Cooling lifestyle products surge amid record heat, with KleanNara towel sales up 323%

As record heat persists across the country, demand for "cooling" products is spreading beyond air conditioners and fans into everyday lifestyle goods such as towels, diapers and sanitary pads.

KleanNara said Monday that sales of its cooling towel rose 227 percent from the previous month and 323 percent from a year earlier in June.

This summer has in fact been hotter than average. According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, the national average temperature in July was 26.8 degrees Celsius, the third highest since 1973. The number of heat wave days nationwide reached 8.9, against a historical average of 4.1 — a difference of 4.8 days. Tropical nights also hit 9.7, the highest since records began.

As the heat drags on, products that incorporate cooling functions into everyday items have seen growing sales, with KleanNara's cooling towel posting the sharpest increase across its lineup. Measuring 230 by 720 millimeters, the towel is designed for use on the neck, arms and legs. KleanNara said the product lowers skin-contact temperature by up to about 9 degrees Celsius and is compact enough to carry during outdoor activities, sports and commutes.

Sales of summer-specific products in the infant category also climbed. June sales of the Bosoomi Modal Summer baby diaper rose 82 percent from the previous month. The product features an ultra-slim design and improved breathability to enhance comfort in summer.

The same trend appeared in women's products. June sales of cooling sanitary pads — including the Dear Skin Air Cooling and Soonsuhanmyeon Cooling Breeze lines — rose 18 percent from the previous month.

Heat waves are also increasingly extending beyond a narrow seasonal window, a shift expected to drive further expansion of the functional lifestyle products market. The Korea Meteorological Administration said its analysis of long-term observation data shows heat waves are appearing as early as June, with a clear upward trend in August heat waves and July-to-August tropical nights.

KleanNara said it plans to expand its lineup of functional lifestyle products in step with seasonal and lifestyle changes.

"Consumers are increasingly looking beyond simply escaping the heat — they want a cool and comfortable experience in their daily lives," a KleanNara official said. "We will continue to introduce products and services that reduce seasonal discomfort."