Rising temperatures have made the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, called Hajj, hotter than ever, and pilgrims may walk 30 miles in temperatures that can reach 123 degrees Fahrenheit. Saudi Arabia’s Saudia Airlines, which transports more pilgrims than any other airline, designed a clever solution by embedding cooling technology into the religious garments pilgrims wear to make the trek. {"blockType":"mv-promo-block","data":{"imageDesktopUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/09\/2026-IBD_social-share-2-16x9-1.jpg","imageMobileUrl":"https:\/\/images.fastcompany.com\/image\/upload\/f_webp,q_auto,c_fit\/wp-cms-2\/2026\/09\/2026-IBD_social-share-1-1-1x1-1.jpg","eyebrow":"","headline":"Meet the world\u0027s most innovative design companies","dek":"","subhed":"","description":"","ctaText":"See the List","ctaUrl":"https:\/\/www.fastcompany.com\/innovation-by-design\/list?utm_source=fcwebsite\u0026utm_medium=promo_block\u0026utm_campaign=IBD26","theme":{"bg":"#f4f4f4","text":"#2b2d30","eyebrow":"#9aa2aa","subhed":"#ffffff","buttonBg":"#444444","buttonHoverBg":"#ef5b24","buttonText":"#ffffff"},"imageDesktopId":91604521,"imageMobileId":91604520,"shareable":false,"slug":"","wpCssClasses":""}} Its Coolest Ihram, designed as part of a move from being just a point-to-point airline carrier to ambassadors of hospitality and culture before, during, and after a flight, can reduce skin temperature by more than 3 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s the winner of an Innovation by Design award in the enduring impact category. The challenge was taking a garment that’s been unchanged for centuries and making it cooler while following strict religious guidelines. Saudia had to consider the thickness of the fabric and ensure the garment had no stitching or precious metals. [Image: Saudia Airlines] “We couldn’t borrow an existing textile and just apply it,” says Essam Akhonbay, Saudia’s VP of marketing and product management. “We needed to i

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