OH! Magazine - Australian Version December 2015 | Page 7

Photo (and cover image)
by Danielle Prowse

JULIANA
MARE

The modern sun umbrella, the Sunbella
parasol is UV protector / fashion accessory,
which can block over 98 per cent of UV
rays. This innovative concept offers
consumers the opportunity to look stylish
while breaking the stigma against parasols.
Sunbella parasols boast the highest
possible Ultra Violet Protection Factor of
50+, offer more protection than a hat, are
lightweight, wind-resistant and come in a
range of summer colours, providing the
easiest and most sophisticated way to
protect your skin from early signs of
ageing, wrinkles and some skin cancers.
‘We wholeheartedly recognise that
regardless of how stylish it is, carrying a
sun umbrella requires a mind shift,’ says
Casey.
So what is your reaction when you see the
common rain umbrella being used during
summertime? Do you applaud that
persons’ diligence toward sun-safety or
think they stand out like a sore thumb?
Perhaps it’s a lack of education about how
dangerous sun exposure can be, which has
resulted in our Nation putting health
second to our sense of style.
Alarmingly, two in three Australians will be
diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70.
This is just one of many frightening
statistics about skin cancer in Australia
but not the most concerning for Casey.
‘What’s scarier to me is the widespread
misunderstanding that skin cancers can
simply be cut out,’ says Casey.

Cancer Council Australia says that 95 per
cent of melanomas – the most dangerous
type of skin cancer – are caused by
sunburn. Research has shown that on an
average weekend in summer, almost a
quarter of the teenage population in
Australia develop sunburn alongside 8 per
cent of children and 14 per cent of adults.
Taking preventative measures to protect
your skin from harmful UV rays should be
a top priority for every Australian, a shift
that Sunbella is determined to instigate.
Working as a Clinical Theatre Nurse,
Casey’s Mum and Sunbella Co-Founder
Jillian Intini saw firsthand, the number of
women being treated for skin cancer and
heard their frustrations at the lack of
fashionable sun protection products. This
was the springboard that set Sunbella in
motion and Jillian and Casey have since
been working to make skin care a priority
for the women and men of Australia.
‘We’re on the cusp of the paradigm shift
we’ve been pushing for.’ By offering a
product that falls into the fashion and
safety categories, the Sunbella vision is to
‘break down the barrier in peoples’ minds
that sun safety has to be detrimental to
your look.’
Parasols have been around since the 19th
century and although we’ve since moved
away from corsets and flapper dresses, the
parasol is definitely not just a relic of the
past! Modern and styled for the 21st
century woman, Sunbella’s Coast and City

range of parasols provide the best of both
worlds, so users can enjoy the Aussie
summer while ‘looking and feeling good at
the same time’. And not just for the ladies,
an exciting Sunbella range for men is on
the horizon. In fact, we’ve heard whispers
that it might even include ‘a built-in gadget
or two!’
After winning the 2015 Business
Excellence
AusMumpreneur
Award,
Sunbella has been able to branch further
into the mainstream market. A feat, which
Casey says was challenging for a company
that’s intent on breaking the mould. Add to
this some incredible exposure from a high
profile royal (see below) and this little
Aussie start-up is well on its way to
becoming a global phenomenon.
‘By liberating women from the existing
daggy connotations that sun protection
has,’ explains Casey, ‘hopefully we can
help ensure Australians start to make
suncare a priority.’

The Duchess of Cornwell
with her Sunbella.
Photograph by
Krysta Guille Photography

Juliana Mare
Melbourne-based communications expert and blogger, Juliana Mare started a humble blog on Instagram, which transformed
into Peaches & Push Ups – a social channel showcasing everything from healthy recipes to fitness insights and industry
product reviews. Find out more at www.peachesandpushups.com, follow Juliana on Instagram: @juliimare or connect via
LinkedIn: julianamare

( OH! MAGAZINE ) DECEMBER 2015

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