Ashley Jones ’15
Ashley Jones is a true trailblazer for entrepreneurship. Jones graduated from Norfolk State University in 2015. The young entrepreneur created designs for every campus group while attending NSU, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the Student Government Association (SGA). Jones thought there wasn't enough apparel that would appeal to the general public after making a haphazard trip to the university shop.
Tones of Melanin, an HBCU athleisure clothing business, was founded by Ashley Jones to be the solution. Additionally, founded in 2017, Tones of Melanin currently serves roughly forty HBCUs, including Elizabeth City State University, Norfolk State, and Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, also known as FAMU. The only Black- and woman-owned HBCU company in Fanatics, Belk Stores, and Dick's Sporting Goods is Tones of Melanin, a brand developed by an HBCU alumnus. The young entrepreneur and her company, Tones of Melanin, were given the chance to participate in the ABC business reality series Shark Tank in May 2023. Ashley Jones founded Tones of Melanin with the intention of promoting diversity representation in the fashion industry, especially regarding HBCU apparel and branding. Every design has a long-lasting product quality and is fashionable and inventive. Jones's feats continue to represent the enduring legacy of Norfolk State University.