SanSoleil: Sun-Safe Performance Apparel for Golf, Tennis and Life Outdoors

SanSoleil is a UPF 50+ performance apparel brand built on a simple but powerful idea: people should not have to choose between protecting their skin and looking great while enjoying the outdoors.

Founded in 2010 and based in Newport Beach, California, SanSoleil designs sun-protective golf, tennis, equestrian and resort apparel for men and women. The brand combines advanced cooling fabric technology with fashion-forward prints, colors and silhouettes designed for comfort, performance and everyday wear.

Today, SanSoleil is carried in more than 3,000 premium golf shops, tennis clubs, resorts and pro shops across the United States, along with approximately 1,000 international retail locations. Products are also available directly to consumers through SanSoleil.com and through a dedicated wholesale platform for retail partners.

What Sets SanSoleil Apart

Many sun-protective apparel brands prioritize function at the expense of style. SanSoleil refuses that tradeoff.

Every garment begins with a proprietary performance fabric designed to provide advanced cooling, moisture-wicking and all-day comfort. Each piece also delivers built-in UPF 50+ sun protection that does not wash out or wear away over time.

SanSoleil’s fabric technologies include SolCool, SolTek, SolTek ICE, SolTek LUX, SolAir and SOLMÉLANGE. These materials incorporate performance elements such as copper and jade nanotechnology, which are engineered into the textiles to support cooling, moisture management and antimicrobial performance.

On top of this technical foundation, SanSoleil introduces exclusive novelty prints and seasonal color stories throughout the year. Customers receive genuine sun protection without having to wear clothing that looks purely functional or clinical.

This balance of technical performance and distinctive design has helped SanSoleil stand out in golf and tennis retail, where sun-protective apparel was once limited largely to plain and forgettable basics.

The Founder’s Story

SanSoleil was founded by Kevin Knight following his personal experience with melanoma. The diagnosis changed the way he thought about sun exposure, particularly for people who spend long hours playing sports or enjoying outdoor activities.

That experience became the foundation of the company’s mission: to create high-performance apparel that helps people stay outdoors longer, more comfortably and with greater protection.

Kevin had previously built and managed nearly a dozen apparel brands, but SanSoleil carried a deeper personal meaning. The company launched in 2010 during a difficult economic period, after Kevin had lost a significant portion of his traditional retail customer base.

Rather than continuing to pursue the same shrinking retail channels, he shifted his focus toward golf courses and golf retailers. He believed these businesses offered a more resilient and loyal customer base. That strategic decision shaped SanSoleil’s wholesale model and helped establish the brand’s strong roots within the golf industry before it expanded further into tennis, equestrian and resort apparel.

Kevin continues to run the company alongside his sister, Diane. Kevin oversees sales, wholesale operations and direct-to-consumer business, supported by a nationwide team of approximately two dozen independent sales representatives. Diane leads merchandising and design, developing the seasonal prints and product collections that keep the brand fresh and recognizable.

SanSoleil has also received recognition for its growth, including placement on a regional Growth 100 list highlighting fast-growing local businesses.

Products and Offerings

SanSoleil offers a broad collection of performance apparel for men and women, including:

• Long-sleeve and short-sleeve polos
• Quarter-zip mocks and pullovers
• Hoodies
• Dresses
• Skirts
• Skorties
• Pants and coordinating separates

Although the products are designed for golf, tennis and equestrian sports, they are also worn for travel, resort activities and everyday outdoor life.

The brand’s best-selling products are typically its tops, especially those featuring SanSoleil’s signature novelty prints. Americana and patriotic designs are also popular seasonal categories around events such as the Fourth of July, the Ryder Cup and the U.S. Open.

Tournament and Team Play

SanSoleil also operates a Tournament & Team Play program for clubs, leagues, teams and event organizers.

The program offers coordinating UPF 50+ tops, skirts, dresses and pants for tournament fields, member groups and team events. Matching apparel has become an important part of the wholesale business, particularly among women’s golf groups seeking coordinated looks for club competitions, member events and destination tournaments.

Community and Partnerships

SanSoleil’s involvement in golf extends beyond retail and apparel.

The brand has partnered with the LPGA Legends Tour, supported Play for P.I.N.K. and worked with Future Champions Golf to encourage junior golf development and tournament participation.

These partnerships reflect the same values that inspired the company’s founding: promoting health, encouraging sun-safety awareness and supporting current and future generations of players.

Fast Facts

• SanSoleil means “without sun” in French, reflecting the brand’s sun-protection mission.
• The company was founded in 2010 during a challenging period for the apparel industry.
• Its proprietary fabrics include performance technologies incorporating materials such as copper and jade.
• SanSoleil is a family-run company led by a brother-and-sister team.
• The brand serves both direct-to-consumer shoppers and a large international wholesale network.
• SanSoleil products are sold through thousands of golf shops, tennis clubs, resorts, pro shops and specialty retailers.

The SanSoleil Mission

SanSoleil exists to help people enjoy golf, tennis and outdoor life without sacrificing comfort, performance or personal style.

By combining dependable UPF 50+ protection, advanced performance fabrics and distinctive seasonal designs, the brand has created a category of sun-safe apparel that feels as good as it performs.

The result is clothing designed not simply to protect people from the sun, but to help them play longer, feel more comfortable and look confident wherever the day takes them.