FAQs
UPF 50+ SUN PROTECTION
UPF stands for Ultraviolet Protection Factor, which is the international standard for rating UV resistance in textiles.
That depends on the testing method used to determine the UV levels. In the United States, UPF tests adhere to the American standard AATCC 183, using the sun spectrum of Albuquerque, New Mexico, the same as the European Standard. At Sunday Afternoons, we work with an independent, certified testing agency to evaluate our fabrics wet and dry to verify UPF levels. The majority of our products are rated UPF 50+, the highest possible rating from the AATCC, blocking over 98% of UVA and UVB rays.
Product Technology
Durable Water Repellent (DWR) is a textile treatment applied to fabric used for clothing, including headwear. The treatment prevents water from saturating the fabric and instead causes water to bead up and roll off the surface, keeping your hat (and head) dry. There are several different types of DWR coating. The DWR used as a standard for many years by the textile industry was called C8 DWR, which is a long-chain, fluorocarbon-based coating containing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFCs or PFAS. Although C8 is very hydrophobic and the most effective DWR, its byproducts can be toxic and remain in the environment for many years. They're also bioaccumulative. As an alternative to C8, C6 DWR was developed several years ago. It is a shorter-chain, fluorocarbon-based coating, the byproducts of which break down faster and are less toxic to humans and the environment. More recently, C0 (C Zero) DWR was developed and it is fluorine-free (i.e., PFC/PFAS-free). C0 DWR provides excellent water repellency and durability, and it has the lowest impact on the environment. Wherever possible, we use PFC/PFAS-free DWR to ensure the safety of factory workers, customers, and the environment. Look for the "PFC/PFAS-free DWR" call-out on our hats.
Our Convertible Ventilation® flaps are pieces of fabric featured on a variety of our hats that can be flipped up or down. Flip the fabric up to expose breathable, ventilated mesh to keep you cool. Flip the fabric down to provide extra coverage and protection from the elements.
Coolcore® is a patented, chemical-free cooling technology built into the fabric fibers of our hats. It maximizes their wicking ability, quickly evaporating sweat and keeping you cool and comfortable in any condition. Coolcore® rapidly cools and wicks moisture through regulated evaporation. Best of all, it won't wash out over time. Coolcore® technology keeps its cooling properties for the life of the garment.
No. While other cooling fabrics use chemicals to enhance wicking, transportation, and evaporation, Coolcore® fabrics are chemical-free. Topical chemicals can not only be harmful to your skin, but after only a few washes, the cooling properties of the product are no longer effective. Coolcore® cooling technology is built into a fabric’s fibers, preventing any decline in performance and maintaining cooling properties for the life of the garment.
SmartStrap™ is a chinstrap that keeps kids' hats in place, but it will break away safely if given a good tug.
Clamshell Brim™ is a space-saving design that allows the hat to fold up and fit into a pocket.
Don't shake off and lose a great pair of shades! Sunglass Lock™ allows you to lock your sunglasses in place on many of our hats using patented, integrated sleeves.
Fold-away Flaps are earflaps that can be flipped up or pulled down to protect the ears from harsh weather.
StretchBack™ Sizing is a patented technology that fuses traditional snapback sizing and elastic material to maximize comfort.
At Sunday Afternoons, our hat colors cover a spectrum of hues. Depending on the amount of exposure to ultraviolet light, some of the more vibrant, saturated colors can lessen in vibrancy over time due to photodegradation. Rest assured, this will not affect the UPF rating or quality of the hat. Sunday Afternoons guarantees materials and workmanship for life.
Sustainability & Responsibility
For 30 years our company has been pushing the boundaries of hat making. Every day we are taking steps to make our hats more durable, sustainable and socially responsible - so we feel good making them and you feel great wearing them!
Climate Neutral is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and help brands achieve climate neutrality. Companies that achieve its certification must meet internationally recognized standards for carbon measurement and neutrality, and certification must be renewed annually.
We achieved Climate Neutral Certification by measuring our 2021 greenhouse gas emissions and purchasing eligible verified carbon credits to offset our entire corporate footprint. As part of our certification, we are required to have a plan for reductions in the years ahead. Our goal is to reduce our entire carbon footprint by 30% by 2030.
Climate Neutral Certification is valid for up to one year and is based on emissions from the previous year. For example, a brand certifying for 2021 emissions will become certified in 2022. Annual recertification ensures that brands remain focused on reducing their carbon emissions and stay current with removing/offsetting the carbon emissions they generate.
