As any frequent Caribbean traveler knows, a high-functioning sun shirt is a necessity.
In fact, the Caribbean Journal team travels with several sun shirts on every trip.
A good sun shirt is lightweight, fast-drying and easy to wash out in a sink and hang up to dry quickly.
Most importantly, though, it protects from the the sun.
Understandably, we are constantly looking for the best in sun-protection clothing — and were delighted to discover Vapor Apparel and its Altered Latitudes brand of clothing, the makers of a full range of purpose built clothing ranging from sun shirts to board shorts, face and neck gaiters, leggings and hoodies.
But what really caught our eye was the company’s diverse collection of Caribbean-inspired clothing, with a multitude of destinations for travelers to represent, from St Croix to Harbour Island and everywhere in between.
To learn more, we caught up with Vapor Apparel’s Ashley Prin.
Tell us about Vapor Apparel and Altered Latitudes. What makes your company and clothing different?
Our clothing is extremely comfortable. It delivers superior UPF 50+ sun protection and amazing graphics that really pop. We are a small, self-funded, 16-year-old company focused on making a quality product at a very fair price. Originally we have sold “to the trade” but are now bringing our brand straight to you.
Tell us about UPF 50+ — what does that mean and why is it important?
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor and it is measuring the shirt’s ability to protect your skin. 50+ is the gold standard. Our gear not only meets UPF50+ standards — it is also recognized by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Our UPF rating actually increases with every wash, offering you a shirt you can trust.
Some of your shirts are made with recycled products. What’s that all about?
We make garments out of recycled water bottles. 16 water bottles are removed from the waterways or landfills with every one of our Repreve sustainable long-sleeve shirts. We are working on adding more and more recycled options in 2020. Everyone can be doing a little bit more to be kind to mother nature and we want that option for our customers.
You use a zinc-based technology that defends against bacteria. How does that work?
Zinc is an odorless element that is often added to apparel and textiles in production. Zinc eliminates odor by killing the bacteria that cause it. The technology we use meets all international textile standards and has a lower Co2 impact than others on the market. It is great technology. We are killing odors – not the ozone layer.
For more, visit Altered Latitudes.
— CJ