Melanzana (clothing brand)

Last updated
Melanzana
Industry Apparel
Founded1994;31 years ago (1994)
FounderFritz Howard
Headquarters Leadville, Colorado
ProductsOutdoor clothing
Number of employees
60
Website melanzana.com


Melanzana is an American clothing retailer based in Leadville, Colorado. [1]

Contents

History

In 1994, Fritz Howard founded Eggplant, an outdoor clothing company. Due to a copyright dispute, the company was renamed Melanzana, the Italian word for eggplant. The brand's first storefront opened in Leadville, Colorado, in 1997; operations were moved to a space on the town's historic Harrison Avenue in 2008. The company was later relocated to its current location on Harrison Avenue in 2008. [2] In 2021, Melanzana expanded manufacturing operations to a second Harrison Avenue location. [3] In 2024, they opened another manufacturing facility in Alamosa. [4]

Operations

Manufacturing

Melanzana products are cut and sewn by hand at the brand's Harrison Avenue facilities using Polartec polar fleece. [5] Fabric rejected by Melanzana may be donated to other small Colorado businesses through the company's ReMelly initiative. [6] The brand has a Smelly Melly Trade-In program that allows worn gear to be traded in for in-store credit. [4]

Retail

Melanzana does not sell garments online, though the website is frequently updated with general product availability. Customers must reserve an appointment to purchase most of the brand's items at the physical store on Harrison Avenue. [7] [8] Smaller items such as socks and hats may be purchased at the store without an appointment. [9] [10] During the COVID 19 pandemic, the brand briefly launched the Lock Out Lottery (LOL), where customers could enter to receive a shopping code for their temporary online store. [11] The brand's exclusive nature has garnered Melanzana a cult following among outdoor recreation enthusiasts. [12] [13] [14]

Philanthropy

Melanazana donates part of its profits to 15 local nonprofits through the PB & Melly program. [15]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Blevins, Jason (July 12, 2012). "Leadville's Melanzana thriving with locally made clothing". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  2. ↑ n.a. "About". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  3. ↑ Bilow, Patrick (July 21, 2021). "Melanzana expands across the street". Leadville Herald-Democrat. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  4. 1 2 Waters, John; Editor, Courier News (2025-03-15). "Melanzana is poised for growth in Alamosa". The Alamosa News. Retrieved 2025-04-11.{{cite web}}: |last2= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ n.a. "Featured Partner: Melanzana". Polartec. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  6. ↑ n.a. "ReMelly'd". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  7. ↑ Blevins, Jason (28 July 2025). "Melanzana mystique: A peek into the rulebreaking business strategy of Leadville's fleece factory". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
  8. ↑ Moye, Jayme. "Walk across the sky in the U.S.'s highest-elevation city". National Geographic. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  9. ↑ n.a. "Book An Appointment". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  10. ↑ n.a. "No Appt Needed". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  11. ↑ "This Cult-Favorite Fleece Is Finally Available Online, Sort Of". InsideHook. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
  12. ↑ Singer, Daliah (October 2019). "Melanzana Is Colorado's Most Coveted (and Reclusive) Clothing Line". 5280 Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Bowden, Tanner. "This May Be the Best Fleece and You Probably Can't Get One". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Busch, Laurenz. "'Hey! That's a nice Melly!'". Boulder Weekly. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  15. ↑ Barackman, Jenna (January 24, 2025). "Coveted but covert, one of Colorado's most popular and har-to-buy brands can't fly under the radar despite its attempts". Denver Business Journal . Retrieved April 28, 2025.
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