ABOUT US

Life is Just More Fun
in a Fun Shirt

Hey there! 

We’re Julia and Dan, the founders, adventurers, and music lovers behind Cool Shade Designs.

Our story didn't start in a boardroom. 

It started on the trails, on the road, and in the crowd at shows. Our adventure began selling on the lot on Phish tour back in 2000, and we’ve been chasing good times ever since.

We wanted to create a brand that perfectly captured that exact feeling: bright, fun, and guaranteed to make you Feel Good.

Born from Music & Adventure

The name Cool Shade Designs comes from a favorite Phish lyric of ours. We started out making bright, funky button-down shirts specifically for our fellow music-fan community. 

If you’ve ever been to a show, chances are you’ve seen our designs dancing through the crowd.

But we couldn’t just stop at the concert venue. Living the Colorado lifestyle means our days are packed with adventure: from mountain biking and snowboarding to traveling and catching up with friends at happy hour, usually with our dogs Leo and Palmer by our side. We needed gear that could keep up.

Meet Fest-Flexᵀᴹ Fabric

We got tired of stiff, heavy shirts that couldn't handle a little sweat or movement. So, we spent a relentless amount of time sourcing the perfect premium materials to create what we call Fest-Flexᵀᴹ fabric.

Ultra-Breathable & Flexible: Keeps you cool whether you're hitting the trails or dancing all night.

Transition-Ready: Designed to go straight from a day on the mountain bike trails right to the front row of a concert.

High-Quality: Premium feel made with a polyester/spandex blend.

What’s Your Feel Good?

At the end of the day, we put a tiny reminder on the button panel of every single shirt we make: "Feel Good." It’s our brand tagline and our philosophy for life.

Whether your "feel good" is climbing a mountain peak, lounging on the beach, hitting a local disc golf course, or just sharing a laugh with friends, we make the gear that helps you stand out while doing it.

So go ahead, grab a fun shirt, get out there, and don't forget to tag us in the moments that make you feel good. #CoolShadeDesigns

Welcome to the Cool Shade family!