There are moments in a startup’s journey that feel like quiet miracles. For us, one of those moments happened in 2023 on the historic campus of Howard University.
Back then, Melanin Fleece was still a newborn idea. We had the product—fleece-lined tights finally designed to match the rich, warm undertones of Brown and Black skin—but we didn’t have a big budget, a flashy agency, or a massive following. What we had was a dream, a few samples, and the bold belief that representation in hosiery mattered.
And then we met the Howard girls.
These remarkable students didn’t just model for us. They trusted us. They agreed to be the first faces and legs of a brand that most of the world hadn’t heard of yet. On campus, between classes and study sessions, they slipped into our tights, posed with natural confidence, and helped us capture the very essence of what we wanted to build.
Looking back at those 2023 photos now, three years later, we feel nothing but gratitude.
-
Thank you for saying “yes” when we were just a start-up with a prototype.
-
Thank you for understanding that seeing your exact shade of melanin in a pair of fleece tights was never a small thing—it was a revolution.
-
Thank you for letting us make you experience our tights, not just wear them.
Because of those Howard girls, other women saw themselves reflected. That campaign—raw, real, and radiant—sparked conversations about why fleece tights have historically washed out darker skin tones. It helped other HBCU students, professionals, and everyday queens discover that they no longer had to settle for “nude” shades that didn’t match.
We’ve grown so much since 2023. More shades. More sizes. More stockists. But our heart will always trace back to those chilly afternoons on The Yard, watching Howard’s finest model fleece tights like the runway was Paris and they were the main event.
To every Howard woman who modeled for Melanin Fleece that year: You didn’t just promote a product. You blessed a beginning. And we will never stop appreciating you.
Still starting. Still growing. Forever grateful.
— The Melanin Fleece Team 🧡🖤
