In this episode of In With the New, Avril Hood interviews Vy Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Lemon of the Sun, about the company’s innovative laundry booster that transforms everyday clothing into UPF 30+ sun protective wear and expands sun protection.
22 minutes | Apr. 15, 2026
What if your everyday clothes could help protect your skin from the sun — without changing how they look or feel? In this episode, Vy Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Lemon of the Sun, shares the story behind a category-disrupting innovation that expands sun protection beyond traditional sunscreen. Inspired by intense UV exposure while living in Vietnam, Vy created Sun Clad, a laundry booster designed to transform regular clothing into UPF 30+ sun protective gear, offering a simple and practical way to enhance everyday sun safety.
Vy explains how her non-linear journey from social impact consulting led her into product development, where curiosity and persistence helped her collaborate with chemists, dermatologists, and manufacturers to bring this idea to life. She discusses the science behind the product, how it works within the wash cycle, and why consumer education plays a key role when introducing a completely new category. From TikTok to dermatologist partnerships, Vy shares the creative ways she is building awareness and trust around this invisible but powerful solution.
The conversation also explores the realities of launching a CPG brand, including the challenges of scaling formulas from lab to manufacturing, navigating early skepticism, and identifying the right audience. Vy offers honest advice for founders, emphasizing the importance of early customer connection and experimentation with emerging marketing channels. As Lemon of the Sun prepares for launch, this episode highlights how innovation often begins with a simple question: What if everyday routines could work smarter to support our health?
Listen in.
1:36 Inspired By Living In Vietnam And Experiencing Intense UV Exposure
2:48 The Idea For Turning Everyday Clothing Into Sun Protective Gear
3:37 Educating Consumers On A New Category Beyond Sunscreen
5:08 Partnering With Dermatologists To Build Trust And Awareness
6:15 How Sun Clad Works As A Laundry Booster For UV Protection
7:40 Building A Science-Backed Product Without A Scientific Background
12:52 Direct-To-Consumer Strategy And The Role Of Education First
15:37 Manufacturing Challenges When Scaling From Lab To Production
20:27 Why TikTok Became A Major Growth Channel For Early Customers
23:42 Third-Party Testing And Validating Product Effectiveness
In this episode of In With the New, Avril Hood interviews Vy Nguyen, Founder and CEO of Lemon of the Sun, about the company’s innovative laundry booster that transforms everyday clothing into UPF 30+ sun protective wear and expands sun protection.
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