From the Kitchen Table to National Television: How HELLO SHADE® Came to Be
On June 4, 2026, something happened that felt completely impossible when we started HELLO SHADE at my kitchen table just 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. Between driving, walking, traveling, pickleball, gardening, and everyday life, our arms are constantly exposed.
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.
I wanted sun protection that actually fit into real life - something stylish enough to wear every day and that complemented my favorite outfits. That idea became our signature UPF 50+ sleeves, the very first HELLO SHADE product.
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, our sleeves are worn by women who garden, walk, travel, play pickleball, sit at baseball games, drive their kids around town, and spend their lives outdoors without sacrificing style.
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 - Let's Get Social
With love ( & shade ),
Nicole R.
Founder + Designer, HELLO SHADE®