The History Of Shade Sails

By Author: Todd Holliday
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The concept of shade is not a new invention. Since the dawn of time, man has been using anything handy to escape the heat of the sun; cave men used hide or leaves woven around sticks. In ancient Egypt, strips of fabric were used to cool countless numbers of Pharaohs. Ancient Greeks used them; sailors throughout history have used them while at port on a beach. In fact, the largest application of fabric used for shade was in ancient Rome.

The Roman coliseum, housing some 80,000 people at a time, was 187 feet tall and covered over six acres. Yet, the Romans still managed to raise a retractable awning. Eighty bays held three stone brackets each, which, in turn, supported 240 masts. On those masts were held the ancestors of shade sails, several large canvas sails used by Roman sailors. Pulling those sails tight, they managed to cover enough area to shade 50,000 people while they watched the original UFC fighters, the gladiators.

In times of war, surplus sails have been used as shade on battlefields. In times of peace, they have shaded children at play. In short, shade sails have a definite place in human history.

Unlike ...
... the shade sails of today, the materials were limited and lacked durability. Made of canvas and other like materials from the boating industry, UV rays caused the materials to degenerate. The rather large pieces of fabric were bulky, heavy and quick to need replacing.

Modern technology brought the invention of shade cloth to Australia and South Africa in the 1980s. Originally, shade cloth also suffered from UV degradation, but inhibitors have now been added during the manufacturing process, allowing at least ten years of use before replacements are needed. Although no one is quite sure whether they were first seen in Darwin or in Brisbane, what is known is that the current industry originated somewhere in Australia.

By the early 90's, shade sails could be found all over the Land Down Under, from north to south. Now, Australia has over 1200 companies that deal in shade sails, from design to manufacturing and installation. Part of that growth is due to the high rate of skin cancer in the country and the Australian government's corresponding emphasis on "Sun Safety" and awareness. Many commercial shade sails work the same as putting on a sunscreen of 25, blocking up to 895% of UVA and UVB rays.

Another part is due to the available options. Many manufacturers produce custom-made shade sails, and the fabrics allow a lot of flexibility with design. Currently, the most common designs are squares with four points or triangles with three points. The fabrics are also available in hundreds of colors. The two options combined - color and design shape - make it easy for shade sails to be custom-made to fit any shop, company, pool or any place else that needs a bit of coolness.

Today, shade sails have been used in a wide variety of places. In the UK, where bars, pubs and restaurants are suffering from the smoking ban, these buildings are finding shade sails a viable option for their outdoor smokers. They've been temporary car covers; they've covered pools, patios, BBQ spots, playgrounds and gardens.

Although they aren't a good protection from any element but the sun, shade sails have become extremely popular. Due to the way they're built, there's no flapping, which lowers the amount of wear and tear on the fabric. They're semi-permanent, don't require permission to build, and the breathable mesh can actually make the covered areas cooler.

With the health benefits of reducing the risk of skin cancer, combined with a stylish, cooling amount of shade, it's no wonder that shade sails are cropping up in several countries and cities throughout the world.
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ShadeIt.net provides a variety of shade sails that are commercial grade and offer the ultimate solar protection. Visit online today.