ALAMOSA — Melanzana, an outdoor apparel company based in Leadville opened a manufacturing facility in Alamosa in early 2024. The Colorado company has a retail store and manufacturing plant in Leadville and produces all its wildly popular clothing in Colorado. 

In 1994, a ski bum named Fritz Howard and his childhood buddy Kevco started Melanzana, then called Eggplant Mountain Gear. Since then, the company has changed its name to Melanzana, the Italian word for eggplant. Howard wanted to live and do business in a real mountain town, not a resort town, and they began operations in Leadville. 

Melanzana has experienced phenomenal growth for its high-quality outdoor goods. By 2023, it needed to expand its production capacity, so it settled on a 15,000-square-foot building on Walker Road in Alamosa. In March 2024, Melanzana began producing in Alamosa, driving the finished "Mellys" to Leadville for retail sales. 

The Alamosa facility is where the huge rolls of American-made fabric are cut and then stitched together into the final product, often hoodies. The lifecycle of an Amamosa-made Melly begins on Walker Road, is transported to Leadville, sold to a consumer, and enjoys life in the great outdoors in Colorado and beyond. The Melly ecosystem includes the possibility of transformation under the Smelly Melly Trade-In program, where worn Melanzana gear can be brought to the Leadville (in-person only) store, and consumers can share the love and trade in old gear, which will be recycled or resold in exchange, for an in-store credit.  

The wildly popular line positions the company without the need for advertising or publicity. Melanzana usually refuses interview requests, "We generally turn away outside media because it is so hard for us to meet our demand," said Howard. 

In an interview with the Valley Courier, founder Howard emphasized, "We are all about being a local manufacturer, and we want to stay that way. We want to provide good jobs and make things locally; it is part of our values. That is why we are in business. We are not in business to grow exponentially; we just want to make apparel locally. This is a core value. This commitment to local manufacturing is something we can be proud of and support." 

On a recent tour of the Alamosa plant, located in a warehouse on Walker Road, a few dozen employees were busy making Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodies. These hoodies are available for purchase in Leadville and, to a limited extent, online. The company does not anticipate retail sales in Alamosa. Currently, the company has about 40 employees in Alamosa and 80 in Leadville. 

On choosing Alamosa for its expanded production, Howard said, "Alamosa is like an old-school Colorado town, kinda like Leadville used to be but bigger. We really like Alamosa, the vibes, and it has a great workforce. It is a nice drive between Leadville and Alamosa and a great place. 

"We are going to grow and push forward in Alamosa. We really need quality people who can thrive in a production-manufacturing environment. If you have what it takes, come say hi." 

Howard added, "We have Spanish-only employees in Leadville; it is not a barrier. We like all kinds of people. We just need people who are good with their hands, super focused and thrive in a competitive manufacturing environment. This work is not for everyone. We are looking for more people who are good at that job." 

Melanzana is hiring a fabric cutter in Alamosa. The position requires staying focused and paying close attention to detail in a busy manufacturing environment. It starts at $19 an hour and has numerous benefits. 

Howard added, "Currently, we have a four-day workweek, healthcare, and profit sharing. We are employee-owned; I am the majority owner, and our long-term goal is to be employee-owned." 

Anyone interested in buying a Melly can visit the Melanzana website and make an appointment to shop at the Leadville store. 

For more information, visit www.melanzana.com.