EARTH DAY

For 30 years, our family-owned company has been pushing the boundaries of hat-making. From innovative craftsmanship and ethical manufacturing to meaningful conservation, we’re always challenging ourselves to go Beyond the Brim. Every day we are taking steps to make our hats more durable, sustainable, and socially responsible—so we feel good making them and you feel good wearing them.

On this Earth Day, as we collectively reflect on our love of wild places and outdoor adventure, we are reminded of the importance of impact reduction, responsible design and manufacturing, and protecting the outdoor spaces we cherish.

Our efforts to reduce our impact as a business and give back to the places we love is a long-range goal with a day-to-day commitment. Our team embraces new ways of thinking about what we do, how we do it, and why we do it.

Read on for a peek at our progress. 

Innovative Craftsmanship

Our pursuit of the perfect hat is relentless. Ingenuity—and good old-fashioned persistence—is what drives both our craft and our approach to sustainability. We choose materials that improve the quality and durability of our products while safeguarding the environment and human health.

Durable Design + Responsible Materials 

UPF 50+ Sun Protection

UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, which is the international standard for rating UV resistance in textiles. The majority of our line is rated UPF 50+, the highest possible rating, blocking over 98% of UVA and UVB rays. All of our materials are tested at independent labs, in accordance with AATCC 183-2014, the international testing standard for UPF ratings in textiles. We conduct UPF testing on our products to ensure they meet our standards. Please check individual products for the specific UPF rating. UPF 50+ products reduce the need for sunscreen which can be harmful to human and ocean health. 

PrimaLoft® Insulation with Cross Core™ Technology

Offering warmth without bulk, PrimaLoft Insulation with Cross Core Technology was originally developed by NASA for use in aeronautical applications. Cross Core™ aerogel technology forms a barrier to lock out cold while keeping in the heat. 

Chemical-free Cooling

Coolcore® is a patented chemical-free cooling technology built into the fabric fibers of our hats that maximizes their wicking ability, quickly evaporating sweat to keep you cool and comfortable in any condition. Coolcore® is completely chemical-free and built into the fibers of the fabric, keeping its cooling properties for the life of the garment and won’t wash out over time.

Insect Protection

Sunday Afternoons’ Bug-free Collection offers several styles that protect against insects, including the option of chemical-free protection through an integrated net in the hat design. As an alternative, we also utilize EPA-registered No Fly Zone® Insect Repellent Technology, a contact repellent that is odorless, permethrin-based. The technology is effective up to 70 washes. No Fly Zone products reduce the need for insect repellent sprays and liquids which can be harmful to human and ocean health.

PFAS-free Waterproof Technology

Durable Water Repellent (DWR) is a chemical treatment applied to fabric used for outdoor apparel, headwear and accessories. The purpose of DWR is to repel water and oil to prevent saturation of the textile face. By keeping the water beading up and rolling off, DWR allows sweat and moisture vapor to escape through breathable fabrics. Unfortunately, many DWR formulations contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which have been associated with adverse effects on human and environmental health. Studies have shown that PFAS can escape into the atmosphere and into wastewater during production, and small amounts can turn up as residue on the clothing itself. These chemicals are also persistent, meaning they do not easily dissipate and can cause harm to human health and the environment.  

Most of the outdoor industry has migrated to safer options. Wherever possible, we source a safe, PFAS-free (C0) Durable Water Repellent formula. PFAS-free DWR is a safer alternative to water repellency, and you will find it on many Sunday Afternoons products. We use a durable water repellent finish (DWR) that is free from potentially harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in conventional water-resistant and waterproof products. In 2020, we transitioned most of our styles with DWR from C6 to C0. 

Low-Impact and Recycled Textiles

We strive to select fabrics that are recycled and/or lower-impact alternatives to conventionally sourced textiles. The majority of our fabrics meet stringent bluesign® certified requirements for consumer and environmental safety. If a fabric is bluesign® certified, it means that the raw materials used to create it have been reviewed based on their ecotoxicological impact, and toxic chemicals or processes have been replaced with more sustainable alternatives. Similarly, Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certified fabric has undergone testing to ensure that it is free from harmful levels of more than 100 substances known to be detrimental to human health and the environment. Our team is actively working to increase our assortment of Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified products, as well as bluesign® and OEKO-TEX® main body fabrics and trims. Recycled materials reduce our carbon, chemical and water impacts. 

We’re also transitioning our Fall/Winter wool headwear to Sunday Afternoons Everwool™. This wool is responsibly sourced from non-mulesed sheep. 

Ethical Manufacturing

A lot has changed since we first started sewing Adventure Blankets and hats in our garage in Ashland, Oregon, but the care we poured into those early projects remains at the heart of our design, sourcing, and manufacturing. Today we collaborate with vendors, third-party auditors, and industry organizations to continuously improve working conditions, prioritize employee well-being, and lessen the environmental impacts of our manufacturing processes.

Meaningful Conservation

We wouldn’t be in the hat business if it wasn’t for our love of the outdoors. Now more than ever, wild places need our help. Sunday Afternoons supports organizations going above and beyond to conserve the land, water, and skies that sustain us all.