About

Our Values

  • We are a LOCAL manufacturer.
  • We make simple, high QUALITY products.
  • We CARE for our communities.
  • We strive to provide good local JOBS.

Local

Leadville.

From Day 1 in Leadville, way back in 1994, Melanzana has been dedicated to making apparel LOCALLY. We’ve always preferred to do it all right here, rather than “out-source” like most other US apparel companies, who simply send their concepts overseas to have everything cut and sewn elsewhere.

Leadville was the perfect place to do this! Back in the 90’s Leadville was a cheap place to set up shop and live a low-key outdoorsy lifestyle. Amazing mountains and open space, and a back-water vibe that always felt free and easy. A small but eager workforce looking for good jobs, and an awesome supportive community, has helped us grow through the years.

As Melanzana has evolved and faced new challenges, we’ve always refocused on our Leadville store as our main priority. It has been a steadfast anchor for our downtown business community, and we want to continue to fill that role as long as we can.

Alamosa.

We love Alamosa, it reminds us of a bigger Leadville, but 20 years ago! For a long time we have had this town in mind for a sister location. It’s a low-key mini mountain city that’s an easy 2 hour drive from our retail store, with an eager workforce and family-town good vibes. Our new Alamosa factory is boosting our production to help make our brand more accessible and cut down on wait times.

We’ve had to rewrite our definition of LOCAL a bit, from just “Leadville” to now include two towns in the heart of Colorado. But it feels good and right, and it is the direction our brand needs to take to evolve.

Quality

Our products are uniquely simple and broadly functional for people living active lives in the mountains. We’ve designed and sold over 50 different original products through the years! We also invented a certain hoodie design language that has now become widely copied in the outdoor industry. LOL, it’s all good. What do they say about imitation and flattery?

Our long time focus on using US-made fabrics is rooted in offering only high quality textiles that are made responsibly with high environmental and labor standards. In recent years we have sourced our Merino Base wool fabric from Thailand, but we promise to buy fabric overseas only when we believe in that supplier and we know that an equivalent fabric is not available in the US.

While we are still just a little company making hoodies in the mountains, we are always looking to elevate our quality standards and dial in our processes for max efficiency. Onward and upward, yo!

Check out our fabrics: here

Community

PB & Melly.

PB & Melly: kind of like PB & jelly, but way better! Through this program Melanzana employees are offered paid opportunities to work for local nonprofits. PB & Melly is a win for employees, a win for nonprofits, and a win for Leadville.

1% For The Outdoors.

This is a local program that adds a 1% voluntary donation to each customer purchase in our Leadville store. These contributions go towards a few key local groups: The Central Colorado Conservancy, The Cloud City Wheelers and The Lake County Open Space Initiative. These funds help to protect our local open spaces, wildlife habitats, mining and historical sites, and also preserve access to local recreation, build new trails, provide outdoor education and help keep agricultural lands healthy and safe from development.

Local Support.

Additionally, we donate product and cash in support of local causes and events. For the last few years running, the total donated was over $60,000 annually. A few of our favorite organizations to support:

Chaffee County Housing Initiative
Colorado 14ers Initiative
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Colorado Trail Foundation
Cloud City Conservation Center (C4)
St. George Episcopal Church
Full Circle
Get Outdoors Leadville
Advocates of Lake County
Lake County Community Fund
Lake County Build A Generation
Lake County High School Athletics
Lake County Housing Coalition (BAG)
Pb Swims
SOS Outreach

Jobs

Employee Owned.

We strive to provide good jobs with a work-life balance that preserves everyone’s sanity. Now at over 80 employees in Leadville, 40 in Alamosa, and growing. Nice benefits with flexible PTO, health and dental, and a caring respectful workplace. We are also employee owned, with over 20 employees that own stock in Melanzana, and the long term goal to be entirely employee owned and run for everyone’s benefit. Come work with us!

Check out our Leadville factory and take a tour with Cramer!