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Comment by THE BIG AGOO on July 14, 2008 at 12:45am

Children's Clothing Designer Editorial
UV Protected Clothing, Myths and Truths about Harmful UV Rays - JB Sacallis, Agoo Apparel
With summer here and the kids outside in full force, the dreaded battle of wearing sun protection arises yet again. I don't know about yours, but my three-and-a-half year old refuses to wear a hat. It's a constant battle that escalates into a full on tug-of-war ever y time we venture outside. I have tried every style of head covering, every color and every option, only to have them lost, left and destroyed at every turn.

Sunscreen is no easier task. In fact, wrestling a monkey covered in cooking oil would be easier than administering the smallest dollop on my son's skin. He seems to love the sun, and thankfully he was born with the kind of skin that can tolerate it, but for my own peace of mind, I am left finding alternate and unique ways to keep him protected and safe outdoors.

This was one of the reasons why I was inspired to create a children's clothing company. At AGOO APPAREL we make stylish, active clothes for kids on the move, using 100% UV protected material. Our garments are all about fashion and function combined. Additionally, they have wick-away fibres that keep sweat away from the skin, eliminating any chills or possible overheating, stain resistance and anti bacterial properties.
One of our best sellers includes the long sleeve raglan, perfect for long days in the sun, and ideal for looking cool and feeling hip.

The versatile playful pant can go anywhere from gymnastics, to the park, to the movies.

All of our styles perform great if you are going to the beach, the playground, or even to Grandma's house.

Check us out http://www.agoo4u.com/ and you won't be disappointed!

For cool head gear, nothing is cooler than COOLIBAR's bucket hat. Completely crushable construction makes it great for travel or storage.

The lightweight, ultra-soft lite SUNTECT™ fabric comes in sensible solids and playful plaids. Great for older kids who want to look trendy while fighting off the rays.

For the younger ones, love the colors in Sun Smarties Girls Reversible Sun Hat, amazingly priced at just $7.95. It truly is the ONLY reversible, adjustable girl's sun hat!

Mix it, flip it, match it... then expand the fit as she grows with an adjustable hatband with unique, pull-through straps. UPF 50+, of course. I have one for my eight month old and never leave home without it.

Our kids spend a lot of time in their strollers, so visit SunfriendlyProducts.com for a vast selection of UV-protected sun covers, perfect for strollers, joggers and prams.

They pretty much have it all in one place so you are sure to find exactly what you need, even custom made for hard-to-fit buggies.

To keep track of just how long your little ones have been in the sun, use Sun Signals UV Sensors.

They measure UVB rays, changing from yellow to deep orange when sun exposure approaches dangerous levels.

Just stick on clothing or skin after applying sunscreen, and watch for the color to change. How easy is that!?

Or, if your child is like mine and loves to pick off stickers, use Magic Beads.

These fantastic beads are pale indoors, turn pastel-colored in weak sunlight and become brilliant glowing surf beads in bright sunlight.

They react to the UV light and are great indicators of the amount of UV light hitting your skin - so make sure you're covered up when they're glowing!

Dangers of UV Ray for Children
"As ozone depletion becomes more prevalent and as people around the world engage more in sun-seeking behaviour, the risk of developing health complications from over-exposure to UV radiation is becoming a substantial public health concern," said World Health Organization Director General Dr Lee Jong-Wook.

It is estimated that children are exposed to the sun three times more than adults--and often without sun protection. According to the American Skin Cancer Foundation, 80% of a person's lifetime exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation occurs before the age of 18.

This is compounded by the fact that a young child has more skin relative to his or her body mass, so the sunburn will cover more area and will be more serious. Properly protecting your skin during the first 18 years of life can reduce the risk of some types of skin cancer by 78%.



How to Protect their Skin
Since the skin is the largest organ in our body, it deserves a lot of care and attention when it comes to the sun. Slathering a load of chemicals and unknown additives on a child's precious skin may feel as scary to you as it does to me. Natural sunscreens are not easy to find and many contain high levels of zinc. It is important to read the labels and find which out ones have ingredients that feel comfortable to you and work with your child's skin type.

One option is to use Organic Children, which lists organic aloe vera, elderflower and edelweiss in its ingredients.

Burt's Bees' 100% natural, non-whitening formula provides broad-spectrum UVA/UVB protection and helps keep skin hydrated without using chemical sunscreen additives. How can you ask for better?

Natural California Baby Sun Block Stick is just too cute. Pop this convenient PABA-free, non-chemical, fragrance-free sunblock stick into your pocket, purse or diaper bag. The whole family will love this easy-to-use stick that gives those "hot spots" a boost of extra protection.

