WO2008129278A2

WO2008129278A2 - Uv-transparent fabric or garment, their method of manufacture and its use in combating vitamin d deficiency

Info

Publication number: WO2008129278A2
Application number: PCT/GB2008/001384
Authority: WO
Inventors: William Lanham-New
Original assignee: D3Tex Limited
Priority date: 2007-04-18
Filing date: 2008-04-18
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Also published as: GB2461488A; GB2461488B; GB0920184D0; GB0707472D0; WO2008129278A3

Abstract

A garment comprising UV-transparent material is described for use in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency. The garment may be suitable to be worn as a part of traditional Muslim clothing, for example as a part of the hijab. The wearing of such a garment may reduce the risk of Vitamin D deficiency in veiled Muslim women.

Description

COMBATING VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY

This disclosure is concerned with combating Vitamin D deficiency. Aspects of the present invention relate to the treatment of Vitamin D deficiency and/or the prevention of Vitamin D deficiency. Aspects of the invention find particular application in relation to the Vitamin D requirements of humans.

Vitamin D is known to be essential for optimum human health, in particular skeletal and cellular health. For example, it is well known that Vitamin D is required to ensure that the body absorbs and retains calcium, which is required for the building and maintenance of healthy strong bones. Vitamin D is also involved in the regulation of insulin production which is important for the prevention of diabetes. Vitamin D deficiency is known to lead to ill health and disease, for example the development of rickets and osteomalacia.

Vitamin D is a very unusual nutrient in comparison to other vitamins and minerals in that the major natural source of Vitamin D for humans is not through diet but instead the exposure of the skin to sunlight.. Some foodstuffs, such as all margarines and some breakfast cereals, are commonly fortified with Vitamin D , but for most people, the natural formation of Vitamin D in the body in response to sunlight exposure remains their major source of Vitamin D uptake and hence creation. It is known that UVB exposure on the skin produces Vitamin D. In the United Kingdom, during winter months, the low zenith angle of the sun and shortened hours of daylight are not generally thought to provide sufficient UV exposure for the creation of Vitamin D. However, averaged over a year, even in Northern latitudes, average exposure to sunlight is considered to be normally sufficient for the average person's needs for Vitamin D. In contrast, in Victorian Britain, before the days of adding supplements to foodstuffs, the combination of relatively high latitude, long factory working hours (even for children) and sunlight-obscuring industrial pollution meant that Vitamin D deficiency (commonly manifested as rickets), was significantly more widespread than today.

Nowadays, Vitamin D deficiency is largely confined to one segment of the population in the United Kingdom, namely the Muslim population and in particular girls and women.

In the Middle East and other countries, with a significant Muslim population, the problem is more widespread, even though such countries usually enjoy generous amounts of sunlight. The problem arises from religious and cultural customs that result in women wearing clothing which covers a significant portion of their skin, and in some cases, to virtually completely cover their bodies (including their faces and/or hands) when outside the family home. As a result, their skin may not receive sufficient incidental sunlight for adequate natural creation of Vitamin D.

It is thought that this cultural dress style of the Muslim population can result in severe Vitamin D deficiency. There is consensus that the cut-off value for classical Vitamin D deficiency is a blood 25OHD (25-hydroxyvitamin D) level of below 12 ng/ml; documented Vitamin D levels in some Muslim women living in the Middle East show values to be as low as 2ng/ml, with a median of 8.9ng/ml (Khan JA, Khoja SO. Vitamin D and Bone Health in Middle Eastern women. Nutritional Aspects of Bone Health, Eds Lanham-New SA and Bonjour JP. Chapter 24 pp 527-544 (2003) Royal Society of Chemistry Cambridge). To avoid Vitamin D deficiency, they may need a lifetime of Vitamin D supplements or Vitamin D food fortification to avoid deficiency. As a result, whether through lack of knowledge, lack of access to modern medical facilities, lack of availability of vitamin D fortified foods, poor compliance to vitamin D supplements or a combination of all four, Vitamin D deficiency is common.

