The incidence of skin cancer is on the increase worldwide. Exposure of the skin to ultra-violet (UV) radiation is considered one of the main causes. Exposure to UV-radiation increases the risk of formation of malignant neoplasm of the skin and skin ageing. consequently the incidence of malignant skin tumours has strongly increased in the recent years. The best way to protect from UV-radiation is to avoid sun exposure. However exposure to sun cannot be avoided completely. People engaged in works like construction have to be constantly exposed to sun. Thus alternative methods for protection against UV-radiation need to be developed; and textiles provide the answer to it. Studies have shown that light-weight summer fabrics may transmit UV-radiation and therefore provide inadequate sun protection. Hence various aspects have to be considered to develop textiles which can provide sun protection effectively. In this article we attempt to describe various concepts which can help to understand the subject better.