Solumbra
Solumbra, operated by Sun Precautions, Inc., is a Seattle-based DTC brand that designs and manufactures patented 100+ SPF sun-protective clothing and hats for medically sun-sensitive individuals, outdoor athletes, and sun-conscious consumers across the U.S. and Canada.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Solumbra does
Solumbra is the flagship brand of Sun Precautions, Inc., a privately held U.S. corporation founded in 1992 by melanoma survivor Shaun Hughes and headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company designs, manufactures, and sells sun-protective clothing and accessories rated at 100+ SPF, relying on a patented textile technology (U.S. Patent 5503917) in which UV protection is mechanically engineered into the fabric rather than applied as a chemical coating. The fabric family includes Solumbra I (lightweight non-stretch woven), Solumbra IV (4-way stretch), WaterShade (water-active stretch), and Canvas (impervious cotton duck), with proprietary ventilation features including the Ultra Ventilation System (UVS). Solumbra was reviewed under FDA medical regulations in 1992 (510(k) K920240) and is classified as a sun-protective medical device, a positioning reinforced by the 1997 American Academy of Dermatology Gold Triangle Award and ongoing dermatologist recommendation flow.
The product portfolio spans tops (safari shirts, polos, athletic and full-zip shirts, jackets), bottoms (pants, leggings), swimwear (WaterShade full-zip shirts), and headwear (wide-brim, bucket, cloche, and rolled-brim hats) for women, men, and children, with adjacent accessories including gloves, scarves, face masks, parasols, and sunscreens. Pricing is positioned in the premium apparel range, with garments typically retailing between approximately $100 and $140 per unit.
The business operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market model with no third-party wholesale or distributor partnerships. Sales channels consist of the company's e-commerce website (sunprecautions.com), a printed catalog distributed by mail, phone orders (1-800-882-7860), and one retail store in Seattle. Approximately 99% of products are sewn in the company's Seattle factory, with only parasols, Panama straw hats, and gloves imported. The customer base is fragmented across individual consumers — medically sun-sensitive individuals, outdoor athletes, and sun-conscious general consumers in the U.S. and Canada — with no enterprise or institutional concentration. Marketing relies primarily on earned media (The New York Times, Time Magazine, Travel + Leisure) and catalog/email/social (Facebook, Pinterest) channels rather than paid acquisition.
Solumbra firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solumbra
- Legal name
- Sun Precautions, Inc.
- Website
- https://sunprecautions.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Solumbra, operated by Sun Precautions, Inc., is a Seattle-based DTC brand that designs and manufactures patented 100+ SPF sun-protective clothing and hats for medically sun-sensitive individuals, outdoor athletes, and sun-conscious consumers across the U.S. and Canada.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solumbra industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sun-Protective Apparel
- NAICS
- Apparel Manufacturing (315), Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Women's, Misses', And Juniors Outerwear (2330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fire-Resistant (FR) & Arc-Rated Apparel (CRAAALAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI), Gloves & Mittens (CRAAAJAG), Sunscreen (Body) (CRABAHAB)
Keywords
Where Solumbra is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solumbra business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: Solumbra generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of sun-protective clothing and accessories. Products are sold via e-commerce website, printed catalog, phone orders, and one retail store. This is a one-time purchase model with no subscription component.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Women's Supreme Shade Hat - $99.95 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Women's WaterShade Full Zip Swim Shirt - Prints $129.95, Solids $124.95 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Safari Shirt - $114.95 (solids), $124.95 (prints) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ultra Athlete Full Zip Shirt - $139.95 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Men's Button Down Shirt - $109.95 (solids), $119.95 (prints) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Men's Button Down Shirt Sale - $109.95 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ultra Athlete Pants - $109.95 |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Shipping |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Solumbra product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solumbra designs, manufactures, and sells 100+ SPF sun-protective clothing and accessories for women, men, and children. The product line includes shirts, pants, swimwear, jackets, and hats built around patented Solumbra fabric that mechanically incorporates UV protection into the textile. The company sells exclusively direct-to-consumer through its e-commerce website, printed catalog, phone orders, and one Seattle retail store, with 99% of products sewn in its own Seattle factory.