Carbon neutrality means achieving a net neutral balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere. Achieving carbon neutrality, or climate neutrality—which counts other greenhouse gases in addition to carbon dioxide—can help accelerate our collective goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Our company goal is to reduce our entire carbon footprint by 30% by 2030.
A carbon credit is a certificate generated when someone takes an action to eliminate a tonne (or metric ton) of greenhouse gas emissions. When carbon credits are used by companies or individuals to zero-out their emissions, it’s called an offset. So, offsets are simply credits used for a specific purpose.
Over the past year, our sustainability team worked to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions it takes to manufacture, warehouse, and ship our products worldwide, as well as the emissions impact of our total operations. We are now offsetting those 2021 emissions by investing in climate change solutions and planning future reductions. Our goal is to reduce our entire carbon footprint by 30% by 2030.
Through our carbon offset program, Sunday Afternoons purchased credits in the Hong Phong 4 Solar Plant in Vietnam to offset 4,905 tonnes (metric tons) of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021.
With our roots in making hats that offer sun protection, supporting a solar project was a logical choice. We chose the Hong Phong 4 Solar Plant because we have longstanding relationships with suppliers and factory partners in southeastern Vietnam, and we are dedicated to giving back directly to that community. Supporting solar projects in Vietnam reduces the region's reliance on fossil fuels and results in cleaner air and water for the local communities.
A proud member of the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Sunday Afternoons is actively working on a sustainability roadmap to measure progress and assess opportunities related to our supply chain, materials, and practices. Our participation in reputable industry associations ensures that we introduce best practices when working to improve our environmental and social sustainability. In 2017, we completed the Higg Index Brand and Retail Modules and have been completing Higg annually since then. Developed by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, the Higg Index is a suite of tools that enables brands, retailers, and facilities of all sizes—at every stage in their sustainability journey—to accurately measure and score a company or product’s sustainability performance. The Higg Index delivers a holistic overview that empowers businesses to make meaningful improvements that protect the well-being of factory workers, local communities, and the environment.
Sunday Afternoons is continually striving to improve the sustainability of our supply chain, materials, and practices. We select materials that enhance the quality and durability of our products while safeguarding the environment and human health. We also measure our progress to ensure accountability and transparency in our decisions where possible. Many of our performance materials and trims are bluesign® or recycled materials. We comply with RSL (Restricted Substances List) testing of our products.
Many of our fabrics are recycled, and we are committed to increasing that number. You may see that many of our main body fabrics and trims are bluesign®-certified. bluesign® is a standard of environmental safety for textiles. If a fabric is bluesign®-certified, it means that the raw materials used to create it have been reviewed based on their ecotoxicological impact, and toxic chemicals or processes have been replaced with more sustainable alternatives.
bluesign® is a standard of environmental safety for textiles. If a fabric is bluesign® certified, it means that the raw materials used to create it have been reviewed based on their ecotoxicological impact, and toxic chemicals or processes have been replaced with more sustainable alternatives.
Sunday Afternoons is rooted in a love of the outdoors and strives to promote and support natural spaces, wild places, and endeavors that celebrate being outside. That includes giving back to global, national, and local organizations, including Protect Our Winters (POW), European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), Leave No Trace, KS Wild, Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, and Rogue Valley Farm to School.
Lifetime Guarantee
We stand behind our hats for as long as you stand under them. Materials and workmanship are guaranteed for life.
Our Lifetime Guarantee does not cover normal wear and tear, the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use, stains, grommet patina, shrinking, fading, fraying, lost pieces, and product failures as a result of misuse or improper care.
If you believe your product has a defect, we are happy to help. Please email our Customer Loyalty Team at sales@sundayafternoons.co.uk with the following information:
- Style name, size, and colour
- Photos that illustrate the potential problem
- Approximate time and place of purchase
- First/last name, preferred mailing address, and phone number
Once the above information is received, we can begin to process your claim. Warranty claims can take 2-3 weeks for processing. We will notify you once the claim is complete. All approved warranty claims will include a £3.50 standard charge for shipping your replacement hat. If your warranty claim is approved, you will receive via email additional details and an invoice for payment of the shipping charge. Please review this invoice carefully prior to payment, as we cannot make changes to the order once the invoice is paid.
