Sunshine “Sunny” Powers

Owner of Love on Haight • Haight-Ashbury Community Leader • Artist Advocate • Keeper of the Color 🌈

Sunshine “Sunny” Powers is the owner of Love on Haight, San Francisco's iconic tie-dye and wearable art shop in the heart of the Haight-Ashbury.

But Sunshine's story on Haight Street began long before she owned the store.

From Haight Street Kid to Love on Haight Owner

Sunshine spent part of her youth on this very corner of Haight and Masonic — outside and inside the shop when it was still known as Positively Haight Street.

In 2012, when the store became Jammin on Haight, Sunshine joined the team and began managing the shop, eventually becoming part owner.

During those years, her work expanded far beyond the walls of the store.

Sunshine became deeply involved in improving the Haight Street community and helped start a nonprofit focused on homeless youth. Over five years, the organization helped more than 450 young people get off the streets of the Haight and connected them with services, opportunities and support.

Then came 2017.

Love on Haight Is Born

In 2017 — the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love — Sunshine was given an extraordinary opportunity.

A major supporter of her nonprofit work donated the money that allowed her to purchase the shop.

Rather than treating that gift simply as an investment in a business, Sunshine made a promise to put that opportunity back into the community.

On January 1, 2017, Love on Haight was born.

The name changed, but Sunshine made sure the history didn't disappear.

Today, the shop's full name — Love on Haight “Always Positively Haight Street” — honors the store's roots and more than three decades of tie-dye, art and counterculture on Haight Street.

Read the History of Love on Haight →

Building an Artist Collective

Under Sunshine's ownership, Love on Haight has grown into much more than a retail store.

Today, Love on Haight works with and supports a community of more than 200 artists and makers, including approximately 120 tie-dye artists.

The shop is filled with handmade, independently designed, small-batch and one-of-a-kind wearable art created by artists from San Francisco, California and across the country.

Sunshine believes strongly that artists deserve more than exposure.

Artists deserve to make a living from their art.

That belief has become one of the foundations of Love on Haight.

From Retailer to California-Made Clothing Brand

Sunshine has also helped transform Love on Haight from a retailer into a clothing brand and manufacturer.

Today, Love on Haight designs many of its own garments and works with California cut-and-sew houses — including production partners right here in San Francisco — to manufacture clothing that becomes a canvas for tie-dye artists and other visual artists.

Nearly half of the merchandise found inside Love on Haight is now designed by the company itself. Shop Love on Haight Designs →

For Sunshine, keeping production local whenever possible is another way of supporting artists, makers, sewing professionals and creative jobs while continuing San Francisco's long tradition of independent fashion and wearable art.

From Haight-Ashbury to PIER 39

In 2026, Sunshine brought a little piece of Haight-Ashbury across San Francisco with the opening of a second Love on Haight at PIER 39.

The new location — a colorful Tie-Dye Outpost by the Bay — brings Love on Haight's artists, wearable art and psychedelic San Francisco spirit to one of the city's most visited destinations. Hours & directions →

Its grand opening during PIER 39's Summer of Love Weekend included live music, a psychedelic tie-dye fashion show and a New Orleans-style second line through the PIER. See the Grand Opening →

But no matter how much Love on Haight grows, Sunshine remains committed to the corner where the story began.

Keeping Haight-Ashbury History Alive

Sunshine's work has increasingly expanded into preserving and celebrating the art, music and cultural history that made Haight-Ashbury famous around the world.

In 2026, Sunshine became involved with Forever Grateful, the major celebration of Grateful Dead art, history and community, helping develop its retail and merchandise experience. Read about Forever Grateful →

The project brings together many of the things that have defined Sunshine's work for decades: artists, music, San Francisco history, independent makers, community and the wonderfully weird creative spirit of the Haight.

Sunshine has also spent years advocating for independent businesses and working to make sure Haight-Ashbury remains a living neighborhood — not simply a historical destination.

Community First

Community has always been at the center of Sunshine's work.

In 2018, Sunshine and Love on Haight received recognition from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, California State Assembly and other government leaders for their community work, including their efforts supporting homeless youth and organizing large-scale donation drives for communities affected by Northern California wildfires.

In 2022, Sunshine founded Colors of Love, a tie-dye education initiative based on a simple belief:

Art is therapy.

Through all of these projects, Sunshine's philosophy has remained remarkably consistent:

Support artists. Support community. Lead with fairness and love. And never be afraid of a little more color.

Always Positively Haight Street

Today, Sunshine continues to lead Love on Haight while advocating for artists, independent businesses, local manufacturing and the cultural legacy of Haight-Ashbury.

Her goal isn't to freeze the Haight in 1967.

It's to protect what made this neighborhood extraordinary while helping its love, magic, art and spirit continue into the next generation.

And yes — somewhere along the way, she may have earned that other unofficial title:

Queen of Haight Street & All That Sparkles. ✨

Always Positively Haight Street.

Sunshine in the Press

Sunshine Powers and Love on Haight have been featured by media around the world for their work in tie-dye, Haight-Ashbury culture, independent art and the San Francisco community.

Associated Press — Grateful Dead 60th Anniversary
The Associated Press interviewed and photographed Sunshine inside Love on Haight for its international feature celebrating the Grateful Dead's 60th anniversary.
Read the Associated Press feature →

Qantas Travel Insider — The Hippie Spirit Lives in San Fran 50 Years On
Qantas profiled Sunshine and Love on Haight during the 50th Anniversary of the Summer of Love, exploring the continuing spirit and culture of Haight-Ashbury.
Read the Qantas Travel Insider story →

INSIDER — San Francisco Tie-Dye Boutique Is Rainbow Paradise
INSIDER went inside the colorful world of Love on Haight for a dedicated video feature on the shop, its tie-dye and its wonderfully over-the-top rainbow style.
Watch the INSIDER video →

Time Out — Hippies Are Occupying the Museums of San Francisco This Summer
Time Out featured Sunshine while exploring the people and places keeping the culture and creative spirit of Haight-Ashbury alive.
Read the Time Out story →

Visit California + British Airways — Britifornians: San Francisco
Sunshine and the colorful world of Haight-Ashbury were featured as part of Visit California and British Airways' international tourism campaign celebrating San Francisco and California culture.

More Love on Haight Press & Media

From international travel features and national news to San Francisco media, celebrity fashion and Grateful Dead culture, discover more than three decades of Love on Haight in the press.

Explore Love on Haight Press & Media →