medicine.  DOs concentrate on treating a person as a whole versus specific symptoms, viewing everything in and outside the body (including skin) as interconnected.

According to the American Osteopathic Association, DOs are the fastest growing and most active segment of healthcare professionals in the US. As complete physicians of medicine, DOs specialize in all the major specialties, including family practice and dermatology. While DOs help treat symptoms, they also teach patients how to prevent illness and injury by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. While there are currently over 52,000 DOs, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, it’s a relatively new practice being first introduced a little over 100 years ago.

Overall healthy living includes protecting skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays and avoiding tanning beds. UV rays are the number one cause of premature skin aging and skin cancer according to the Skin Cancer Foundation. Overexposure to sun may also suppress the immune system, aggravate preexisting conditions and produce side-effects for those taking prescription drugs. Currently, dermatologists recommend sun protective clothing  as the first line of defense against UV rays, followed by sunscreen.

Getting outdoors—where healthy living happens—is a must! That’s why we’re eager to introduce our line of fashionable, active UPF 50+ sunwear to DOs!

Attending OMED? Stop by booth #142 to meet the sun protection experts at Coolibar. We’ll have a special treat waiting for you!

Visit us at the Coolibar booth!
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Events Wellness Warriors

Lupus Walk for Hope

Every fall, the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota hosts a Lupus Walk for Hope and 5K Run in various cities throughout Minnesota as an opportunity to raise public awareness and show support for those with lupus. Chris Cronick, 2013 LFM ambassador, had the opportunity to attend the first of three walks this past Saturday in Minneapolis, MN. Chris shares her heartfelt appreciation for the support and education stemming from the first community event highlighting lupus.

We just wrapped up the 16th annual Lupus Walk for Hope and 5K Run/Walk here in the Twin Cities last weekend. Since its inception in 1998, the Lupus Walk for Hope has generated over a half a million dollars that has gone directly to fund lupus research. The event was a huge success with record breaking attendance of over 1,000 runners and walkers. Many smiling faces, lots of camaraderie, positive energy flowed, and everyone donned purple for lupus awareness. A huge thank you goes out to everyone who participated. I was amazed at the love and support I felt that day. It’s definitely an experience I will never forget.

It was an absolutely perfect day. Festivities started at 9 a.m. with crispness in the air that reminded me fall is definitely here. It was about 50 degrees with a cool breeze and the sun brightly shinning. As you may have read in my last post about having lupus, as much as I love a beautiful day, the sun isn’t necessarily my BFF. We have a love/hate relationship.

Since being diagnosed with lupus, I need to strategize my game-plan for each day when it comes to sun exposure. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks all sorts of organs in your body, including the largest organ, the skin. Aside from the sun causing a flare, approximately two-thirds of people with lupus will develop a type of skin disease called cutaneous lupus erythematous. Skin disease in lupus may cause rashes or sores (lesions), most of which will appear on sun-exposed areas such as the face, ears, neck, arms and legs. A high percentage of people find their disease is aggravated after being exposed to ultraviolet (UV) rays from sunlight or artificial light.

Thankfully, we can take preventative measures to stay sun safe outdoors:

• Seek shade, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
• Wear sun-protective clothing and broad-brimmed hats
• Use plenty of broad-spectrum sunscreen, with at least SPF 30

The walk was held at French Regional Park in Plymouth, MN. Luckily, a well-shaded pavilion area was nestled right in the middle of the park. The walking trails were also covered with beautiful, large trees, so my husband Patrick and I both were able to stay out of the sun for a large portion of the day. When we were in the sun, we used sunscreen and wore our Coolibar clothes.

Patrick and Chris

I took the layered approach and wore the women’s Fitness Jacket over the Vera Resort T-Shirt. He wore the men’s Fitness Jacket with his LFM running t-shirt and the men’s Fitness Pants. My team also sported purple feather boas and butterfly bandanas, Cronick’s Chronic Crue signature accessories. The clothes were absolutely perfect for the weather and occasion — light-weight, protective and comfortable. These items are our favorites.

I’ll be wearing Coolibar again as we have two more walks to complete: one in Rochester, MN, September 28th as well as Duluth, MN, October 5th. I’d love to see you there.

Chris Cronick – LFM Ambassador

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Sun Protection Clothing What's Hot

High Heat Calls for Cool Fashion at the State Fair and Beyond

The Midwest is in the midst of a late summer heat wave. Being Midwesterners, we typically welcome warm weather; however, with the Minnesota State Fair going strong and other outdoor activities planned for the last week of summer, it’s not necessarily ideal timing. If you’re experiencing this uncomfortable heat, be sure to take the extra precautionary measures to prevent heat related illness. We’ll show you how to, in style!

