HBCU Alumna builds fashion brand celebrating school pride and heritage

Third-generation HBCU alumna Cheylaina Fultz has turned her vision of culturally meaningful apparel into a growing fashion brand, HBCU Legacy Fashion, which spotlights the pride and heritage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The concept emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic when Fultz, then expecting a child, revisited an idea to create stylish, enduring apparel that goes beyond typical collegiate merchandise, according to Essence magazine.

Rejecting fast-fashion tropes, Fultz designed pieces intended to last and be passed down across generations, expanding from children’s apparel into adult items catering to graduates, current students and families eager to represent their institutions and Divine Nine organisations.

Beyond sales, HBCU Legacy Fashion incorporates cultural education by engaging with schools and communities to highlight the history and significance of HBCUs, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to empowerment through style.