FROM THE LENS W H Y DIDN’ T I T HINK OF T H AT?
Made in the Shade Inspired by a health scare, this local entrepreneur moved from virtual reality to clothing manufacturer.
Rayward Apparel Founder Devin Regan launched the company in 2020 after his diagnosis with Stage 1A melanoma. The line of sports clothing provides UPF 50+ protection from the sun’s rays.
BY A S HL EY MCLE LL AN PHOTOS BY SAR A E SSE X B R ADLEY
DURING A ROUTINE CHECK-UP THREE YEARS
ago, entrepreneur Devin Regan was told that what appeared to be a normal freckle was actually Stage 1A melanoma. With that news, his life was forever changed. After successful treatment and removal of the tumor, Regan decided to change his career focus. Inspired by what he called the overwhelming cases of skin cancer and recurrences he discovered during his own research, Regan decided to sell his shares of his successful startup — a virtual reality entertainment company called Maverick VR — and launch Rayward Apparel in 2020. Rayward Apparel is a line of sports and performance clothing that offers UPF 50+ protection from the sun. Regan noted that maintaining his own active lifestyle post-diagnosis played a big part in the inspiration behind the creation of the company. “Fitness and sports have always played a big part in my life, and still do to this day,” he said. “I play volleyball about three to four times a week. In addition to that, I coach/train as a CrossFit athlete about five to six times a week. That’s a lot of outdoors time and a lot of sweating, especially in New Orleans, which presented a problem. I could either lather up in sunscreen multiple times a day for the rest of my life or find clothing that protected my skin, but there were very few quality options.” While there are other sun-protection clothing options on the market, Regan was unable to find ones that fit his exact fitness and sun-blocking needs. “I need shirts that are lightweight and breathable enough to keep me comfortable when exercising, and also protective enough to minimize my UV exposure when outdoors,” he said. “It wasn’t until
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BIZ NEW ORLEANS
AUGUST 2021
6 TIPS PROTECTION IS KEY 1. Seek shade, especially from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
after my melanoma diagnosis that I learned the average shirt does very little to prevent UV rays from reaching the skin 3. Cover up with — the leading cause of skin cancer. So, I clothing. decided to go ahead and create the exact 4. Use broad shirt I was looking for, and in my opinion spectrum 30+ or the type of shirt that everyone should be more sunscreen. wearing when outdoors.” 5. Reapply Ac c o r d i n g t o t h e S k i n C a n c e r sunscreen often. Foundation, protection and prevention of 6. Be especially careful skin cancers is key: “One in five Americans if: you have fair skin, will develop skin cancer by the age of 70. spend a lot of time More people are diagnosed with skin cancer outdoors, have had skin cancer before, live each year in the U.S. than all other cancers combined. The annual cost of treating skin in tropical or highcancers in the U.S. is estimated at $8.1 altitude climates and billion: about $4.8 billion for nonmelanoma have a family history of skin cancers. skin cancers and $3.3 billion for melanoma.” For Regan, the goal is educating SOURCE: AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY consumers that wearing protective 2. Wear sunglasses and a hat.
clothing such as Rayward Apparel has proven to be more effective and comfortable than spraying on sunscreen in preventing skin cancers across the board. “Our ideal customer is anyone who wants to enjoy the outdoors, but also minimize their UV exposure. This includes people previously diagnosed or at high risk for skin cancer, and also anyone who spends a substantial amount of time outdoors and understands the importance of UV protection. Our products are all designed to prevent UV radiation, and are all lab tested and certified to show that they do exactly that. Our goal is to …provide our customers with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that everything made by Rayward Apparel is not only certified UPF 50+, but a high quality and comfortable product they’ll be proud to wear for years to come.”
