How Clothing Can Help You Stay Cool in a Heatwave
Monday, 2026/08/03283 words4 minutes1442 reads
Choosing clothes for a heatwave involves more than selecting a pale colour. White fabric generally reflects more incoming sunlight, whereas dark fabric absorbs more. Yet the body itself emits heat, so the most comfortable garment must manage both external solar radiation and internal heat loss.
This helps explain an often surprising observation about loose black desert robes. A 1980 study reported similar heat exposure under black and white Bedouin robes. In dry, windy conditions, the air layer beneath a loose dark garment can warm, rise and carry heat away before the extra absorbed heat reaches the skin. That mechanism does not make black universally preferable: for tight-fitting clothes, white remains the more sensible choice.
The fabric's structure is equally important. Breathable textiles allow heat and water vapour to pass through, while wicking textiles transport sweat away from the skin. In humid conditions, evaporation slows because the surrounding air is already close to saturated with water vapour. A material that dries quickly may then be more comfortable than one that simply absorbs moisture.
Researchers are also developing textiles that control visible light and infrared radiation differently. An experimental material designed to reflect sunlight while allowing infrared body heat to escape could improve thermal comfort. Other adaptive fabrics change the spacing between fibres as temperatures rise, and phase-change materials can absorb heat while they melt. The BBC article notes research suggesting appropriate clothing may let some air-conditioning settings rise by about 2C, though this is research context rather than a promise for every wearer or climate.
Clothing is only one part of heat safety. It can improve comfort, but it does not replace shade, hydration, rest, sun protection or local public-health guidance during extreme heat.
