Kelly Ripa Wore Our Sleeves On National TV!!!

On June 4, 2026, something happened that felt completely impossible when I started HELLO SHADE at my kitchen table a little over a year ago.

Kelly Ripa put on a pair of our UPF 50+ sleeves during a Live's Bargains segment on Live with Kelly and Mark - and wore them throughout the segment.

As a small business owner, there are moments you dream about but never really expect to happen. Seeing our sleeves featured on national television was one of those moments.

What's funny is that the story didn't start with a television segment in mind. It started with a problem.

Like so many women, I never understood why we obsess over protecting our faces but ignore our hands and arms. Those areas see just as much sun exposure - often even more.

Instinctively, I've always protected mine - but I could never find a product I actually wanted to wear. Everything on the market felt overly sporty, unattractive, or like it belonged in a medical catalog.

I remember thinking, there has to be a better option - and if I'm looking for it, other women probably are too.

So I created HELLO SHADE.

What began as a simple idea turned into months of sourcing fabrics, testing samples, redesigning details, making mistakes, and learning how to build a business from scratch. There were plenty of moments when I questioned whether any of it would work.

Then came June 4th.

Watching Kelly Ripa slide on our white sleeves and wear them on national television was surreal. For a few minutes, millions of viewers were introduced to something I've poured my heart into building.

But the moment wasn't really about television. It was about validation.

Validation that a product created by a small, woman-owned business can stand alongside major brands and earn a spot on one of the country's most recognizable daytime television shows.

And most importantly, it was a reminder of how far HELLO SHADE has come in such a short time.

Just over a year ago, this business was simply an idea.

Today, thousands of women wear HELLO SHADE sleeves while driving, traveling, gardening, playing pickleball, and enjoying life outdoors.

And now, thanks to Kelly Ripa, they've been worn on national television too!

To every customer who has supported HELLO SHADE, shared a post, told a friend, left a review, or purchased a pair of sleeves - thank you.

We're just getting started.

Sun's out. Sleeves on.

— Nicole Rippee
Founder, HELLO SHADE