Azad Maidan on a weekend. In by 9 am, out by 7 pm. Ten hours of open ground, and no hiding from the Mumbai sun. By the end of it, you were running on fumes and roadside sugarcane juice because nothing else came close to fixing the exhaustion you felt. All you could think of was a cold shower and your bed. You'd catch yourself in a mirror later, salt crusts where the sweat had dried, a sharp line where your cap sat, and skin that had gone a shade darker. Charred, basically. You wore it like a badge of honor.
Nobody talked about UV protection. Nobody talked about layers. You were a kid, it was summer, and the sun was just the sun.
Bandstand Didn't Help Either
College traded the municipal ground for the seafront. Bandstand, mostly. Cigarettes and the cool sea breeze fool you about how tired you actually were.
The sun was the same. You just had a better view while it got you.
One smoke turned into five, and time became a fleeting concept the same way they had at Azad Maidan — without warning, without consequence that you noticed at the time. The crowd changed, the location changed. The relationship with the heat stayed exactly the same.
The Chaiwala, The Platform, The Meeting That Ran Long
Then came the office.
Different kinds of outdoor spaces replaced the grounds and the seafront. Impromptu meetings at the chaiwala downstairs because the conference room was taken. Long waits on the platform when the train was running late, which it always was. The walk between buildings that somehow always happened at noon. A client visit that spilled outside. A lunch that started indoors and didn't stay that way.
Nobody plans to spend that much time in the sun on a workday. It just seems to pivot that way. And Mumbai heat doesn't forgive you just because you’ve become friends. No, it quietly smacks you around till you feel the tiredness in your bones and the burn on your skin.
I didn't have a word for it for a long time. Turns out the word is exposure.
The Jacket I Thought Was a Raincoat
A colleague showed up to an outdoor meeting one afternoon in what I assumed was a light raincoat. It wasn't the rainy season, so I asked him about his insane choice of clothing.
He went on to give me an education about UV protection. How it stacks up across commutes and long days outside, quietly, chipping away at your skin. He then showed me the XYXX Anti Tan Jacket. UPF 50+, certified, he said. Blocks UV without adding heat to your body, he exclaimed!
I borrowed it once. I understood immediately why he had been wearing it with a pep in his step.
The sun protection jacket hasn't left my bag since.
The Upgrade You Didn't Know You Needed
Everything else about how you dress has evolved since Azad Maidan. The shoes, the fit, the fabric. The way you think about what works for your day.
The approach to summer was the last thing to catch up.
If you play sport, if you commute, if your day pulls you outside more than you planned — the exposure is there. It's been there since you were a kid on a municipal ground, wondering why the sugarcane juice wasn't working fast enough. The difference, if you’re like me, is that now you know what to do about it.
The XYXX Anti Tan Jacket is the essential addition to your summer wardrobe. It’s extremely light and quick-drying. I can feel the difference ever since i started wearing this daily. I feel fresher after a long commute, and my body feels less tired as it has much-needed protection from the constant barrage of the sun. [Text Wrapping Break][Text Wrapping Break] My colleague figured out how to effectively beat the summer heat before I did. I'm now passing it on.
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FAQs
Can I wear the XYXX Anti Tan Jacket in peak summer without overheating?
Yes. The jacket uses quick-dry polyester that doesn't trap heat, and the relaxed fit means air moves. It's designed for outdoor use in warm conditions.
What does UPF 50+ actually mean?
UPF 50+ means the fabric blocks over 98% of UV radiation. A regular fabric t-shirt typically offers far less protection. The difference over a full day outdoors is significant.
Is this only for sports and fitness use?
No. The jacket works equally well for commutes, outdoor work, or any day that keeps you outside for extended hours. The pouch makes it easy to carry when you don't need it.
How packable is the anti-tan jacket?
]It folds into a detachable pouch small enough for a bag or a large pocket. You won't notice the weight.
Does it work for long rides and outdoor travel?
Yes — lightweight, wind-blocking, quick-dry. Built for exactly that kind of use.