Dress in loose-fitting, lightweight, breathable sun protective clothes that cover as much skin as possible. Wearing long-sleeves and pants can actually cool you off when the sun causes overheating. Also, protect your face and scalp from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat with a 3” brim or greater.

For Her

Coolibar UPF 50+ Sunwear: Marina Sun Hat; Ruche Water Jacket; Swim Skort

 

For Him

Coolibar UPF 50+ Sunwear: Beach Comber Sun Hat; Adventure Jacket; Fitness Shorts

 

For Kids

Coolibar UPF 50+ Sunwear: Camp Hat; ZnO T-Shirt; Board Shorts

Stay SunAWARE, hydrated and enjoy your time outdoors.

Shop Coolibar during the End of Summer Sale. Take an additional 30% off everything. Ends September 2, 2013. See website for details.

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Wear Sun Protection What our customers say

I’m African-American and Sun Safe

Coolibar was introduced to mom blogger Quiana Agbai of Harlem Love Birds this spring at Getting Gorgeous, an event dedicated to making mom’s feel gorgeous, both inside and out. Quiana learned all about Coolibar Sun Protection You Wear and needless to say, we had a lengthy conversation about the importance of sun protection for all skin types. Mrs. Harlem Love Bird shares her thoughts with us.

Review by Quiana Agbai, Blogger, Harlem Love Birds

As an African-American one of the biggest myths is that we don’t need to wear sunscreen because of the melanin in our skin. This is far from the truth, especially in light of the recent study about prolonged use of sunscreen preventing skin aging. Although the subjects weren’t African-American, it was speculated that outstanding results would have been achieved as well.

While I’ve used sunscreen off-and-on throughout my childhood and now as an adult every single day, especially with my diagnosis of discoid lupus in 2007, it’s been important more than ever to practice being sun safe.

With that in mind when I was introduced to Coolibar at Getting Gorgeous blogger event last month, I knew it was a brand I wanted to learn more about. Sure enough, Coolibar partners with the Lupus Foundation of America to provide education about the importance of maintaining sun safe habits.

The Coolibar Sun Beach Hat I’m wearing (picture left) was included in my Getting Gorgeous gift bag. It’s been a mainstay when I’m out and about especially for prolonged play-dates at the park and pool. Every time I wear it I get stopped by people wanting to know where it’s from.

I’ve noticed my Sun Beach Hat really does keep me cool and because my scalp is most affected by discoid lupus it provides outstanding coverage. It also has an adjustable loop inside to adjust the fit; since the brim is so large I’ve had a few times when it blows away like a sail so making sure the fit is correct is important! It also folds up nicely but retains its shape and structure when unfolded – no floppy hat syndrome.

Guest blogger Quiana Agbai received free sun protective product for the purpose of this review. All opinions are her own.

Quiana and daughter Nia

Shop Coolibar UPF 50+ Clothing, Hats and Swimwear.

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Educate Others Events SunAWARE

World Vitiligo Day

Today, June 25, 2013, is World Vitiligo Day, a day that aims to increase awareness of vitiligo and raise funds needed for research and education.

Michael Jackson, one of the most famous entertainers in the world, suffered from vitiligo. And even after his death it’s still one of the most misunderstood things about the king of pop. Vitiligo is a skin disorder in which there is a loss of color (pigment) from areas of skin, resulting in irregular white patches that feel like normal skin. It’s the reason one of the most famous men on the planet went from black to white.

Well over 100 million people from all over the world suffer from this disease. It affects all nationalities, ages, genders and levels of social strata.

Vitiligo is an acquired disease characterized by progressing skin depigmentation, due to destruction or malfunction of melanocytes, cells that produce melanin. It is present worldwide, and its prevalence in different countries ranges from less than 0.1% to more than 8% of general population (~1% in the United States and in Europe), while many cases go unreported due to the current dermatology practice.

Although vitiligo has impacted the lives of millions of individuals since recorded history, predominantly in the developing world, there is no cure in sight. And because it is not contagious or life-threatening, patients often receive no support from national healthcare systems or insurance companies whatsoever.

The World Vitiligo Day is a public initiative aimed at building global awareness about vitiligo.  Click here to join a list of 500,000 signatures needed to address the United Nations and highlight vitiligo.

Check out these resources on vitiligo:

VR Foundation
Firmly committed to curing Vitiligo, the VR Foundation is a non-profit organization funding and fast-tracking medical research across the biomedical spectrum. With bio-IT tools, it provides a collaborative an environment to bridge the gap between scientific frontiers and the patients who need treatment. The VRF has recently joined a group of biotech companies that are bypassing traditional mass-market cosmetic and orphan drug development indications to expedite product development.

