Since our founding in 2015, Heist Studios has been committed to using technology to create radically better underwear. The poor quality hosiery, shapewear, and underwear we were used to just wasn’t cutting it for us anymore, we wanted to disrupt the $100 billion global underwear industry. How did we do this? We started with a top-drawer essential: the humble pair of tights.

 We've always been on a mission to innovate, and the question of what "nude" means in fashion had been swirling in the collective consciousness for a long while. Trickling down from makeup pioneers like Bobbi Brown, MAC, and L’Oreal, to fashion powerhouses like Christian Louboutin, who redefined nude as a "concept rather than a colour.", we took the issue head-on.

Makeup research has shown there are at least 66 shades of nude, yet fashion offers nothing but a ‘light’ and ‘dark’ option. It was clear to us that the fashion industry needed data—a lot of it—and a scientific approach to create nude shades that truly match a world-wide range of skin tones. Without this precision, inclusivity would remain an elusive goal.

In 2019, we launched The Nude Project. Over the course of two years, we collected data from 100,000 women, analysing their skin tones to ensure our findings were as comprehensive as possible. Using a sophisticated technique called Euclidean clustering, we identified 1,000 unique skin tones from our data set. This process allowed us to distil these variations into seven distinct shades of nude that any of the 100,000 women could match themselves to.

Our Creative Colour Component Map was crucial in this endeavour. By identifying the levels of red, green, and blue (RGB) in the skin tones of our participants from the UK, US, and EU, we could map the frequency and proportions of these colours. This rigorous scientific approach was the key to developing a more accurate and inclusive palette for the industry.

The seven shades of nude derived from our research became the foundation of one of our best-selling product ranges: The Nude. This range of nude tights solved the age-old problem of people being unable to find accurate representation in their underwear, and has become a product that is constantly flying off our shelves.

We chose a numbering system for our shades, rather than traditional names, to reflect the data-driven, scientific approach we took. This system underscores our commitment to precision and inclusivity, and makes it all that much easier for people to find their match.

Recognizing the broader industry's need for accurate representation, we made our groundbreaking data open-source. This means every designer and brand now has access to our spectrum of hues, empowering them to create products that truly reflect the diverse world we live in. The Nude Project marks a pivotal moment not only for Heist but for the entire fashion industry.

The breakthrough success of our Nude tights didn't happen by chance; it emerged from our commitment to inclusivity and innovation, and a desire to make tangible change in the fashion industry. Quickly becoming our bestseller, the Nude has transformed the daily lives of countless women, allowing them to feel more secure and empowered in their own skin. Recognizing that finding the perfect nude match was essential, we developed the Nude Shade Finder, a revolutionary tool to help women identify the exact shade of tights that aligns with their skin tone. This precision-matching technology has empowered women to embrace their unique beauty with confidence.

We are excited to announce the expansion of our Nude Collection, with the launch of two new innovative styles: Bare Nude and Contour Nude. The Bare Nude offers a barely-there, seamless look perfect for any outfit, while the Contour Nude provides gentle shaping and support, enhancing natural curves without compromising on comfort. These additions are designed to cater to even more needs and preferences, ensuring every woman can find her perfect fit.