Aspects of the present invention seek to solve or at least mitigate one or more of these or other problems. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a garment comprising UV- transparent material for use in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency - thereby combating Vitamin D Deficiency.

By providing a complete garment that is UV-transparent or having a UV-transparent portion, in some examples of the invention, it is possible for traditional Muslim clothing to be provided which allows for the penetration of sufficient UV radiation for the wearer to produce Vitamin D, thus reducing the risk of severe deficiency.

Preferably a material is to be considered UV-transparent if it allows penetration of at least a proportion of UV-radiation in sunlight. Preferably the UV radiation which penetrates includes UVB radiation, and preferably includes radiation having a wavelength of between 280 and 315 nm.

Preferably the material transmits at least 20%, preferably at least 50% or at least 70% of the UV radiation, preferably in a particular wavelength range, preferably between 280 and 315nm, which is the particular wavelength range of UVB. The actual preferred transmitting properties of the material will depend on, for example, the type of garment, the expected duration of exposure to sunlight (and risk of sunburn) as well as risk factors of the wearer of the garment to Vitamin D deficiency.

Preferably the garment or portion of the garment including the UV-transparent material allows for penetration of at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, or at least 50% of at least a part of the incident UV radiation of sunlight through the garment to the skin of a wearer, preferably allowing penetration of that percentage of the incident UVB radiation of sunlight.

The material may be adapted to transmit at least 30%, at least 40%, or at least 50% of the UV radiation in a particular wavelength range, preferably the UVB wavelength range.

Where reference is made to tan-through fabric, preferably the reference is to fabric which allows the penetration of more sunlight than non-tan-through fabric and which allows the wearer's skin beneath a layer of the tan-through fabric to tan. In some cases, the tanning of the skin beneath the tan-through fabric is substantially the same (at least to a visual inspection) as the tanning of exposed skin.

A broad aspect of the invention provides a garment comprising a radiation-transparent material, preferably for the prevention and/or treatment of Vitamin D deficiency, preferably in humans.

In examples described, the material is a "Tan-through" fabric. A further aspect of the invention provides a garment comprising tan-through material properties for use in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency. Preferably the UV transparent fabric has a SPF of less than about 20, preferably less than about 15, preferably about 10.

In some examples, it will be advantageous for a relatively low proportion of the incident radiation to penetrate the garment. The material may transmit less than 80%, less than 70% or less than 60% of the UV radiation in a particular wavelength range. In some arrangements, it will be advantageous for the fabric to provide at least some sun screening properties to reduce the risk of the skin of the wearer adjacent the UV- transparent material becoming sunburnt during prolonged exposure to sunlight. Preferably the UV-transparent portion has an SPF of at least 6, preferably about 10.

A portion of the garment may be UV-transparent. In some arrangements, the whole garment may comprise UV-transparent material, but in many examples, less than all of the garment will comprise UV-transparent material, and/or less than all of the garment will be UV transparent due to the structure of the garment and/or the addition of further components or fabric layers.

The area of the portion of the garment which is UV-transparent may, for example, comprise between about 3% and about 10% of the total area of the garment. However, this proportion will be chosen depending on several factors, including the nature of the garment, the expected level of exposure to sunlight and other factors.

Preferably the area of the garment is measured based on the area of the wearer's skin covered by the garment and the garment or garments to be worn by the user are designed so that a portion of the area of the wearer's skin is adjacent UV-transparent material. It is understood that not all of the skin need be exposed to UV radiation for sufficient Vitamin D production to be effective. For example, exposure of about 5% of the total body area (comprising the face and back of hands) may be adequate in some climates.

The size of the UV-transparent area or areas of the garment or garments may be arranged such that the UV-transparent area covers between about 3% and 10%, for example about 5% of the area of the skin of a wearer of the garment. Five percent (5%) of the wearer's skin area is approximately equivalent to the area of the face and the back of the hands

The garment may be a full-body garment, or a smaller garment or part of a garment. The garment may be adapted to cover at least a part of the head of a wearer or all of the head of a wearer.

