GANGA, the making of an anti-UV t-shirt that ticks all the boxes

When we had the idea for the GANGA, we roughly knew what we wanted: a t-shirt we would wear alone, in summer, on exposed trails, without having to think about reapplying sunscreen every two hours. A UV-protective baselayer designed to be the main piece, not a layer slipped under another. What seemed simple at first raised some real design questions. Here’s how it went.

We knew the supplier, we knew the fabric, we were inspired by our already developed models. It’s a solid foundation to move quickly and avoid unpleasant surprises along the way.

The connection with the TEETREK, our reference technical t-shirt, is direct: it’s the same fabric logic, but 35 grams per square meter lighter. That’s not a small detail. On a t-shirt worn all day hiking under the sun, this difference really shows.

The development of the GANGA was quick. Only one prototype, and it was already very close to what we were looking for. It’s not always like that.

Two reasons for this smoothness. First, the GANGA was largely inspired by the ROKA, our existing technical baselayer: same cut logic, same approach to the first layer, the basics were already well established. Then, working with a partner we've known for a while makes communication easier: we don't have to explain everything from scratch at each iteration.

The adjustments focused on one point only: the hood. It was too wide compared to what we had imagined. We wanted it to fit well, to be sufficiently covering to protect the neck and top of the head, but still compatible with a cap or helmet. A UV-protection t-shirt hood that can’t be worn under a climbing or cycling helmet misses half its users.

Julien, one of Lagoped’s founders and a high mountain guide, led the choices on this point. Someone who spends his days leading groups in the mountains, often under the sun, often with a helmet, .

We were looking for a system that lets air circulate, because a sealed hood during intense effort quickly becomes suffocating. At the same time, we wanted sufficient coverage so that UV protection is real, not symbolic. This is not a small decorative hood: it is fitted, rising, designed to stay in place when you move.

The result: a hood with an active fit, that follows movements without falling back as soon as you lift your head, with enough volume to ventilate but enough structure to cover.

The GANGA is designed for scenarios where UV protection really matters. Not just a t-shirt you put on out of habit: a piece chosen because you know you'll be exposed for hours.

In this logic, we integrated thumb holes. Only the fingers stick out, the hand is covered. It's a simple gesture that solves a real problem: the wrist-hand area is often forgotten in sun protection, hard to apply cream to while moving, and constantly exposed when holding poles or handlebars.

Paired with the hood, the thumb holes make the GANGA a piece that covers a significantly larger body area than a classic t-shirt, including UV protection.

The choice of colors on an anti-UV t-shirt raises a real physical question: in full sun, a dark color absorbs more heat than a light color. We hesitated a lot. A white t-shirt is objectively more comfortable to wear when temperatures rise. A dark t-shirt may seem counterintuitive on a product meant to keep you cool.

We almost released only one color to simplify. In the end, we kept a color range that reflects our usual choices: permanent shades that won’t be dropped the following season.

This point has a direct ecological impact. The supplier already has existing stock in these permanent colors: we take exactly what we ordered, without overproduction on our side. No end-of-line stock, no fabric dyed specifically for one season then abandoned. This is a logistical advantage and an environmental benefit.

The initial brief was set at the end of February. The release is planned for the end of July. That’s fast for a technical garment.

This deadline was met for several combined reasons. The fabric was identified, the supplier known, the cut derived from an existing one. And the manufacturing was done nearby: close to our usual production chain in the European Union, which avoids the logistical uncertainties of distant supplies.

The initial feedback, even before the official release, has been positive. This encourages us to continue in this direction: products that address a real practical need, developed with people who use them, made with partners we know.

To discover the GANGA t-shirt, click here: GANGA technical t-shirt. And to understand how UPF 50+ protection works on the fabric, our complete guide on anti-UV clothing details the four manufacturing techniques and what the certification really guarantees.