We are only able to process warranty claims for customers in the United Kingdom. Please note that incomplete submissions will not be considered. Warranties are issued for the exact style, size, and color of the defective hat or other accessory. If the original item is no longer offered by Sunday Afternoons, you may be provided with an alternative that most closely matches the defective item. Sunday Afternoons reserves the right to deny warranty claims.
Claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis. At the discretion of Sunday Afternoons, a similar alternative style may be offered, if the product submitted for consideration has been discontinued or is no longer available
Please note, submission does not guarantee approval, and incomplete submissions will not be considered. Sunday Afternoons reserves the right to determine if an item qualifies for replacement under our Lifetime Guarantee.
We’ll replace any hat or accessory with a qualifying manufacturing defect under our Lifetime Guarantee. This Guarantee does not cover normal wear and tear, the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use, stains, grommet patina, shrinking, fading, fraying, lost pieces, and product failures as a result of misuse or improper care. If you believe your product has a defect, we are happy to take a look.
Please note that incomplete submissions will not be considered. Approved Lifetime Guarantee claims include a standard shipping charge and are not eligible for return/refund or exchange. Sunday Afternoons reserves the right to deny Lifetime Guarantee claims.
Lifetime Guarantee claims are issued for the exact style, size, and color of the defective hat or other accessory. If the original item is no longer offered by Sunday Afternoons, you may be provided with an alternative that most closely matches the defective item.
Yes. To submit a Lifetime Guarantee claim, please make sure you still have the hat, as Sunday Afternoons may ask to review the hat further. You will also need to provide photos of the defect and the underside and outside of the hat.
Sunday Afternoons will consider claim submissions for purchases made through an authorised third-party retailer, as long as the submission meets the requirements for Lifetime Guarantee returns, and you are able to provide the requested information via the Lifetime Guarantee Form. Please contact us via email at sales@sundayafternoons.co.uk if the online form is unavailable.
On occasion you may be required to send a defective item back to Sunday Afternoons for further review.
All materials and workmanship are covered by our Lifetime Guarantee. At our discretion, Sunday Afternoons will replace any hat or accessory with a qualifying manufacturing defect. Lifetime Guarantee claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis for exact replacement. At the discretion of Sunday Afternoons, an alternative style may be offered if the product submitted for consideration has been discontinued or is no longer available.
This Guarantee does not cover normal wear and tear, the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use, stains, grommet patina, shrinking, fading, fraying, lost pieces, and product failures as a result of misuse or improper care.
Sunday Afternoons does not provide a monetary refund for claims. Claims are reviewed on a case-by-case basis for exact replacement and do not include a monetary refund.
Processing times may vary due to increased volumes in peak seasons and are dependent on required information from the customer. If additional information is needed to make a decision, a Customer Loyalty representative will reach out to you within 14 business days. If you do not reply within 5 business days, your claim submission may be denied. In the event your exact style of hat is no longer available or out of stock, an alternative style may be offered at the discretion of Sunday Afternoons.
Approved Lifetime Guarantee claims will not be shipped until all requirements are met by the customer, including payment of the £3.50 shipping fee, which will be emailed to you in invoice form upon approval.
We stand behind our hats for as long as you stand under them. Materials and workmanship are guaranteed for life.
Our Lifetime Guarantee does not cover normal wear and tear, the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended time and use, stains, grommet patina, shrinking, fading, fraying, lost pieces, and product failures as a result of misuse or improper care. We’ll replace any hat or accessory with a qualifying manufacturing defect under our Lifetime Guarantee.
If you believe your product has a defect, we are happy to help. Please email our Customer Loyalty Team at sales@sundayafternoons.co.uk with the following information:
- Style name, size, and colour
- Photos that illustrate the potential problem
- Approximate time and place of purchase
- PO number from internal tag (the five-digit number beginning with 3)
- First/last name, preferred mailing address, and phone number
Once the above information is received, we can begin to process your claim. Warranty claims can take 2-3 weeks for processing. We will notify you once the claim is complete. All approved warranty claims will include a £3.50 standard shipping charge. If approved, you will receive via email additional details and an invoice for payment of the shipping charge. Please review this invoice carefully prior to payment, as we cannot make changes to the order once the invoice is paid.
We are only able to process warranty claims for customers in the United Kingdom. Please note that incomplete submissions will not be considered. Warranties are issued for the exact style, size, and color of the defective hat or other accessory. If the original item is no longer offered by Sunday Afternoons, you may be provided with an alternative that most closely matches the defective item. Sunday Afternoons reserves the right to deny warranty claims.