The Parade Origin Story
Est. 2019
Twenty-two-year-old Cami Tellez was tired of seeing the same supermodels in angel wings advertising pink, lace thongs for prices that were simply unattainable to most. Recognizing the underwear space was in need of a massive transformation, she set out on a mission to spark that change, herself. With one semester left in her college career, she dropped out of Columbia University, and dedicated her full focus to building a better underwear brand; the kind of inclusive, body-positive brand she wished had existed when she was small.
With her younger sister in mind, she worked with her friend Jack DeFuria to build a brand rooted in originality, sustainability, advocacy, and inclusivity. This dynamic duo went on to challenge the status quo, successfully raising $8 million in funding — with half a million pairs of underwear sold in just one year.
This fresh, female-founded, technicolor underwear brand is just as empowering as it is fun. Parade is more than their product; they’ve created a community of women and fem-identifying people that are redefining what it means to be “sexy” by showing the world exactly what they’re working with — stretch marks and all — and celebrating that act of self-assurance. In all of this confetti-colored confidence is a person that’s proud of who they are and comfortable in their own skin, and inspiring that kind of positivity is Parade’s core purpose.