The garment may comprise a set of individual garment elements. Where reference is made herein to a garment, the garment may comprise a part of element of a garment.

Where reference is made to the UV transparency or other feature, preferably the feature also applies to any of the garment, a part of the garment or to the material, as appropriate. Preferably the garment is one which is for concealing a part of the body, in particular in relation to a particular practice, for example a religious practice. The garment may be adapted to cover one or more of the head, forehead, face, neck, eyes, hands, and feet.

The garment may be adapted to cover the hair, ears, neck and/or part or all of the face of the wearer. For example, the garment may comprise a veil, scarf, cap or band. The garment may be adapted to cover a part or all of a hand or foot of the wearer.

In particular, examples of the invention described herein, the garment comprises an item of traditional Muslim clothing. Preferably the term traditional Muslim clothing will be understood to include clothing worn to cover one or more parts of the body in accordance with Muslim tradition, for example in accordance with religious practice. Preferably the garment is used to conceal a part of the body, in particular a part of the face or head.

An aspect of the invention provides a garment of traditional Muslim clothing comprising UV-transparent material. In some examples the garment comprises an item of hijab clothing of Muslim women. Preferable where reference is made herein to hijab, it refers to the modest dress of Muslim women, for example, in accordance with one or more Muslim practices. Where appropriate, the term hijab may include a headscarf, for example the khimar. The headscarf may comprise a square of fabric folded into a triangle then placed over the head and fastened under the chin.

Preferably the term traditional Muslim when applied to clothing or a garment includes a garment of concealing, for example of the head, face, neck, hands, arms and/or feet which is to be worn by a Muslim.

Traditional Muslim wear is a part of the Islamic culture and religion. Islamic culture and religion is associated with particular clothing styles. Modesty in fashion is usually a dominant characteristic of traditional Muslim wear, especially for women. Preferably the term traditional Muslim wear, clothing, or garment includes at least the following:

NAME OF DETAILS

CLOTHING

Hijab Modest covering of a Muslim woman. Loose fitting clothing of body with a square /round piece of cloth covering the head, neck and chest not face and hands. Shayla Like a shawl worn on the chest Shawl As Shayla

One piece Covers head and forehead

Religious Veil

Two piece Covers head, forehead and face only eyes visible

Religious Veil

Underscarf Tight skull cap garment

Turban Cap Head cap made with long piece of cloth in a form of turban

Amira Headband Tube of material that covers head. Not face. Commonly used by air hostesses on Gulf Carriers

Wrap Open long cloth to wrap around the body

Abaya Full length loose coat/ dress

Burqa (Chador) Chador is one piece long full warp around body and burqa is 2 pieces, head cover and full length coat

Niqab Full hood covering head, face and shoulders only eyes open

The garment of aspects of the present invention may include one or more of those items or elements of these items or similar or like items or elements of other religious or cultural practices. An aspect of the invention provides a garment of concealment comprising UV- transparent material.

The garment may be concealing in accordance with a particular practice, for example , a cultural and/or religious practice, or other reason.

In preferred examples, the garment is suitable for wear by a woman wearing traditional Muslim wear, for example a hijab. The garment may be an item of clothing suitable for wear by a Muslim woman, for example a part or all of a Hijab, Niqab, Burka, Shayla, or Al-Amira garment or any other traditional, adapted, modernised, variation of traditional female Muslim wear where the application is appropriate.

Thus, in preferred examples of the invention, the garment comprises headwear for example for a woman wearing traditional Muslim clothing, for example hijab.

Although aspects of the invention find particular application in relation to Muslim women, aspects of the invention are also relevant to other groups. For example, Vitamin D production in the skin can be severely affected by the ageing process and hence Vitamin D deficiency is a common problem in elderly men and women. The reason for this is two fold: (i) 7-d hydrocholesterol production in the skin is inhibited in older skin and hence the conversion of Vitamin D from UVB exposure is affected; (ii) elderly people tend to go outside, even on a sunny warm day with clothing covering a large proportion of their skin. Thus features described herein would be of use and relevance to the use of UV-transparent or tan-through material in garments for the elderly. Such garments would help increase Vitamin D production in the elderly.