Just as important as taking care of your skin while you're out in the sun is taking care of your skin after you've been in the sun. We've found an extremely and supremely great product for after-sun care: Boo Boo Goo by Dimpleskins Naturals is great for soothing sunburns and healing damaged skin. With all natural ingredients such as organic calendula oil, cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, pure lavender, geranium and tea tree essential oils, it is perfect for kids with sensitive skin or those that may suffer from minor skin conditions such as eczema. Of course it also works on all kinds of boo boos, from scrape to scabs, burns to bites. This one is a must have!

How to Protect their Eyes
Too much UV exposure now can lead to permanent eye damage later in a child's life. Don't settle for "play" sunshades.

For under $10, you can safeguard your child's eyes with great-looking, high-performance sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays.

These doctor-recommended sunglasses block 100% of UV rays! Designed just for babies and kids with polycarbonate lenses, a stretchy neoprene strap, and a pinch-proof, hinge-free design. Featuring unique safety lenses that can't be pushed in. Frames are so strong, they can hold prescription lenses.

How to Protect their Feet
Another easy-to-miss spot: the tops of those tiny feet.

Waterproof swim shoes protect the tops of the feet from the sun, while shielding soles from hot sand and rough concrete.

I like these Toddler Pool shoes with Velcro tabs for easy on and offs. No more struggling to get them on wet and wiggling feet. So easy that kids can put them on themselves! A great price at $7.99… gotta have them.

Outdoor Sun Care Tips for Children
Take particular care to protect them from the sun. It's easy to enjoy watching your kids frolic in the great outdoors and forget just how long they've been exposed to the sun. Set a timer or check your watch every time the kids go out. Make snacks, homemade popsicles or have a juice break to bring kids into the shade and give their skin a rest. Plan outdoor activities before and after the hottest times of the day, and makes sure you have extra supplies always in the car for those times things get left behind.

Most importantly, start early in teaching your kids that we take care of our bodies by protecting ourselves from the sun. Make learning about it and being responsible something fun!

Here are some additional outdoor sun tips care of SunSmart:

* Keep a lightweight blanket or wrap handy for covering babies - babies have very sensitive skin and should never be exposed to direct sunlight.
* Plan outdoor activities outside peak UV Index times - UV radiation is most intense between 11am and 3pm in summer.
* Carry a protective pram cover for babies.
* Choose a hat that protects the baby's face, neck and ears such as a soft legionnaire-style hat, with a flap at the back that will crumple easily when they put their head down.
* Encourage children to play in the shade.
* Encourage children to wear sunglasses; look for glasses that meet the Australian Standard.
* Ensure that SunSmart practices become a lifestyle habit for your child. Remember that childhood protection decreases the chances of developing skin cancer later in life.
* Don't forget to be a SunSmart role model for the children around you!

SunSmart is funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and The Cancer Council Victoria, and in 2004 was appointed the World Health Organization's Collaborating Centre for the Promotion of Sun Protection. It is an organization dedicated to a global influence in shaping lifestyles and environments that minimise the risk of skin cancer.

About JB Sacallis, Agoo Apparel

JB Sacallis has an extensive background in the fashion industry. She obtained her degree in Fashion Design and Textile Science and for the past 18 years, has worked vigorously in mass market, prêt-a-porte, couture, wedding gowns, custom/ one-of-a-kind, and even created her own label; Simply JB. Her diverse talents have allowed her to report on fashion as a correspondent for news and television programs, direct fashion shows and write for a syndicated newspaper column. She is also a published author; “Letters for my Mother,” is about healing the Mother/ Daughter bond. She spent ten years working in the costume department for the film and television industry, supervising the wardrobe department on major motion pictures and award winning television series.


Currently she is the owner and president of Agoo Apparel Inc, a children’s clothing company that focuses on sustainable and performance-based active wear. Her company sells throughout Canada and the United States and is dedicated to giving back to the children. Despite her many hats and career experiences, she says, “Children’s wear is the most fun I have ever had in fashion.” With a three year old son and six month old daughter, she has the two perfect customer’s right at home. Her weekly blog can be read at agooblog.com.

Comment by THE BIG AGOO on July 9, 2008 at 1:32am

"Just in case you didn't get a chance to catch Agoo Apparel on Global TV on Monday, here is a link to it Agoo Clothing on Global TV. Andrea Vance from WestCoast Families showcased Agoo Apparel, declaring it "Lululemon for Kids"!

Comment by THE BIG AGOO on July 9, 2008 at 1:30am

THANK YOU JENN, AND DIANE FOR POSTING YOUR AWSOME BLOGS. ALL THE BEST

Comment by diane on July 7, 2008 at 10:30pm

Thanks for the invite! My blog is Knitting Zeal where I keep track of my crafting and parenting life. Since having a baby it is more about him now than knitting.

Comment by Jenn (alias: hippygoth) on July 7, 2008 at 3:39pm

Hi! I'd like to join but I'm not quite sure what to do next. :)