Melanzana (clothing brand)
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| Industry | Apparel |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Founder | Fritz Howard |
| Headquarters | Leadville, Colorado |
| Products | Outdoor clothing |
Number of employees | 60 |
| Website | melanzana |
Melanzana is an American clothing retailer based in Leadville, Colorado.[1]
History
[edit]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 in Leadville opened in 1997; operations were moved to a space on the town's historic Harrison Avenue in 2008. The company relocated once more to its current location on Harrison Avenue in 2008.[2] In 2021, Melanzana expanded manufacturing operations to a second Harrison Avenue location.[3]
Operations
[edit]Manufacturing
[edit]Melanzana products are cut and sewn by hand at the brand's Harrison Avenue facilities using Polartec polar fleece.[4] Fabric rejected by Melanzana may be donated to other small Colorado businesses through the company's ReMelly'd initiative.[5]
Retail
[edit]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.[6] As of December 2023, customers are limited to one appointment every six months and may only purchase two items at each appointment. Smaller items such as socks and hats may be purchased at the store without an appointment.[7][8] The brand's exclusive nature has garnered Melanzana a cult following among outdoor recreation enthusiasts.[9][10][11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Blevins, Jason (July 12, 2012). "Leadville's Melanzana thriving with locally made clothing". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ n.a. "About". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Bilow, Patrick (July 21, 2021). "Melanzana expands across the street". Leadville Herald-Democrat. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ n.a. "Featured Partner: Melanzana". Polartec. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ n.a. "ReMelly'd". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Moye, Jayme. "Walk across the sky in the U.S.'s highest-elevation city". National Geographic. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
- ^ n.a. "Book An Appointment". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ n.a. "No Appt Needed". Melanzana. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Singer, Daliah (October 2019). "Melanzana Is Colorado's Most Coveted (and Reclusive) Clothing Line". 5280 Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Bowden, Tanner. "This May Be the Best Fleece and You Probably Can't Get One". Gear Patrol. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
- ^ Busch, Laurenz. "'Hey! That's a nice Melly!'". Boulder Weekly. Retrieved 2 March 2024.