Other people may have, for a variety of reasons, a higher risk of Vitamin D deficiency, and for such people garments including UV-transparent and/or tan-through material would be of benefit.

In a further example for a non-Muslim group of people, there is evidence of Vitamin D deficiency of Nuns, due to a substantial covering up of the skin in accordance with their religious practices. The provision of suitable garments, in accordance with the requirements of the particular religious practices, and including material or regions which were UV-transparent and/or tan-through, would benefit such people.

Preferably the UV-transparent material is substantially non-see-through. Preferably the garment is substantially non-see-through. In particular where the garment is to be worn by Muslim women, the garment should preferably appear opaque. Preferably the garment appears opaque when it is loosely fitted to the wearer. In other arrangements, where the garment comprises a section which is more tight fitting, such as a cap or band, other material might be used for example which appears see-through when loosely fitted but opaque when tightly fitted to the body (for example some mesh-like fabrics such as material described in GB2268513 and available from Solar Fashion GmbH & Co KG).

In some examples, the UV-transparent material is of plain colour. This is a requirement so that the garment complies with, for example, particular religious practices. However, for other garments, patterns and/or less sombre colours may be used, as appropriate. Such patterns may have an additional benefit of providing additional apparent opacity of the garment.

Preferably the UV-transparent material comprises a UV-transparent fabric.

Where reference is made to a fabric, the fabric may comprise a woven or non-woven material, as appropriate.

The invention also provides a UV-transparent fabric for use in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency.

The fabric may have one or more of the features of the material indicated above. In some arrangements, it is preferred for the material not to comprise elastic material as would make the garment figure-hugging. A loosely-fitted garment is preferred in some arrangements. Preferably a cotton-like material is used.

Preferably, but not limited to, the fabric comprises Microsol or MicrosolV tan-through fabric available from Coolware Co, Inc., CA USA.

The Microsol material is understood to be UV transparent due to the plurality of pores or holes in the fabric structure which leads to the material allowing penetration of between about 50% and 70% of incident UV radiation.

Alternatively or in addition, other materials, for example other tan-through materials might be used. An example is the material described in GB2268513 of Solar Fabrics GmbH & Co KG. This material comprises a mesh structure, and it is thought that in some cases it will be more suitable for garment portions to be worn tight next to skin, for example a cap or band as it is thought that is can be too see-through if in the form of a loose garment. The garment may further comprise additional layers or components, for example the inclusion of "modesty" panels in the garment to increase opacity in certain areas.

The invention also provides use of a UV-transparent material in the manufacture of a garment for the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency.

Where reference is made to UV-transparent, preferably the reference is alternatively or in addition to a "tan-through" fabric or material. Generally where a tan is obtained, there will be Vitamin D production in the person. However, not every wearer will desire, or require, tanning of the skin for the desired Vitamin D production.

The invention also provides use of a UV-transparent material in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency, and also provides use of a UV-transparent material in the manufacture of a garment to be worn as part of traditional Muslim clothing, for example, hijab clothing

The invention provides a hijab headwear garment for the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency, the garment comprising a UV-transparent or tan-through fabric, and provides a hijab garment comprising UV-transparent material. The garment may include one or more of the further features described herein, in any appropriate combination. Where reference is made to a hijab garment, preferably it is to be interpreted as being a reference to a garment of traditional Muslim dress and/or a garment for concealing for example the head, face, hands and/or feet of a person, in particular a Muslim woman.

The invention also provides UV-transparent material for a hijab garment, the material being substantially non-see-through and of a plain , sober (dark) colour. However, as discussed above, the garment may, in some examples where appropriate, comprise light or multi colour or be, patterned

The material may be substantially non-stretch.

