Sunday, April 8, 2007

Solar Protective Factory Fact Sheet

Background & Fact Sheet

April 2007

  • The Solar Protective Factory, Inc. was founded in 1989 by two California businessmen, Terrill Breese and Harvey Schakowsky. One of the founders, Breese, had skin cancer, which prompted their curiosity about ultraviolet (UV) transmission in general and, more specifically, through clothing.

  • They discovered that UV rays passed through some clothing at an alarming rate, the equivalent % of an SPF 4-6. They also found that the transmission rates of UV were increased when the fabric was wet, lowering the SPF equivalent to an SPF of 2-4.

  • They spent the next year testing a large variety of fabric to determine which, if any, could provide excellent protection and still be comfortable in warm weather. This led to the development of Solarweave®, their first fabric product.

  • Solarweave® was introduced in 1990 with a UV transmission of less than 3% or an SPF equivalent of SPF 45.

  • The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came on the scene in 1991 after they had decided to regulate sun protective fabrics and clothing as a medical device.

  • The Solar Protective Factory spent the next two years, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in testing costs, to successfully pass the FDA testing requirements for a “medical device.” In 1993 the FDA decided not to regulate sun protective fabric and apparel, consequently eliminating the “medical device” category for these products. The FDA turned over the regulation issue of sun protective fabric and apparel to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) in 1993.

  • In 1994, under the guidance of the FTC and CPSC, and with the support American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) textile scientists and UV testing experts, a committee of industry leaders in sun protective fabric and apparel was formed. This marked the first time that a committee was convenved with the objective of creating industry-wide standards for sun protective fabrics and apparel.

  • The ASTM Committee D13.65 began meeting in 1994 to develop sun protective fabric and apparel testing protocols. Harvey Schakowsky, the CEO of the Solar Protective Factory, presided as Chairman of these meetings.

  • ASTM Committee D13.65 spent the next three years completing the most stringent testing protocols for sun protective fabric and apparel in the world.

  • The current ASTM testing protocols require UVA and UVB testing after the equivalent of two years wear and tear. This translates to 40 home launderings and 200 hours of direct ultraviolet exposure. Fabrics are then rated on an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) scale.

  • All Solar Protective Factory fabrics surpass the maximum UPF rating of UPF 40-50+. This means that all SPF® fabrics block more than 97% of UVA and UVB even after two years wear and tear.

  • Australian standards call for testing fabrics only when they are new.

  • In 2006 a law firm filed a law suit against the major sunscreen makers alleging false and misleading labeling and advertising that created a false sense of security with sunscreen users. Major sunscreen manufacturers continue to market their products as waterproof and as having long-lasting protection.

  • In 2006 the Solar Protective Factory perfected the SPF® 100% cotton t-shirt that achieves the maximum UPF rating of UPF 40-50+.

  • In 2007 the Solar Protective Factory officially opened its new website: www.sunprotectioncenter.com . The website is an internet Sun-Protection Superstore carrying a full range of sun-protective clothing and accessories for men, women and children.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Harvey,
What all of us need is honest comparisons of major suppliers of UV protective clothing... all I see is dollar-motivated protective behavior by suppliers, including Coolibar & Solumbra. And now, et tu, Harvey? --Dennis in Seattle

terri said...

Hi, My daughter has PMLE, its hard to find things for her to wear outside to protect her from the UV rays. Does anyone know of any organization that help children with the disorder...It's very expensive to buy all these things to protect her. thanks for your help....Terri

Unknown said...

Looks to me that you are just trying to copy all the other companies that sell sun protective clothing instead of trying to make and sell just your own brand! It also looks like you have a very deceptive company in that all the text on your website looks exactly what I have been seeing on other competitor websites for years!

Joe Koss said...

