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Close-up of a person wearing a gold necklace featuring a melanin molecule pendant. The text Eumelanin appears with its phonetic spelling and definition, highlighting it as the pigment behind black and brown skin tones—a unique piece you can shop to celebrate science in style.Close-up of a person wearing a gold necklace featuring a melanin molecule pendant. The text Eumelanin appears with its phonetic spelling and definition, highlighting it as the pigment behind black and brown skin tones—a unique piece you can shop to celebrate science in style.

Our Story

EUMELANIN is a luxury fashion brand that celebrates Melanin-rich beauty through merging scientific innovation with cultural heritage. We use the chemical structure of melanin as a focal point in design to create high-quality leather goods. Our color palette is named after Black fashion pioneers who paved the way in American fashion, honoring their contributions and telling their stories of groundbreaking techniques, styles, and methods of design that have gone unrecognized throughout history. Our mission is to honor melanin-rich skin tones and challenge traditional beauty norms through design, science, and empowerment.

Through our products, we tell powerful stories of identity, innovation, and the untold legacy of Black fashion pioneers.

About the Founder

I am a Chemist. I am a Fashion Designer. I am a Black Woman.

As a proud Detroit-raised chemist, fashion designer, and Black woman, I fused my passions to create EUMELANIN—a brand that challenges colorism, celebrates Black identity, and uplifts melanated people everywhere.

A person smiling against a brown background showcases their eumelanin-rich skin. Their long braided hair complements a white shirt and brown top, while multiple gold chains gracefully adorn their neck, creating a chic look that would be perfect for any trendy shop setting.

Science and Style

EUMELANIN is more than fashion; it’s a statement. My journey began in 2018 when I combined my scientific expertise with my creative passion to build a brand that celebrates every shade of melanin. I leveraged the power of fashion, one of the most influential and widely consumed industries globally—to turn science into style and style into empowerment.

A woman in a brown top stands smiling beside a wooden table in the Eumelanin Shop. Behind her, shelves display folded clothes and hats. A vase with flowers graces the table, while a checkered wall design adds charm to the stylish clothing store backdrop.

The Vision

At EUMELANIN, I use fashion as a tool for empowerment, celebration, and honor. The brand's distinctive hexagon shape, which appears in all product designs, is inspired by the chemical structure of melanin, paying homage to its significance and beauty. This intersection of science and fashion is at the heart of my vision for EUMELANIN—to celebrate self-love, embrace authenticity, and empower melanated beauty.


Deirdre Roberson,
Founder of EUMELANIN

A woman stands confidently in a brown coat and a scientific-themed t-shirt with molecule illustrations. Her curly eumelanin-rich hair is tied back, complementing her gold hoop earrings and pendant necklace. Behind her, large white pillars add to the ambiance of this sophisticated shop.

Fighting Colorism Through Fashion.

A woman with long, curly hair is speaking on stage. She wears a brown T-shirt featuring the chemical structure labeled Eumelanin. The background is a warm, wood-paneled wall. Her gestures are animated, as if inviting the audience to shop for knowledge and insight.

Fashion and its manipulation on the body has always been a tool for social change

Our founder, Deirdre, gave a talk on behalf of TEDxDetroit where she linked her own experience growing up as a dark skinned woman to her desire to combat colorism through EUMELANIN and fashion. Our designs center black and brown shades to reflect the beauty and richness of melanated skin. The variety of skin tone and type serves as inspiration, and we celebrate those differences to uplift communities.

A person in stylish dark clothing, rich in eumelanin hues, and boots stands on a glass walkway, holding a brown handbag. In front of large banners that read Coterie Network, the scene is an indoor venue with pink carpeted areas below—a perfect backdrop for a chic shopping experience.
A person stands smiling behind a display of hexagonal handbags in various colors, including black, brown, and tan at the Eumelanin Shop. The bags are arranged on yellow stands and paired with photographs of models. The person wears a dark outfit and gold jewelry.
A person poses confidently with a collection of four handbags in various shades of eumelanin brown. The background is a warm, dark brown with geometric accents. Text reads Introducing HEX mini BAG. Ready to shop?.
A person with styled eumelanin-rich hair poses with a brown hexagonal handbag. Next to them is a stack of three more bags in orange, tan, and black. They stand against a brown background, wearing a white shirt and dark pants, showcasing the perfect shop-ready ensemble.
A speaker stands on the TEDxDetroit stage, eloquently weaving a narrative. Behind her, two images are projected: one showcasing a person in military uniform and another of cheerful children. The TEDxDetroit logo is visible, adding to the shop-like atmosphere of shared stories and eumelanin-rich experiences.
A woman with long braided hair rich in eumelanin smiles at the camera, wearing a leopard print dress with puffed sleeves and a beige belt. She accessorizes with hoop earrings and layered necklaces in a warmly lit indoor space, looking ready to shop the latest trends.
A person in a glittery dress beams as they point at the Eumelanin logo on a black backdrop adorned with various logos, including Mastercard. The setting seems to be a formal promotional event, highlighting Eumelanins allure and inviting guests to explore their exclusive shop.
A person wearing a T-shirt adorned with a chemical structure labeled Melanin stands confidently, representing the essence of Eumelanin products. The background features partially visible text, and the image is in classic black and white.
2025

The Workshop at Macy's

Selected as 1 of 25 brands for The Workshop at Macy's—the premier retail accelerator program for underrepresented brands. This milestone sets the stage for our next level of growth into established retail spaces.

FEBRUARY 2025

COTERIE NY Emerging Designer

EUMELANIN selected as an Emerging Designer at COTERIE NY, one of the premier luxury and contemporary fashion trade events.

2024

MFC Fashion Incubator Program

EUMELANIN selected for the MMGNET Fashion for Change (MFC) Incubator Program, supporting Black-owned brands through complimentary participation in fashion wholesale events, editorial features, individualized mentorship, and marketing promotion.

AUGUST 2024

The HEX Mini Bag Launch

Responding to customer demand, we launched The HEX Mini Bag—featuring our iconic hexagonal silhouette in a more compact design while maintaining our premium quality.

2022

The HEX Bag™ Goes Viral

On Juneteenth 2024, we launched The HEX Bag™, which quickly went viral with over 10,000 shares. This marked our debut in the luxury market.

2021

TEDxDetroit Talk

In 2021, our founder, Deirdre Roberson, delivered a TEDx Talk titled "Fighting Colorism with Fashion."

2021

Featured by MasterCard

EUMELANIN was spotlighted in a national MasterCard commercial that aired during the 2021 Grammys and on over 20 major networks.

2019

ESSENCE Festival Feature

In 2019, EUMELANIN was showcased at the ESSENCE Festival and included on their Shop ESSENCE platform.

2018

International Reach

Since our launch in 2018, EUMELANIN has achieved international sales, solidifying its global presence.
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