Are anti-UV t-shirts effective? UVEA answers on France 5
On 27 May 2026, UVEA was invited onto France 5 to answer a simple question: are anti-UV t-shirts really effective? We look back at the appearance and break down what UPF 80 protection actually means.
On 27 May 2026, UVEA was invited onto the set of Le Magazine de la santé (France 5) to answer a question many of us ask as summer approaches: are anti-UV t-shirts really effective? With a live demonstration, UV lamp in hand, on our UPF 80 certified garments.
How does anti-UV clothing work?
Unlike sunscreen — which you apply, rubs off and has to be reapplied — anti-UV clothing places a permanent physical barrier between the skin and UV radiation. Its effectiveness is measured by the UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) index: the higher it is, the greater the share of UV that is blocked.
UPF 80: what it actually means
At UVEA, the range reaches UPF 80, the highest level of the UV Standard 801 standard. In concrete terms, a UPF 80 fabric blocks 98.75% of UV rays.
That result is far from trivial: it is measured under demanding conditions — fabric stretched, wet, after several washes — by the Hohenstein institute (Bönnigheim, Germany). Where other indices simply assess a fabric when new and dry, UV Standard 801 reproduces real-world conditions of use.
Why it matters to us
A well-designed garment means protection that can't be forgotten and won't rub off: no missed spots, no reapplying every two hours, no amount to measure out. For children who spend all day in the water, it is often the simplest and most reliable solution.
Designed in Europe, built to last
Our garments are designed in Roubaix and made in Europe from high-performance Italian fabrics. Sun-protective fashion you keep season after season — because good protection is also protection you actually want to wear.
→ Watch UVEA on France 5 again
→ Discover the UPF 80 collection