Nude lingerie just got way more inclusive: Introducing a new line that’s about to change everything

by Takara Small March 2, 2015

Chances are you’ve come across the terms “natural” or “nude” when looking for skin-coloured matches in the lingerie aisle. And chances are those terms translate to “beige” and “not even close to a match” for many women of colour.

Enter Nubian Skin, a new line of undergarments for dark skin.

“Nude has a different definition to each person,” says founder Ade Hassan. “The majority of the fashion industry simply hasn’t quite come to that realization yet. I realized it was something that I needed and was so essential that it had to be something other women of colour would want.”

The call for more diverse underwear choices and goods targeted at non-Caucasian skin isn’t new, but the discussion is getting louder—and comes on the heels of calls for more diverse models on the runway from critics like Jourdan Dunn and Naomi Campbell.

Over a year of research went into finding the right fabric for Hassan’s line, which allows it to “blend in” with dark skin to give women better coverage that appears almost invisible. The fashion line currently sells three different types of bras, four styles of underwear, as well as tights and stockings that range from $16 to $75. And the label is building steam—fast (Kerry Washington is a fan).

Despite the international success, Hassan is keen to point out that her business is about more than just selling bras; it’s about starting a conversation around the needs of all women and how fashion entrepreneurs might be the ones to fill that gap.

“I think there is something to be said for women who can’t find what they’re looking for [and] not waiting for someone to give it to them, but going out and creating it.”