The invention also provides a method for combating Vitamin D deficiency in people for whom religion or culture requires concealment of their body comprises providing them with a close fitting garment for at least one of their faces, head, neck or extremities of one or more of their limbs, the garment being formed from a tan-through textile material.

Also provided by the invention is a close fitting garment for a limb extremity, the garment being formed from a tan-through textile material.

A solution to the problem of Vitamin D deficiency, as proposed by aspects of the present disclosure, comes from a surprising direction, namely the desire among fair- skinned people who do not follow a religious code or custom which encourages covering of the skin and who wish for an all-over tan in the belief that this is a sign of affluence and of health and well-being In general, tanning will only occur when the skin is exposed to sunlight. Those parts of the body covered by clothing (for example a bikini) will not normally become tanned. Some may be prepared to go top-less, but for others, wearing a swimsuit and wishing to nevertheless acquire a similar sun tan to someone prepared to go topless, a range of fabrics and of clothing made from them have been developed that allow the tanning rays in sunlight to pass through the clothing and cause tanning even on parts of the body that remain covered in the sun.

Where there is sufficient penetration of rays from the sun to cause tanning, there is generally sufficient exposure of the skin for natural creation of Vitamin D, Tan-through clothing will usually have a more open weave than conventional clothing, and some designs of tan-through fabric must be worn close to the body to avoid being at least partially see-through especially when the wearer stands between a viewer and the sun. Since in some cases the whole point for some Muslim women wearing clothing that virtually completely covers them is to conceal their body outline and their face in the interest of modesty, their clothing is often sober in colour and will be loosely fitting rather than body-hugging. Additionally, because of the high ambient temperature in the Middle East, loose clothing is in any case to be preferred. As a result, it is thought that at least some of the materials used for existing known tan-through clothing could not be used for the usual loose fitting concealing clothing worn by Muslim women. Other fabrics currently used for tan-through garments, for example Microsol, may be appropriate for such clothing. The present Inventor has appreciated that for some Muslim women, the only parts of their bodies that will be covered by close-fitting garments are their faces, hands, head, neck and/or feet. All of these are regions of the body that someone seeking a tan would normally leave exposed.

Thus, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, a method for combating Vitamin D deficiency in people for whom religion or culture requires concealment of their body comprises providing them with a close fitting garment for at least one of their body parts, (ie face, head, neck or extremities of one or more of their limbs, the garment being formed from a tan-through textile material.

In a further aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided garment, which may be a close fitting garment for a limb extremity, the garment being formed from a UV- transparent and/or tan-through textile material. By a "close-fitting garment for a limb extremity" is preferably meant a glove or sock. A garment, for example a close fitting garment, for the face, head or neck may encompass garments of traditional Muslim design for concealing the head, face or neck. The garment may comprise a part or all of an item of traditional Muslim clothing. The garment may comprise an item of clothing used to conceal a part of the body in accordance with a religious practice. The garment may comprise other items of clothing. The garments are preferably of a dark sober shade, for some applications, but garments for other cases might be more colourful or patterned. In some cases, the style, pattern and/or colour of the garment will be dictated by a particular religious or other practice.

The invention also provides an article of headwear comprising UV-transparent material, and a garment for covering at least part of the head or face, the garment comprising UV-transparent material, and/or a garment for covering at least part of the foot, the garment comprising UV-transparent material.

The garment may include one or more of the items of traditional Muslim clothing described above. Preferably the UV-transparent material comprises tan-through material. The material may comprise Microsol or MicrosolV.

