As the searing sun bears down on beachgoers and summer strollers alike, the risks of its radiation are often underestimated. Despite its everyday presence, sun exposure remains a serious threat to skin health.
Dr. Angelo Landriscina understands just how vulnerable our skin can be. A licensed dermatologist practicing in New York City, he has spent years treating patients and witnessing the effects of sun damage firsthand. His social media following is over 1 million, making this popular doctor a trusted source for all things skin.
After recognizing a gap in the market for sun-protective clothing that didn’t sacrifice style, Landriscina combined his medical expertise with a refined sense of fashion to create SOUL-A. The brand is redefining sun protection, offering thoughtfully designed pieces for those who want to care for their skin with intention and awareness.
SOUL-A presents a fashion-forward approach to minimizing exposure from the sun. When paired with sunscreen and other essential protective measures, SOUL-A garments rise to the occasion, delivering chic style, versatility, and function in equal measure.
Dr. Landriscina stepped out of the dermatology office to speak with So.Gay about his boundary-breaking new fashion line.
So.Gay: You’re tackling such an important topic like sun protection. What inspired you to make this clothing line?
Dr. Angelo Landriscina: I’ve been a dermatologist for several years now, and one of the things that we’re always preaching about is sun protection. UV exposure is actually the primary preventable factor when it comes to skin cancer and skin aging. So it’s something that I talk about all the time, and quite often we recommend different sun protective measures to patients that include sunscreen, seeking shade, avoiding the midday hours when it comes to sun exposure, and of course, protective clothing. There’s one issue with that, which is that a lot of what’s out there is pretty ugly. Really, they tend to be clothes that are targeted at specific activities like beach going, so it’s a lot of resort wear or active wear for doing sports like golf or tennis. But there’s not a lot for just people’s everyday lives, things that fit into people’s regular wardrobe and clothes that are actually stylish that people would want to wear regardless of their sun protective capacity. I really saw a gap there, and I figured that this was a big reason why people shy away from using protective clothes in the first place. We’ve seen that there has been much more of a movement towards using sunscreen on a daily basis, which I think is great. So I said, “How can we make it so that people want to use protective clothing in the same way?” And that’s how SOUL-A was born.
So.Gay: How has the response been from your fellow dermatologists seeing your solution?
Dr. Angelo Landriscina: So far, the response has been great, especially from other dermatologists, because I feel like now they have something to point to when talking about daily sun protective clothing. I think we are coming at it from a way that’s very conceptual. So we’re still trying to educate people on the utility of our products, also because we’re not just creating regular garments that happen to be sun protective. We’re integrating features into each piece that help make sun protection easier, whether that’s things like our shirt, which is convertible and has cuffs that convert to cover the hands, or a neck that converts to get more coverage, or our scarf, which can be worn in basically endless ways. We want things to be both easy to wear and easy to use.
So.Gay: Your line seems like a really fun mix of old world and new glamour. Did anything give you inspiration when you were designing this?
Dr. Angelo Landriscina: I definitely was thinking about having what I call a futuristic but minimalist aesthetic. I wanted things, when they were all together, to be very high concept and to really appeal to people’s fashion sense. But I think we’ve also created garments that, for the most part, could easily be integrated into people’s existing wardrobe. For example, if you see the whole outfit together in one color, it might look like a real fashion statement. But if you take our white shirt, it basically just looks like a white button-down shirt. It’s a stylish one, a kind of minimalist one. It’s something that people could just pick up off the rack and immediately have it work with the rest of their clothes.
So.Gay: What are your favorite products in your SOUL-A line now?
Dr. Angelo Landriscina: Our best-seller is definitely our shirt. The inspiration came from a strategy I used in the summers. I always kept a button-down shirt with me, either in my bag or wrapped around my waist, so I could quickly throw it on when going outside to cover my arms and shoulders. Regular fabrics, especially lightweight summer fabrics, typically aren’t very sun protective. So I wondered, “How could I create something that could be used in the same way?” Something you could easily throw on when running outside or incorporate into an outfit, but that is also highly sun protective. That’s how the idea was born. Our visor is also a labor of love. It’s taken a long time to develop, and we’re finally going to be able to ship it later this spring.
I’m really looking forward to that. There are other sun-protective visors on the market, but I think many of them look a bit odd when worn. Ours isn’t conventional either, but I wanted to create something as easy to use as sunglasses, something that can adapt throughout the day. If you want to be social and show your face, you can. At other times, you can have as much facial coverage as possible.
So.Gay: As a dermatologist, can you speak on the really big issues that some people don’t think about when it comes to sun damage?
Dr. Angelo Landriscina: I think people often don’t realize the cumulative effects of sun damage. Most are willing to wear a rash guard or apply SPF at the beach or when spending extended time outdoors, but everyday, lower-level sun exposure also harms the skin, even when you’re not burning. That’s part of why I wanted to create something that fits easily into daily life. Also, many people think sunscreen is the only solution, and while I love sunscreen and encourage its use, we use what’s called the ‘Swiss cheese model’ for sun protection. Each method: sunscreen, shade, clothing, acts as a barrier, but every method has its holes. For example, sunscreen wears off after two hours, most people don’t apply enough, and it’s easy to miss spots. Seeking shade reduces UV exposure, but UV can reflect off surfaces and won’t completely protect you.
When it comes to sun-protective clothing, I think it’s one of the most effective methods, but you can’t easily cover every part of your body. That’s why I always recommend a comprehensive sun-protection strategy. You shouldn’t rely on just one method, but instead use a combination of approaches.
So.Gay: I’ve seen so many people this past festival season wearing them to Coachella. Where do you see your fashion line headed next?
Dr. Angelo Landriscina: Yes, we have seven new products in the pipeline that should be released by the end of the year. The next round will lean more into style, with some pieces being more expressive, while others will focus on practicality and making sun protection even easier. We want to address every pain point people have with sun-protective clothing by creating solutions that fit into everyday life, are easy to take with you, easy to use, and look great, too. Also, don’t forget to remind your readers that May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month!
Learn more about SOUL-A and shop sun protective clothing here.