Dennis: Our company has always been interested in making a living and doing something respectable. We give a portion of our proceeds to the Melanoma Research Foundation; we developed an produced sunsuits choosen by NASA (at our own costs); since we started business in 1990 we have always independently tested out product to the most rigid standards (of which, the current standards we helped develop); our cotton t's are the most affordable sun protective clothing on the market; we make less per garment than our competitors because we are committed to being the most affordable. We don't think the same can be said about our competetors.

Terri:
Call 1-800-SUNBLOC (786-2562), leave a message for Harvey and we try to help you the best we can. Explain in the message why you are calling.

Steve:
Please compare our 100% cotton, top-uv rated t-shirt for $10 to our competitors more expensive, synthetic alternatives. Which other company produces the world's best selling sun-protective fabrics and has for over 15 years? Our company's CEO was the chairman of the ASTM committee that developed the testing standards and protocols that are used industry wide in the US today.
Much of what we said 15 years ago about the sun protection industry is being used by our competitors today. We don't think this is deceptive; we think it is flattering.

Thank you for visiting our blog. It is still a work in progress. Please check back often, sorry about the delay in our response.

Anonymous said...

since it’s Mr Han’s suggestion. They doubt about my ability. All the feeling mixed with grievance, sadness and wrath flooded into my heart. I couldn't hold back my tears in my eyes. I ran out of the room, with tears rolling along my cheeks. The colleagues called me, but I didn’t answer them.Since spring is coming, it’s always a wow power leveling depressing and sloppy day. The power leveling sullen sky, the damp floor, and wow powerleveling the dull air make everyone downhearted. The wow gold spring mizzle keeps falling as tears fallingwholesale furniture in my heart. I wow gold felt depressed, rage and dysthymic. There were lots of terrible things powerleveling happening, which made me exhausted, both physically and mentally. cheap wow power leveling Wholesale handbagsThe other night two students fought in the class when I was cheap wow powerleveling on duty, though there was nothing serious power leveling aftereffect because Furniture Wholesaleof disposal in time, the head teacher Mr Han thought it was all my fault. He blamed me for wholesale clothingnot taking good charge of the class. He even complained about me in front of thepowerleveling leaders of the school. Therefore, the Wholesale jewelryleaders always keptpowerleveling wow an eye on me, trying to find my fault, and then accusing me of my careless teaching Ceramic powerleveling wowtilemanner and unsatisfactory teaching result. What’s more, one afternoon Mr Han satirized me with sharp and vitriolic words. He saidpower leveling wow I Micro sd cardswas inability of being a good teacher. I wow powerlevel felt very wronged. In fact, I have tried my best. Every day I work day and night, preparing forwow powerlevel the lesson. I spend all of my free time to tutor the backward students, helping them to improve theirConsumer Electronics wow power level levels and abilities. As a teacher, Iwow power level am kind and friendly to all the students. When they are in blue mood, I try my best to wow power level comfort and encourage them, although it costs me a lot of personal time. I throw all my heart and soul, my time and my energy into my job, however, I get no recognition and acceptance from others. Even the Wholesale clothingnaughty students often make mischief on me, since I was not a fearful teacher but with a good temper. Therefore, from the bottom of my heart, I hate everything here. Things went worse when yesterday we had dinner together, Mr Zhaowow power level told us that they discussed in their administration meeting whether I would not on duty of Wholesale Jewelryevening study any more,

Term Papers said...

Thanks for share this information, It’s great to see good information being shared.Thanks for share this.


College Term papers

SPF Addict said...

Dear Harvey,
As a dermatology nurse, I am pleased to read your informative site even if it has been said in the past. People need to read over and over and be reminded about the dangers of sun and importance of sun protection!
I am also pleased to see more then one company out there, there is room for everybody when it comes to educating the public on prevention and health!
People also need to understand these fabrics are not only expensive to purchase but also very difficult to produce.
I have spent the last eighteen years clearing sun damage and working with the Dermatologist in removing skin cancer. As I myself had.
I applaud you and the other company's out there for educating all of us!!
Warm regards,
M.Arnold, R.N.
SPF ADDICT,LLC