The invention also provides a garment and a method of treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency being substantially as herein described for example having reference to any one of the accompanying Figures. The invention extends to methods and/or apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Any feature in one aspect of the invention may be applied to other aspects of the invention, in any appropriate combination. In particular, method aspects may be applied to apparatus aspects, and vice versa. Preferred features of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates an example of a hijab headwear according to an example of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a second example of hijab headwear including a niqab; Figure 3 illustrates a part of a third example of hijab clothing comprising a Burka;

Figure 4 illustrates a fourth example of hijab clothing comprising the al-amira headwear;

Figure 5 illustrates a fifth example of hijab clothing comprising the shayla headwear;

Figure 6 is an enlarged section of printed material for a bathing costume as shown in Fig. 3 of GB 2268513;

Figure 7 is an illustration of principle showing schematically and on a highly enlarged scale closely spaced hexagonal mesh openings of a knitted fabric, corresponding to Fig. 4 of GB 2268513;

Figure 8 is a further illustration of principle showing an alternative pattern of mesh openings in a knitted fabric and corresponding to Fig. 5 of GB 2268513; and Figure 9 is an illustration of a loose knit hexagonal mesh fabric produced on a Raschel knitting machine as shown in Fig, 9 of GB 1244222.

Figure 1 illustrates the wearing of hijab clothing comprising a headscarf 1. It can be seen that the headscarf 1 covers the head and neck of the wearer. In this example, the whole headscarf comprises Microsol material in a chosen colour. The headscarf may comprise a square of fabric folded into a triangle then placed over the head and fastened under the chin.

The scarf 1 in use may allow about 50% to 70% of the incident UVB radiation from sunlight to penetrate through the scarf to the wearer's head, forehead and neck areas thereby contributing to Vitamin D production by the wearer.

In the example of Figure 2, the hijab clothing includes headwear comprising includes a veil or niqab 2 which covers the wearer's face apart from a slit 4 for the eyes, and also a headscarf 3. In this example, the veil 2 comprises Microsol in a black colour, and the scarf 3 comprises Microsol in a dark blue colour. As an alternative, only one of the veil 2 and the scarf 3 might comprise Microsol. The scarf 3 might include areas of different fabrics, for example with a Microsol panel being provided in the area of the scarf corresponding to the head region when the scarf is worn, with the remainder of the scarf 3 comprising a different fabric, for example standard cotton material. Figure 3 illustrates the Burka 5 which provides full coverage of the head and face area with only a mesh area 6 being provided for vision of the wearer. In this example, the material of the whole of the head face and neck region comprises Microsol material.

Figure 4 illustrates a further example of hijab clothing comprising the al-amira headwear which comprises a close fitting cap 7 worn with a tube-like scarf 8. The cap 7 and/or scarf 8 may comprise UV-transparent material, for example Microsol tan- through material.

Figure 5 illustrates a further example of hijab clothing comprising the shayla headwear. The shayla headscarf 9 covers the head, neck and shoulders of the wearer and some or all of the headscarf 9 may comprise UV-transparent material, for example Microsol tan-through material.

Determining Vitamin D production through a fabric material The effect of UV-transparent or tan-through fabric on the production of Vitamin D in skin (thought to be due mainly to the incidence of UVB on the skin) can be determined for example by monitoring the effect of incident radiation on a quartz tube containing 7- d hydrocholesterol (7-DHC) which will allow assessment of the amount of previtamin D3 synthesized. In an example test, four quartz tubes are provided containing the 7- DHC. The first tube is wrapped in a single layer of the UV-transparent or tan-though fabric to be assessed, the second is wrapped in white cotton, the third in polyester. The fourth tube is unwrapped.

The four prepared tubes are then subjected to direct sunlight for a period of about one hour and then the contents of the tubes are examined to identify the effect of the different fabrics on previtamin D3 synthesis. The previtamin D3 synthesis is measured high pressure liquid chromatography. These observations will provide a measure of the effect of the presence of the fabric on the synthesis of the previtamin D3. This in turn will give an assessment of the effect of the fabric in use on the skin of a wearer as to the effect on Vitamin D synthesis in the wearer.

