For those of us who spend our days outside—on the job, on the water, or doing anything under the sun—there’s a question that we need to be thinking about more often: how do we best protect our skin?
Needless to say, the sun is an essential part of our lifestyle, but long-term sun exposure without the right precautions comes with real risks. Of those risks, one of the most common is melanoma - the deadliest form of skin cancer. In 2025 alone, it’s estimated that more than 100,000 Americans will be diagnosed with melanoma—with rates continuing to climb each year. And unfortunately, people like you and me who spend the most time outside have the highest chance of developing it.
That’s why, throughout the month of May—Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month—Bimini Bay Outfitters will be highlighting stories, education, and sun safety practices that can help prevent melanoma. You’ll hear from familiar faces and new voices, all with a shared message: protecting your skin matters.
A Month of Awareness with the Melanoma Research Alliance
Bimini Bay is proud to be the only outdoor apparel brand officially endorsed by the Melanoma Research Alliance (MRA)—the largest nonprofit focused on curing melanoma through research. As their outdoor partner, we believe it’s our responsibility to do more than just make gear—we want to use our platform to help protect the people who wear it.
Sun Safety Tips: Small Changes Make a Big Difference
We all know how easy it is to overlook sun protection, especially on days that start early or when cloud cover gives a false sense of security. But the basics still go a long way. Wearing a long sleeve shirt with a trusted UPF rating, applying sunscreen before heading out and reapplying it throughout the day, covering high-exposure spots like the ears and neck, and wearing quality sunglasses—all of these habits help reduce your risk. If you can, try to avoid being outside during peak UV hours in the middle of the day. At the end of the day, it's about building the kind of habits that help protect our body’s largest organ—our skin.
Apparel that Keeps Your Skin Safe: Built-In Protection, Tested to Perform
Bimini Bay designs are made for people who work and live outside—and several of them are officially endorsed by the MRA for their sun protection performance. These include go-to styles like the Flats V Long and Short Sleeve, the Hatteras Hoodie, and the Everglades Bucket Hat. Each one is tested to ensure its UPF rating holds up to the conditions it was built for.
We’ll be checking in with Bimini Bay ambassador Joey Antonelli this month as he walks through how he gears up for full days in the sun and what he relies on to stay protected.
What Is “Don’t Fry Day"?
The Friday before Memorial Day marks Don’t Fry Day, a national reminder that sunburn is never harmless. A lot of people still think a “base burn” will help them tan—but the reality is that 90% of skin cancers are preventable, and intentional sunburns never help, and can have some serious longterm implications. Did you know that your risk for Melanoma doubles if you’ve had just 5 or more sunburns in your lifetime?
To help share this message, we’ve partnered with Leah Adams, a melanoma survivor and MRA advocate. Leah’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake and why sun protection is never something to brush off. She’ll walk us through what Don’t Fry Day is and why it is never a good idea to go outside with the intention of getting burnt.
Stay Informed, Stay Protected
We’re committed to using our voice to bring more awareness to melanoma prevention—especially in the outdoor space. As Melanoma and Skin Cancer Awareness Month continues, we encourage you to follow along, share what you learn, and pass it on to the people you spend your time with outside!
And as a small thank-you: every order placed between May 1 and May 31 will include a free MRA Lip Balm Sunscreen and Postcard. It’s a simple way to carry this message with you—and hopefully, pass it on.