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Climate change is the defining issue of our time. It’s bigger than politics, bigger than pandemics, even bigger than the sale of certain social media apps.
To fight it, we need collective, large-scale solutions. But there are also independent, small-scale strategies that have the ability to bring about big change. Some of these strategies you know well, such as recycling and reusing when possible. As effective as these practices can be, we’re constantly exploring new and novel ways to fight climate change, and mitigate the effects it’s already having on our lives. Enter: LifeLabs.
Earlier this year, we introduced LifeLabs as the apparel startup hoping to reduce the amount of energy we use in the world by helping us improve our individual energy efficiency. That is to say, we can more effectively manage body temperature not by manipulating our environment (through frigid air-conditioning and sweltering heating), but instead by revising what we wear. The label’s latest progressive approach to design, the CoolLife collection, is designed to combat hot weather, and it’s here in time for summer.
The WarmLife collection that brought us the world’s warmest jacket relied heavily on a science-driven approach to textile manufacturing, and the same is true of CoolLife apparel. As the only clothing to use a yarn-based textile derived from Polyethylene, CoolLife shirts and shorts more efficiently transfer body heat away from the skin than similar performance fabrics. It doesn’t hurt that Polyethylene is also the lowest-rated material on the Materials Sustainability Index globally, meaning it uses less energy and water in production, and thus its impact is minimal.
Let’s break it down by the numbers. CoolLife fabric is so effective that it has the ability to cool your temperature 3 degrees Fahrenheit more effectively than comparable fabrics. That means its Qmax Cool Touch score of .20 (which assesses the sensation of the surface of fabric) is 35% cooler than Everlane’s Organic Cotton T-shirt, 68% cooler than Vuori’s Strato Tech Tee, and 50% cooler than a Nike DriFIT Long-Sleeve Training T-Shirt. And because your body temperature is lower, you don’t have to crank up the AC to stay comfortable, which could save an estimated 400 pounds of carbon per household per year (by lowering your thermostat by 3 degrees).
LifeLabs is employing its cooling technology throughout its roster of goods. The latest collection includes not only summer staples like tees and shorts, but sleepwear and sheet sets too. And it’s available in men’s and women’s styles to keep everybody cool when the going gets hot.
Recently, we got our hands on some CoolLife apparel and put it to work on a warm day in the city. Read on for our findings and thoughts.
CoolLife Long Sleeve Tee
Cover up without heating up. This casual long-sleeve tee transitions from demanding workouts to weekend brunches with ease. Made from a blend of Polyethylene and recycled nylon, the fabric is finished with low-profile merrow seams and a tagless neck to boost comfort no matter the activity at hand. While testing the CoolLife Long Sleeve, we fell in love with its next-to-skin comfort and textile technology that reduced unwanted odors and dried within minutes. Consider this if you’re looking for protection from the sun without the added warmth of a traditional long sleeve.
CoolLife Tee
Decisions, decisions. You could wear the CoolLife Tee on a long Sunday run (which we did) or you could don it when out to dinner with friends (we did that as well). Its simple, clean styling is ready for every occasion and it comes in six soft colors should you choose to invest in a few styles. The seamless design features cooling properties that allow body heat to escape more efficiently, resulting in greater comfort when the going gets hot. Anti-odor properties reduce unwanted funk which means you can wear this tee a few times before washing it, thus saving a little energy along the way.
CoolLife Short
Comfort meets capability. Rarely do we throw on a pair of shorts and find ourselves wearing them for days, but such was the case when we donned the CoolLife Short. Its super soft material delivered loads of comfort even in the midst of activity and the lack of interior seams reduced potential irritation. Normally we’d expect sweat to pool around the waistband when hiking in the heat, but the fabric did well to eliminate moisture on the fly. Integrated pockets provided just enough room for the essentials.
CoolLife Sheet Set
If you hate waking up in the middle of a hot summer night to damp sheets as a result of body sweat, consider upgrading to the CoolLife Sheet Set. Available in multiple mattress sizes, the 450-thread-count satin weave set feels silky smooth against the skin and continuously cools your body throughout the night. According to the latest research, your body’s core temperature needs to drop by 2 degrees Fahrenheit in order to fall and stay asleep, so consider this set if you’re looking to refine your summer bedtime routine. The whole shebang includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet and two pillow cases.
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