The different materials will give a different effective percentage penetration of the UVB required for Vitamin D production and will allow for the three materials to be compared with the unwrapped sample (given to be 100% penetration and therefore 100% UV transparent). Effective UV transmission of fabrics

Tests can be carried out on fabrics to determine the UV transmission through the fabric and therefore the level of UV-transparency of the fabric. Simple tests involving positioning a light source including the wavelength range of interest to emit light towards the fabric to be tested. A suitable light sensor placed on the other side of the fabric from the source will measure how much of the radiation has been transmitted through the fabric and therefore the UV-transparency of the fabric can be determined. Such tests show that polyester fabric effectively prevents UVB transmission, with only about 2 to 8% of the incident effective radiation penetrating the fabric. Thus it is considered that all Vitamin D production in skin covered by polyester would be inhibited. For white cotton, the transmission of effective UVB radiation is about 20% and so little Vitamin D production would be expected for skin covered by such fabric. Microsol fabric has been measured to give more than 70% transmission, thus it is thought that such fabric allows both tanning and Vitamin D production to occur in the skin.

In pursuit of an all-over tan, bathing costumes constructed to allow penetration of sunlight to the skin have been available. GB 2268513 of Solar-Fashion GmbH & Co KG describes in detail material from which such bathing costumes may be formed, and illustrates in Fig. 3 thereof (reproduced as Fig, 6 of the present Application) a sample of material printed for use in a bathing costume. GB 2268513 calls for a knitted material to have a mesh of openings aligned in rows in at least three directions. Fig. 4 of GB 2268513 (reproduced as Fig. 7 of the present Application) shows one such possible mesh pattern based on hexagons that are not quite regular, but which has three directions of aligned openings. The mesh pattern of Fig. 5 of GB 2268513 (reproduced here as Fig. 8 of the present Application) shows an alternative mesh pattern that has four directions of aligned openings.

The openings are preferably of 0.5 mm or less across. With light coloured fabrics of the kind used for bathing costumes, and given that the garment will be worn in very bright sunlight and may get wet, to avoid the fabric being or becoming see-through, it is preferably tightly fitted to the body. The alignment of mesh openings defines preferred directions of stretch. The fabric may be knitted from materials that are elastic. Thus in one example, a fabric is knitted in a hexagonal mesh to have the appearance of present Fig. 6 using 73% nylon and 27% Lycra® elastane in thread counts of 40 denier and 280 denier respectively with a mass per unit area of 160 g/m².

The techniques to produce knitted materials with a mesh pattern are well known in themselves, albeit for a very different purpose, namely the knitting of fish-net stockings and tights, which, it will be appreciated, are very much looser and more open hi the resultant knit with larger mesh openings, the whole purpose being that they can be seen 5 through. Present Fig. 9 shows a typical knitting stitch pattern produced on a Raschel knitting machine for the manufacture of fish-net tights, corresponding to Fig.9 Of GB 1244222 of Titone.

It is thought that in some cases, such large mesh material may not be suitable for some items of clothing, for example for some items of traditional Muslim clothing, in particular where the material is to be worn loosely, as the resulting garment may be too see- through. Other fabrics, for example Microsol or MicrosolV may be more appropriate in such arrangements.

Bathing costumes produced according to the teaching of GB 2268513 of Solar-Fashion GmbH & Co KG have been widely sold under the SOLAR™ Trademark.

Tan-through bathing costumes are also available from Cooltan, Inc. of Single Springs, California, United States of America under the COOLTAN™ Trademark. Such garments have been shown to allow through about 65% of the ultra-violet rays of the sun. In other words, the garment effectively blocks around one-third of the incident ultra-violet radiation. The garments thus have an equivalent effect to a Factor 10 sunscreen. As is well known, this level of protection will still allow tanning. If tanning is produced, then so, generally, is Vitamin D.

