LEADVILLE, CO – Leadville based Melanzana, a beloved outdoor apparel company, has been acquired by athleisure giant Lululemon.
“Bringing Melanzana to our brand portfolio will help expand market share in the mountain communities we have all come to love,” said Lululemon public relations manager Jessica Hickley.
Melanzana, founded in Leadville in 1994, has been a mountain-core-chiq foundation in the closets of raft guides, ski patrollers, and Pilates instructors.
Prided in being made in Leadville by workers who are paid a living wage, “Mellys” are a recognizable status symbol of the who’s who in Vail and Summit County.
Growth has followed the businesses as its owners had to implement an appointment system in order to insure customers had the opportunity to buy something.
“We couldn’t produce fast enough to keep up with demand, which led to a poor shopping experience for the clients,” said Melanzana employee Abby Reynolds.
Lululemon executives quietly approached Melanzana founder Fritz Howard about acquiring the business. “They came in with a generous offer and plans to expand our production right here in town.”
