What makes Play Outside different from other outdoor clothing brands?

Play Outside creates comfort-first outdoor essentials designed to work across real life, not just one activity or season. Our clothing is sun-safe, versatile, and built to perform from beach to snow while remaining soft, flattering, and easy to wear.

Is Play Outside clothing flattering on real women’s bodies?

Yes. Our clothing is designed for real women’s bodies, not idealized or Instagram-perfect fits. We prioritize movement, softness, and ease so pieces feel comfortable, drape well, and look great throughout the day.

Is Play Outside clothing made for outdoor performance?

Absolutely. Our pieces are built to perform outdoors in changing conditions including heat, wind, cold, and movement, while still being suitable for everyday life, travel, and time outside with kids.

What is sun safe apparel?

Sun safe apparel is clothing designed to help protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Play Outside uses UPF-rated fabric so sun protection is built directly into what you wear without extra layers or chemical treatments.

What’s the difference between UPF and SPF?

SPF measures how sunscreen protects your skin, while UPF measures how much UV radiation a fabric blocks. UPF clothing provides consistent protection that does not wear off or require reapplication.

Why do you use bamboo fabric?

Bamboo fabric is naturally soft, breathable, temperature-regulating, and gentle on skin. It stays comfortable in warm weather and layers well in colder conditions without stiffness or itch.

How can the same clothing work in both summer and winter?

Play Outside clothing uses temperature-regulating bamboo fabric and layer-friendly construction. It stays breathable in summer and retains warmth when layered in winter, allowing the same piece to work year-round.

Do you release new styles every season?

No. We focus on timeless, versatile pieces that remain in our collection year after year. Each iteration is refined using real customer feedback to continuously improve performance, comfort, and fit.

Washing UPF Clothing Without Ruining the Sun Protection

It's a strange thought the first time it occurs to you, could washing actually undo the one feature you bought the shirt for in the first place? For some fabric, the answer is a little bit yes, and it's worth knowing which habits are the culprit.

The short answer: UPF built into the fabric itself, not a chemical coating, holds up through normal washing. Sun protective clothing generally holds its rating well with basic care, but fabric softener and high heat are the two things most likely to degrade any protective fabric's performance over time.

Why fabric softener is the sneakier culprit

Fabric softener coats fibers with a residue that can reduce breathability and, over many washes, wear down the tight weave that a UPF fabric depends on. It's easy to use out of habit without realizing it's working against the fabric's job.

Why high heat matters more than most people think

High heat in both washing and drying can break down fiber structure faster over time. Cold water and lower heat settings are a small habit change that meaningfully extends how long any technical fabric performs as intended.

What to actually do instead

Wash cold, skip the fabric softener, and air dry or use low heat when possible. This is exactly the care routine we recommend for the ONE Shirt, and it applies to most fabric-based UPF clothing generally, not just ours.

Quick FAQ

Does UPF wash out eventually?
Fabric-based UPF, built into the weave and fiber rather than a coating, doesn't wash out the way a chemical treatment can degrade over time.

How do I know if my shirt's UPF is fabric-based or a coating?
Check with the brand directly, worth asking before you buy if it isn't stated clearly.

Is dry cleaning safer than regular washing?
Not necessarily, the chemicals used in some dry cleaning processes can be just as hard on protective fabric as high heat.

How often should I actually wash UPF clothing?
As often as needed for cleanliness, the care habit matters more than the frequency.