To the best of Applicant's present knowledge, no-one has ever previously suggested making traditional Muslim garments for covering the head, face or neck or socks or gloves from tan-through material for the obvious reason that people looking to get a suntan would not generally consider to cover the head, face and neck or of wearing gloves or of wearing socks, and to the best of Applicant's knowledge no-one has ever previously suggested that people whose religion or culture requires that their bodies be concealed should wear gloves or socks or garments that cover their head, face or neck that are formed of tan-through material to counter Vitamin D deficiency, since for such people getting a sun tan may not be a matter of consideration. Traditional Muslim garments for covering the face, head or neck, socks and gloves manufactured according to the teachings of the present disclosure may be knitted in conventional fashion apart from the need to provide a mesh of through openings of a size sufficiently small that the garment is not see-through. Mesh openings of 0.5 mm or less have proved satisfactory for some garments. The garments should provide penetration for a significant proportion of ultraviolet radiation in sunlight, and preferably at least 50%.

The surface area of the face, head and neck, and of the hands and feet may be is sufficient, particularly in the Middle East, for sunlight incident on those parts of the body to create significant quantities of Vitamin D to help significantly in alleviating or preventing Vitamin D deficiency in people whose bodies are substantially concealed but who are wearing gloves and socks formed of the presently proposed material. For religious/cultural reasons, the face, head and neck concealing garments and the gloves or socks may be made of sober plain colours rather than of brightly printed fabrics of the kind employed for bathing costumes.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely byway of example, and modification of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Claims

Claims:

1. A garment comprising UV-transparent material for use in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency.

2. A garment according to claim 1 , wherein the material transmits at least 20% of the UV radiation in a particular wavelength range.

3. A garment according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the material transmits at least 30%, at least 40%, or at least 50% of the UV radiation in a particular wavelength range.

4. A garment according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the material transmits less than 80% of the UV radiation in a particular wavelength range.

5. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein a portion of the garment is UV-transparent.

6. A garment according to claim 5, wherein the area of the portion of the garment which is UV-transparent comprises between about 3% and about 10% of the total area of the garment.

7. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the size of the UV-transparent area of the garment is arranged such that the UV-transparent area covers between about 3% and 10% of the area of the skin of a wearer of the garment.

8. A garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the garment is adapted to cover at least a part of the head of a wearer.

9. A garment according to any preceding claim being suitable for wear by a woman wearing traditional Muslim clothing, for example hijab.

10. A garment according to any preceding claim wherein the UV-transparent material is substantially non see-through.

11. A garment according to any preceding claim wherein the UV-transparent material is of plain colour.

12. A garment according to any preceding claim wherein the UV-transparent material comprises a UV-transparent fabric.

13. A UV-transparent fabric for use in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency.

14. A garment or fabric according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the fabric comprises a cotton-like material.

15. A garment or fabric according to any of claims 12 to 14 wherein the fabric comprises Microsol or MicrosolV.

16. Use of a UV-transparent material in the manufacture of a garment for the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency.

17. Use of a UV-transparent material in the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency.

18. Use of a UV-transparent material in the manufacture of a garment to be worn as part of traditional Muslim clothing, for example a hijab garment.

19. A hijab headwear garment for the treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency, the garment comprising a UV-transparent or tan-through fabric.

20. A garment of traditional Muslim clothing comprising UV-transparent material.

21. A garment of concealment comprising UV-transparent material.

22. A hijab garment comprising UV-transparent material.

23. UV-transparent material for a hijab garment, the material being substantially non see-through and preferably of a plain colour.

24. A method for combating Vitamin D deficiency in people for whom religion or culture requires concealment of their body comprises providing them with a close fitting garment for at least one of their faces, head, neck or extremities of one or more of their limbs, the garment being formed from a tan-through textile material.

25. A close fitting garment for a limb extremity, the garment being formed from a tan- through textile material.

26. An article of headwear comprising UV-transparent material.

27. A garment for covering at least part of the head or face, the garment comprising UV-transparent material.

28. A garment for covering at least part of the foot, the garment comprising UV- transparent material.

29. An article or garment according to any of claims 25 to 28, wherein the UV- transparent material comprises tan-through material.

30. A garment being substantially as herein described for example having reference to any one of the accompanying Figures.

31. A method of treatment or prevention of Vitamin D deficiency being substantially as herein described preferably having reference to the accompanying Figures.