A man’s shirt is bathed in sweat before seven in the morning as he parks cars and provides security for a downtown cafe July 20, 2023, in Mexicali, Mexico. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)
\n\nWhen it’s really hot out, getting dressed seems pretty simple: Wear something light, loose and made for summer.
\n\nBut textile researchers say it’s actually a little more complicated than that.
\n\nThe fabric matters. But so does how heavy it is, how the clothing is made, how it fits and even what color it is. What works best also depends on what you’re doing and how much you’re sweating.
\n\nWith extreme heat a growing public health concern, scientists are developing and studying clothing designed to help people stay cooler. But clothing is only one component of the body’s response to heat.
\n\nWhat we wear can affect how the body handles extreme heat, but there’s no single “best” fabric. Weight, construction, airflow, fit, color and moisture management can matter as much as whether clothing is made from cotton, linen or polyester.
\n\nClothing should allow the body’s natural response to heat to work, said George Havenith, emeritus professor of environmental physiology and ergonomics at Loughborough University.
\n\n“It’s a really powerful…
Original source: https://apnews.com/business