The Technical Evolution Of UV-Protective Fabrics
Apr 14, 2026
Around 2010, the Chinese industry began strategically positioning itself within the functional sun-protection apparel sector. In 2011, the brand Ohsunny was established and launched the very first professional sun-protection garment available across all online platforms, marking a breakthrough in China's first-generation "original yarn" UV-resistant technology (UPF 50+). In 2013, Toread launched its first-generation products, which utilized coating technology. Subsequently, the industry's technical trajectory shifted from post-finishing coating methods to "original yarn sun protection" technology-a process involving the addition of UV-blocking additives during yarn production, where they are melt-spun together with the fibers to enhance the product's wash durability. As the entire industry continued to explore and innovate, original yarn sun protection has emerged as the dominant technical approach for domestically produced sun-protection apparel.
Recent technological breakthroughs include: a team led by Sun Bin at Donghua University successfully utilized organic-inorganic hybridization technology to increase the concentration of light-scattering titanium dioxide within yarns from the standard 2% to 8%, thereby enabling UPF values to exceed 1000. This fiber has been named "Bingyin Yarn" (Ice-Concealment Yarn). Concurrently, Xiangxing Group successfully mastered the "cool-touch" microencapsulation process, achieving capsule wall thicknesses of merely 100 to 200 nanometers. In terms of market performance, online sales for the sun-protection apparel category saw a year-on-year growth of 267.4% in 2024; by the end of 2025, the market size for sun-protection clothing and accessories is projected to approach the 100-billion-yuan level. By 2025, the original yarn process is expected to become the core strategic direction for the technological upgrading of the sun-protection product category.
