An ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) treatment applied to a fabric or garment increases the ability of the material to prevent the sun’s harmful UV radiation from reaching your skin. We can create that layer of protection by adding special chemistry to the yarn itself, by altering the weight/density of the fabric’s construction or by adding a topical chemical treatment to the fabric.

An ever-growing number of our products are Fair Trade Certified™ for sewing, which means we pay a premium to the workers in the factories that make them. The Fair Trade program also helps to create better working conditions and safeguards against the use of child labor.

fairtradecertified.org

An important fiber in Patagonia's line, polyester allows them to build lightweight materials that dry quickly and can be used in a variety of applications, including trail-running tops and yoga tights. Polyester also blends well with natural fabrics like cotton. But virgin polyester is derived from petroleum, which comes at a high environmental cost.