You may think that all hats offer the same level of sun protection - well, if that’s the case, you could be surprised to hear that, in fact, they do not.

Your old faithful straw beach hat could give you the impression that you’re fully protected from the sun as it provides some shade, but it could actually be inadvertently letting in harmful UV rays due to the material used, the way it was woven or simple wear and tear.

The material used and the way the raffia was woven in the Canopy Bay by Deborah Hutton collection provides maximum sun protection, with an UPF 50+ rating - paired with sunscreen and sunglasses, you can go and enjoy your favourite outdoor activities to the fullest, knowing that you’re not putting yourself at risk of skin damage or worse.

What does UPF 50+ mean?

UPF stands for “ultraviolet protection factor” - a UPF 50+ means that 1/50th or less of the sun’s UV radiation reaches your skin, effectively filtering 98% of UV radiation.

How can you be certain that a hat or garment offers sun protection?

The beauty of “Made in Australia” products, like the hats in the Canopy Bay range, is the transparency provided by local manufacturers. Rigon Headwear, the skilled hat makers behind this collection, ensure that all their Canopy Bay hats are tested by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and receive the UPF50+ certification.

The ARPANSA is the Australian Government's primary authority on radiation protection and nuclear safety and does not give certifications to just any product. Each product or fabric must undergo strict in-laboratory testing which is not just a simple visual inspection of the products, as the human eye cannot see UV radiation - instead, testing notably includes light being shone through different parts of each hat to confirm that every inch offers full UPF50+ protection.

When it comes to Canopy Bay styles, that’s as much the case for fabric hats like the Avoca Natural Linen Bucket Hat, which is double-lined, as it is for raffia hats which have been woven tightly compared to your traditional straw hats in order to provide an excellent ultraviolet protection factor. To sum it up, a lot of fabrics or materials offer some natural form of protection against ultraviolet radiation but there is no way of knowing just how much without the products actually undergoing laboratory testing, which the ARPANSA offers.

How to be sun safe

Sun damage is cumulative which, on one hand, means that it’s never too late to take extra precautions (YAY!), but on the other implies that just wearing a hat when you go to the beach is not enough.

Applying sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) is absolutely essential, especially on our side of the world. And you should be doing so everyday - yes, even if it’s cloudy or if you have an office job.

And if keeping skin cancer at bay is not incentive enough for you to do so, just think of the sun spots and premature skin aging that you could avoid by wearing a layer of sunscreen under your makeup everyday and shading yourself from the sun with a high-quality hat. Definitely cheaper than laser and Botox!

In addition to a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, you can further limit your exposure to the sun by wearing a tightly-woven but loose linen shirt and pants over your swimsuit at the beach, especially at midday when the UV index is at its highest. Not only will you be fashionable, as a good white linen shirt is timeless, it will also help you keep your cool.

Check out our Sun Safe Edit if you want to be stylish and sun safe all year round.