"It’s time to rethink the definition of nude.”
The lingerie brand Nubian Skin is launching a new range of underwear, designed to be ‘nude’ on darker skin tones.
It is the brand’s aim to empower women by facilitating every woman to buy a nude lingerie collection that matches their natural skin tone.
The innovative idea aims to meet the needs of darker skin women whose skin does not match the pale beige ‘nude’ coloured underwear currently available in most stores, which is designed with white skin tones in mind.
The company’s founder explained: “My nude isn’t the nude I see in shops. Despite the reality that women of colour have the same needs as all women when it comes to lingerie and hosiery (and spend the same of their hard-earned money), the industry simply doesn’t cater to us.
“So, I thought, it’s time to rethink the definition of nude.”
Whilst it may seem obvious that one nude colour will not fit all, it is a gap in the industry that has so far gone on unnoticed.
Finding it impossible to get a ‘nude’ colour match is a problem that many Black, Asian and ethnic minority women have faced in the past.
Nude underwear is designed to be worn under slightly sheer clothing, so that it does not show through thin material and blend into the skin. However, for women of darker skin, traditional ‘nude’ underwear contrasts to their skin tone, rather than matching it.
One woman, Nicky Tucker said: “As women of colour we can all attest to how challenging it is to find natural tone lingerie.”
The new line of underwear shall include nude bras, hosiery, and knickers, all in a variety of styles and sizes to suit every woman. The first collection will start off in sizes 30B to 36E, but plans to sell larger plus sized garments in the near future.
The brand has explained its colour choices in terms of make-up shades, to give women a real idea of how much thought has been put into the variety of colour selection.
For example, Nubian Skin says its darkest shade of lingerie shall be Berry, which would match the skin tone of women that wear foundations such as Mac NW50, Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint in Beige 90 and Bobbi Brown Espresso 10.
The medium shade of the collection will be Cinnamon, and is catered towards women who wear Iman Earth 3-4 Bobbi Brown Warm Walnut, Mac NW45, Nars Macao and Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint in Beige 80. The colour is described as ‘a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy’.
So why has it taken the fashion world so long to notice that ‘nude’ underwear only caters to one ethnicity?
Despite fashion houses being run and started by women from all ethnic backgrounds, the industry as a whole still has a long way to go to promote equality and diversity with its products and model choices.
Speaking to DESIblitz, Nubian’s founder says: “It’s one thing to have a dream, it’s quite another to share it with the world.
“From The US to Brazil, London to India and back down to Nigeria, I truly feel that the different communities of colour have embraced our vision. Nubian Skin is my baby, and I’m grateful for the world village helping me raise it.”
With this new line, Nubian Skin hopes to redefine our understanding of nude, and to empower all women to embrace their natural skin tones.
The lingerie is set to be available online by October 2014.
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