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Nude Barre develops and provides a comprehensive line of skin-tone hosiery, intimates, and bodywear designed to offer inclusive options for all complexions. The company meticulously crafts its products in up to 12 distinct shades of nude, ensuring a precise match for diverse skin tones. This approach addresses a significant gap in the market for authentically representative undergarments and legwear.
The company was founded by Erin Carpenter in 2009, emerging from her personal experiences as a professional dancer and commercial actress. Carpenter recognized the pervasive lack of "nude" bodywear that genuinely matched the skin tones of individuals from various backgrounds, leading her to create a brand that specifically catered to this overlooked need within the fashion and performance industries.
Nude Barre primarily serves a broad customer base seeking bodywear that offers true skin-tone representation and comfort. The company’s vision centers on redefining the traditional concept of "nude," striving to combat colorism and empower individuals by providing products that affirm their unique complexions. It aims to foster confidence and inclusivity through its thoughtfully developed offerings.
Nude Barre has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round.
Nude Barre has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Nude Barre is a bodywear and hosiery brand that produces inclusive intimates like tights, underwear, bralettes, bikinis, girl shorts, camisoles, no-show socks, and fishnets in 12 shades of nude to match diverse skin tones from fair to deep.[1][2][4] Founded by Erin Carpenter, it addresses colorism in fashion by empowering women—especially dancers and active individuals—with durable, second-skin products that provide authentic representation and boost confidence.[1][3][4] Serving women of all sizes and complexions, Nude Barre solves the longstanding problem of limited "nude" options that exclude non-beige skin tones, with an estimated $1.4M annual revenue and 10 employees in New York City.[2]
The brand has achieved growth momentum through retail expansion into Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Macy's, celebrity endorsements (e.g., a TV wardrobe team customer since 2012), and investor backing via syndicates like Jason's Syndicate.[1][4][6]
Erin Carpenter, a former ballerina and New York Knicks dancer, founded Nude Barre over a decade ago after years of frustration with the fashion industry's narrow definition of "nude."[1][3][4] As a Black woman, she spent hours dyeing tights and applying pancake makeup to shoes to meet ballet class requirements, often facing exclusion for mismatched undergarments.[1][3][4] This personal hardship—shared by colleagues—inspired her to create hosiery and intimates in 12 hues representing fair, medium, and deeper skin tones.[1][2]
Early traction came quickly: Carpenter sent free samples to a TV production, leading to repeat purchases, on-set credits, and social media tags that amplified visibility.[1] Her perseverance overcame manufacturer skepticism toward a young female founder, evolving the brand into a thriving label with department store presence.[4]
Nude Barre rides the wave of inclusivity and diversity trends in fashion, amplified by social media demands for authentic representation amid colorism critiques.[1][4] Its timing aligns with post-2020 cultural shifts toward equitable beauty standards, where consumers reject beige-only "nude" norms, favoring brands that prioritize wide shade ranges.[2][4] Market forces like e-commerce growth and direct-to-consumer models aid expansion, while retail partnerships signal mainstream acceptance.[4]
Though not a tech firm, the brand leverages digital tools like CRM platforms (e.g., HubSpot) for scaling customer touchpoints and forecasting, influencing the fashion ecosystem by pressuring legacy hosiery makers to diversify.[1][2] It humanizes supply chains, inspiring similar moves in apparel for broader ethnic representation.
Nude Barre is poised for continued retail dominance and potential product line expansions (e.g., more activewear or menswear shades), fueled by rising consumer activism against colorism.[4] Trends like AI-driven shade-matching tech and sustainable fabrics could enhance its edge, while syndicate funding supports scaling beyond $1.4M revenue.[2][6] Its influence may evolve from niche disruptor to industry standard-setter, challenging giants to match its 12-shade benchmark and fostering a more representative fashion world—proving one dancer's frustration can redefine "nude" for all.[1][4]
Nude Barre has raised $1.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $1.0M Seed in September 2020.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2020 | $1M Seed | — | Alumni Ventures, Bombas, Broadhaven Capital Partners, Commerce Ventures, Craft Ventures, Divergent Capital, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, Freestyle Capital, Ftac Ventures, Infinite Niches, QED Investors, Serena Ventures, Shatter Fund, Signia Venture Partners, Sorenson Ventures, SuperAngel.Fund, Techstars, Jean Case, Kevin Hart, Wiley Cerilli | Announced |
Nude Barre has raised $1.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Nude Barre's investors include Alumni Ventures, Bombas, Broadhaven Capital Partners, Commerce Ventures, Craft Ventures, Divergent Capital, Jenny Fielding, Scott Hartley, Freestyle Capital, FTAC Ventures, Infinite Niches, QED Investors.
