Our Story

🌞 Our Story

Shade & Sun. Purpose & Passion. Family & Legacy.

The name Ombra & Sole means Shade and Sun — a reflection of both our love for balance and our mission to protect.

Ombra & Sole was founded with a clear purpose: to make sun protection stylish, safe, and part of everyday life for families across Australia. But behind the brand lies a deeply personal story.

 

☀️ A Brand Born From Experience

After being diagnosed with four melanomas in four years, co-founder Kara Giovenco and her husband Guy made it their mission to promote sun safety — not just as a precaution, but as a way of life.

Living under the harsh Australian sun and raising their two beautiful children, they knew the importance of creating stylish, functional sun-safe products that parents trust and kids actually want to wear.

Ombra & Sole (or O & S) stands for their values — and serendipitously, also for their children’s initials: Oscar and Scarlett.


👒 Why Hats?

We believe sun protection shouldn’t be boring — it should be beautiful, breathable, and bold. That’s why we’ve built a collection of hats, sunglasses, and accessories that combine fashion with function, designed with Australia's unique UV challenges in mind.

 

💛 Giving Back Matters

Ombra & Sole proudly donates $1 from every hat sold to the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation, funding melanoma research and raising awareness about early detection.
➡️ Learn more on our Giving Back page.

 

We hope our products help your family enjoy sunny days with confidence and comfort — and we’re so grateful to have you on this journey.

Want to join our community? We'd love to have you on board to learn all about sun safety, get community only discounts, early access to sales and more! 

With love,
Kara, Guy, Oscar & Scarlett
(The O & S founding family)

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