Fashion vs. Heat / How to Prevent Heatstroke

Hello, this is Jane! How was your Obon holiday?

Recently, Japan has been so hot that I was shocked. I was often asked, “Aren’t you from a tropical country, so you’re not used to summer and heat?”

38 degrees! It’s the hottest weather I’ve ever experienced in Japan.

Actually, in Vietnam, I don’t walk as much as I do in Tokyo! Especially in cities like Hanoi. Did you know that the main means of transportation in Vietnam is the motorbike? Also, Japanese motorbikes are very common in Vietnam, and 90% of motorbikes are Japanese brands!

Isn’t that amazing? I used to have a motorbike too!

However, because Vietnam is a tropical country, summers are usually around 40 degrees. Riding a motorbike is a little better than walking under the sun, but it doesn’t help that much. Among Vietnamese people, like in East Asian culture, there is still the old idea that white skin is beautiful. So how do Vietnamese women protect their skin and prevent sunburn?

Well, there are sun-protection outerwear items!

Ninja-Lead is a nickname for women who dress like a samurai when going out. This “fashion trend” is quite popular among Vietnamese women!

Ninja = covers from head to toe

Lead = Honda Lead motorbike

Let’s take a closer look at this combo.

• Honda Lead = a favorite motorbike among Vietnamese women, popular for its large storage space.
• Helmet = drive safely! A helmet and a motorbike are a proper set by the rules.
• Mask = even before coronavirus, wearing a mask is essential when joining traffic in Vietnam. Masks prevent gasoline pollution.
• Sun-protection outerwear = a feature of Ninja-Lead. It also covers the hands, head, and mouth!
• They also get a sun-protection skirt to protect their thighs.
• Sunglasses = optional

There are various designs for sun-protection outerwear, and most of them have floral patterns.

So, what do you think about this summer fashion trend? Is it interesting? It may look extreme, but the sun is very dangerous. Not only can it cause sunburn and heatstroke, but in the long term it can also lead to skin cancer. In Vietnam, just like in Japan, functional fabrics were not common items. Three or two years ago, thanks to Uniqlo, Vietnamese people became aware of UV-cut jackets. With the recent heat, I’m very happy that fabrics with cooling functions and UV-cut functions have been invented.

Thank you for reading to the end! I’d be very happy if you share this post and support me!

Also, please check out Tou’s blog post and ApparelX’s news about UV-cut functional fabrics. ApparelX also has many functional textiles, so please take a look!