India's First Sunscreen Jacket Blocks 98% of UV Rays

Anyone who has watched sunscreen sweat off during an Indian summer knows the feeling of defeat. Blue Tyga thought there had to be a better way.

The Bangalore-based startup launched India's first sunscreen jacket in 2023, bringing lab-tested UV protection to everyday wear. The jacket blocks up to 98% of harmful UVA and UVB rays with UPF 50+ certified fabric, covering what lotions often miss: necks, arms, and shoulders.

Founders Nihal T.C. and his team spotted a gap most clothing brands ignored. Indian summers demand protection, but most everyday wear isn't designed for extreme heat and sun exposure. Their answer was SunGuard technology, a fabric that integrates UV blocking with cooling and moisture management.

The real test wasn't creating protection. It was making something protective enough to work but comfortable enough that people actually wear it. Blue Tyga built four variants, from everyday commuter wear to peak summer options with cool-touch fabric, each independently certified by global testing firm Intertek.

What started as curiosity became habit. First-time wearers tried it once, wore it again because it worked, and by the third wear had ditched their old routine of scarves and constant sunscreen reapplication. College students, delivery riders, bikers, and working professionals now treat it like a helmet or water bottle: non-negotiable before heading outside.

The audience told Blue Tyga they were onto something bigger than a product. They were creating a category. Being first gave them a three-year head start built on something hard to copy: certified testing, documented proof, and earned consumer trust.

The Ripple Effect

Blue Tyga's timing matches a wider shift in how urban Indians think about sun protection. Physical barriers are gaining ground over chemical solutions, especially for people spending hours outdoors. What sunscreen does for faces, wearable protection now does for everything else.

The brand recently partnered with fitness enthusiast Milind Soman, who backs the product from personal use. They're expanding beyond digital into retail outlets in Bangalore and Pune, plus kiosk formats in high-traffic areas. Auto branding across Bangalore's busiest corridors is raising awareness about UV damage and everyday protection needs.

The vision reaches beyond summer jackets. Blue Tyga is developing functional workwear and travel wear using advanced textiles, targeting Rs 150 crore in revenue while investing heavily in research and development. But the sunscreen jacket remains ground zero, the product that proved wearable tech could solve daily discomfort.

As summer heat arrives across India, the pitch is simple: you already protect your face, so why not protect the rest?