Ashley Jones is the founder of the HBCU athleisure clothing brand, Tones of Melanin.

Jones is a Norfolk State University class of 2015 alumna. While at NSU, the young entrepreneur designed for every organization on campus, including the Student Government Association (SGA) and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. After a random visit to the university bookstore, Jones felt there was a lack of sportswear that would be appealing to the masses.

Tones of Melanin was born in 2017 and has about 40 HBCU clients, including the Norfolk State, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University aka FAMU and Elizabeth City State University.

In May 2023, the young businesswoman and her enterprise, Tones of Melanin, received an opportunity to appear on the ABC business reality show, Shark Tank.

Tones of Melanin is the only HBCU brand that is created by a HBCU graduate that is sold at Fanatics, Belk Stores, and Dick's Sporting Goods, making it the only Black and Woman-Owned HBCU Company in any of these stores.

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