Vitiligo Bond Inc.
Founded in November 2010, Vitiligo Bond Inc. (VBI) is a registered nonprofit 501c(3) organization that aims to provide support for those living with vitiligo. VBI has grown into a worldwide support group, through its Facebook and social media presence. As an advocacy organization, VBI is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for vitiligo; increasing awareness of vitiligo spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with vitiligo and their families. Natasha Pierre, founder of VBI, is a current vitiligan. Her experience in living with the skin disorder has given her the passion and understanding of vitiligo.

Click image to share on Facebook:

American Academy of Dermatology
The AAD is the largest, most influential and most representative dermatology group in the United States. With a membership of more than 17,000, it represents virtually all practicing dermatologists in the United States, as well as a growing number of international dermatologists. Read what the AAD says about vitiligo and the importance of sun protection. Find a board certified dermatologist.

Read about other famous people with vitiligo: NY Jets DL Coach Karl Dunbar – Seeing Beyond My Vitiligo.

Michael Jackson photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson

A portion of this post is part of a news release originally published by the VR Foundation.

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Parenting

4th of July Safety for Kids

Anticipation is growing as everyone awaits a weekend filled with water play, lip-smacking barbeques and grand firework displays this Independence Day. While the 4th of July can be fun, it can also be a hazardous day, especially for children who do not understand the dangers associated with some of the traditional festivities. This 4th of July, keep these simple safety precautions in mind when you and your kids are out at play.

 

Be SunAWARE

Whether this Independence Day is sunny or cloudy, you and your family will need sun protection when outdoors. If you’ll be around water, remember that the sun’s UV rays reflect off of the water’s surface, so you and your kids will be getting sun exposure in all directions! Be SunAWARE and protect yourself and your family from the problems associated with sun exposure by following these steps:

SunAWARE Advice

Be Alert Around Water

Any body of water can be dangerous for children who are not under close adult supervision. The American Red Cross offers this safety advice when in or around water.

* Actively supervise children whenever around the water—even if lifeguards are present. Do not just drop your kids off at the public pool or leave them at the beach—designate a responsible adult to supervise. Teach children to always ask permission to go near water.

* Always stay within arm’s reach of young children and avoid distractions when supervising children around water.

* Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone. This includes when boating too.

* Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous.

See all of the American Red Cross water safety tips.

Play it Safe with Fireworks

Each year approximately 8,800 people visit the emergency room due to firework-related injuries. The risk of fireworks injury is highest for kids ages 10 to 14 – more than twice the risk for the general population. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission asks that you please use the following safety measures if fireworks are legal in your area and you plan on creating your own celebratory display.

* Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.

* Always have an adult supervise fireworks activities. Young children often suffer injuries from sparklers, which burn at temperatures of up to 2,000 degrees—hot enough to melt some metals.

* Never place any part of your body directly over a firework when lighting the fuse. Back up a safe distance immediately after igniting.

* Never re-light or pick-up fireworks that have not ignited fully. If possible reach them with a hose and dowse with water before approaching.

* Keep a bucket of water or hose handy in case of fire and to dowse fireworks after use.

See all of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission firework safety tips.

Have a fun and safe Independence Day!

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Events SunAWARE

Tennis camp teaches sun safety on and off court

If you play tennis, you know it’s sometimes difficult to find shade on outdoor courts. So this summer, Twin City Tennis Camp, a local Minnesota business, is taking great strides to educate youth and their parents on the importance of using sun protection both on and off the court.

Since I started the organization in 1999, Twin City Tennis Camp has been committed to providing kids interested in tennis a healthy, fun and athletic atmosphere. Tennis is a lifetime sport, and we want campers to have fun and stay safe!

To promote sun safety on and off the court, I reached out to Coolibar- Sun Protection You Wear to help me educate parents and players on the importance of sun protection. Coolibar is a part of our local community and once I saw the superiority of the different fabrics, I knew we had to work together. I love the 3d dri pro SUNTECT® items for tennis!

Twin City Tennis Camp

This summer, we are providing sunscreen during tournaments and informationa to educate the importance of sun safety. I want to set an example for the kids and show that wearing UPF 50+ items and broad-spectrum sunscreen is not only cool (pun intended), it will keep me safe from the sun. I am excited to begin educating the kids, while still helping them perfect their tennis stroke.

– Dan Nabedrick

“Many have the will to win, but few have the will to PREPARE to win”

To learn more about Dan Nabedrick’s Twin City Tennis Camps and commitment to safety, visit http://www.twincitytenniscamps.com/

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