Interesting and timely article. Relevant for all regions of the world which are now cooking under extreme heat and humidity.

Excerpts:

Clothing is not peripheral to heat exposure. It is central to it...

In these contexts, fabric and design are rarely chosen for thermal performance.

In extreme heat, these are not neutral choices. They are imposed conditions that can intensify exposure...

Thermal comfort depends on weave, weight, fit, and environmental context. But that is precisely the point: Clothing is a design and material science issue...

What would a more responsive approach look like? It begins by recognising clothing as part of climate adaptation infrastructure. School uniform policies can incorporate breathable fabrics and climate-responsive design. Occupational standards can include textile performance in heat exposure guidelines. Public procurement can factor in thermal comfort alongside durability and cost. Textile innovation can be directed towards heat-resilient garments for mass use, not just niche performance markets.

I am not sure how many are researching fabric made specifically for hot and humid conditions (have heard about Uniqlo's AIRism) but we need this yesterday.