Our Story
HELLO SHADE® began with a question I had been asking for years: Why doesn’t anyone make cute sun protection sleeves?
Growing up in San Diego, I became increasingly aware of how much everyday sun exposure happens while driving, running errands, walking the dog and simply living life — especially on the hands and arms, which are often the first areas to show visible signs of aging.
But the options on the market felt overly medical, inconvenient, or unattractive.
Everything finally clicked during a road trip to Palm Springs in August 2024. I was wearing a pair of cheap arm sleeves from Amazon while my friend had cut up bright yellow leggings to protect her arms from the desert sun. We were laughing about how ridiculous we looked when she said, “Someone really needs to do something about this.”
Then she looked down and said, “Shade. It’s like shade for your skin!”
That was the moment HELLO SHADE® was born.
I began developing lightweight, breathable UPF 50+ sleeves designed to feel effortless, wearable, and elevated enough for everyday life. Months were spent testing fabrics, refining patterns, and obsessing over details until the sleeves became exactly what I had been searching for all along.
What started as a simple idea has quickly grown into a community of women who care about protecting their skin without sacrificing their personal style.
Today, HELLO SHADE® is a California-born, founder-led brand built around the belief that sun protection should feel as good as it looks.
With love ( & shade ),
Nicole
Founder + Designer, HELLO SHADE®