Questions you should ask yourself before choosing your clothes, specifically during a heat wave

2024-06-12 2024-06-12T10:34:31Z

Arabia Weather - As the world continues to face severe heat waves that have increased in frequency recently due to climate change, the clothes we wear play a major role in keeping our bodies cool.

Of course, the question that comes to us every morning: What should I wear? It is a routine daily question, and with heat waves it is difficult to answer, and in this article we will make the topic easier for you.

Studies have shown that by wearing appropriate clothing, you can raise the air conditioner temperature by two degrees Celsius, which helps save a significant amount of energy, thus saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the long term.

So, what questions should you ask yourself when choosing clothes to stay cool during heatwaves?

Is the weather dry or humid?

This is the most important question when choosing clothes for dry weather: Look for clothes made of light, breathable fabrics such as cotton and linen, which allow air to pass and absorb sweat, which helps it evaporate quickly and keeps your body cool.

For humid weather: Choose clothes made from fabrics that dry quickly, such as polyester or fabrics designed specifically for sports, which help wick moisture away from the body and keep you comfortable.

What is the appropriate color?

It is important to wear loose, light-colored clothes, as they help reflect the sun's heat rather than absorb it, provide better ventilation for the body, and avoid heavy and dark fabrics that retain heat and moisture.

What type of fabric is essential in keeping the body cool?

Designer and fashion blogger Heather Newberger says:

"Your choice of fabric is crucial. If you wear loose jeans, you'll feel hotter than your friend who wears tight chiffon clothes."

She adds:

“When it comes to fabric quality, lightweight woven fabrics such as cotton and silk are usually better if they are loose and this is especially important in humid climates, while in dry climates, the fabric alone may be sufficient as the fabric will absorb the sweat from your body and evaporate in the heat. "

Newberger confirms that in humid and hot climates, the air is saturated with water vapor, which means that the sweat absorbed by the body will remain on the clothes because it has no place to evaporate.

She adds: “It is better to wear a fabric that allows water vapor to evaporate sweat, and some new athletic fabrics achieve this goal, but cotton does not do this well,” according to Rhett Allen, an associate professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University.

All textiles trap infrared rays emitted by the body to some degree, which helps keep us warm in cold weather, but it's not ideal during hot summer days. So, wearing breathable clothing is important.

Which fabric should I choose to wear during a heatwave?

Cotton, linen, nylon, and uncoated polyester are classified as somewhat breathable fabrics, meaning they allow sweat and heat to evaporate.

Cotton and polyester absorb and reflect 99% of the infrared rays that strike them, making them appear white in infrared images. However, they allow 30% to 40% of visible light through, causing the body temperature to rise faster, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This happens because visible light generates heat that cannot escape like infrared radiation generated by the body.

But the body's other cooling mechanism, sweating, also plays a role. Cotton absorbs moisture but does not dry quickly, so if you sweat a lot, your clothes will remain wet.

Linen is a popular choice because it has high breathability thanks to the fibers it contains, but it dries slowly like cotton. Merino wool is a popular choice for outdoor enthusiasts; Because it breathes and wicks away moisture without retaining odor.

Nylon and polyester are used in most sportswear because they absorb moisture and dry quickly, but they retain odor. Research has shown that nylon absorbs moisture efficiently, but dries slowly, and synthetic fibers such as nylon and polyester can cause discomfort when wet. Therefore, one study suggested using clothing made of bamboo because it is a low conductor of heat.