Product overview
Solumbra is a sun-protective clothing brand by Sun Precautions, Inc. offering a comprehensive line of 100+ SPF-rated apparel and accessories for women, men, and children. The core offering consists of patented Solumbra fabric (and Solumbra I, Solumbra IV variants including stretch fabrics) mechanically engineered into garments that block more than 98% of UVA and UVB rays, lasting through 500+ laundry cycles. The portfolio includes tops (safari shirts, polos, athletic shirts, full-zip jackets), bottoms (cargo pants, tailored pants, active pants), swimwear (water shirts, skirted leggings), and headwear (wide-brim hats, shade caps, bucket hats, rolled brim hats). Key fabric technologies include Solumbra I (lightweight woven), Solumbra IV (4-way stretch), WaterShade (for swim), and proprietary Ultra Ventilation System® (UVS®) for active cooling. All products are designed and manufactured in Seattle, USA, with some items (parasols, gloves, straw hats) imported.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 100+ SPF maintained after 500 launderings and 500 simulated days of sun exposure (vs 40 cycles industry standard)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Solumbra
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Solumbra technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Solumbra partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Solumbra competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- REI Co-op: REI is a major outdoor retailer that sells sun-protective apparel from multiple brands and could be a future wholesale channel for Solumbra's hiking, running, and cycling SKUs. It is adjacent rather than a direct competitor today.
Broad incumbents
- Coola: Coola is a premium sun-care and skincare brand offering SPF sunscreens and a small apparel line. It competes with Solumbra on the dermatology-adjacent, sun-conscious consumer but is centered on SPF cosmetics rather than protective clothing.
- SunBum: SunBum is a broader sun-care brand (primarily sunscreen) that has expanded into apparel and accessories. It targets the same sun-conscious consumer as Solumbra but competes predominantly through sunscreen and lifestyle branding rather than protective apparel.
- Patagonia: Patagonia is a large outdoor apparel brand with extensive UPF-rated product lines. It does not specialize in sun-protective clothing but competes for the outdoor and endurance buyer that Solumbra targets with its UVS and Safari lines.
- Athleta: Athleta (a Gap Inc. brand) offers UPF-rated activewear and swimwear for women. It competes for the same end-customer as Solumbra's WaterShade and Bodyshade activewear lines, with a much broader women's apparel assortment.
Direct peers
- Cabana Life: Cabana Life is a UPF 50+ sun-protective lifestyle apparel and swimwear brand for women and children, with similar dermatology-channel positioning and a comparable product mix to Solumbra.
- Coolibar: Coolibar is the most direct competitor to Solumbra, offering UPF 50+ sun-protective clothing and hats across women's, men's, and kids' categories. Both brands target medical and outdoor use cases and compete on durability of UV protection and dermatologist endorsement.
- Mott50: Mott50 is a sun-protective clothing brand focused on women's fashion-forward UPF 50+ apparel and swimwear. It competes head-to-head with Solumbra WaterShade and women's cover-ups on the same medically-aware, sun-sensitive consumer.
- Sun Precautions (Solumbra): Listed as the anchor itself; the corporate parent operates the Solumbra brand across the same category.
- BloqUV: BloqUV produces UPF 50+ sun-protective apparel for athletes, golfers, and outdoor enthusiasts, directly overlapping with Solumbra's Ultra Athlete and safari shirt lines on the active sun-protection buyer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solumbra social profiles
Digital presenceSolumbra compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Solumbra financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solumbra leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Solumbra funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solumbra M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solumbra
What does Solumbra do?
Solumbra designs, manufactures, and sells 100+ SPF sun-protective clothing and accessories for women, men, and children. The product line includes shirts, pants, swimwear, jackets, and hats built around patented Solumbra fabric that mechanically incorporates UV protection into the textile. The company sells exclusively direct-to-consumer through its e-commerce website, printed catalog, phone orders, and one Seattle retail store, with 99% of products sewn in its own Seattle factory.
Is Solumbra a public or private company?
Solumbra is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Solumbra founded?
Solumbra was founded in 1992. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solumbra based?
Solumbra is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does Solumbra make money?
One revenue line is on record: direct Product Sales.
Who are Solumbra's main competitors?
REI Co-op is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Coola, SunBum, Patagonia and Athleta. Direct peers are Cabana Life, Coolibar, Mott50, Sun Precautions (Solumbra) and BloqUV.
Does Solumbra have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solumbra.
What industry is Solumbra in?
Solumbra's product category is Sun-Protective Apparel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAALAD, Fire-Resistant (FR) & Arc-Rated Apparel, with a secondary code of CRAAAAAI, Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers. Its NAICS code is 315 and its SIC code is 2300.