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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 Black American luxury leather goods brand, built at the intersection of science, identity, and cultural legacy. The name comes from the pigment responsible for the black and brown color in skin, and the brand draws its design language from the molecular structure of that pigment, with its hexagonal features embedded throughout the work. Our color palette carries the stories of Black American fashion pioneers whose groundbreaking techniques and contributions helped shape the industry. EUMELANIN builds on the legacy and contributions of Black Americans to define and expand the future of luxury.

About the Founder

I am a chemist. I am a designer. I am a Black woman.

As a chemist, I understand the structure of things. Science taught me how the world works. As a designer, I imagine what it can become and shape it.

I was born and raised in Detroit, and it is the foundation of who I am. Detroit taught me how to see myself, how to move through the world, and how to understand the richness of my culture, its resilience, its gifts, and the strength of Black American life. Everything I build carries that.

Milan is where I went deeper into design and craft, where I learned to give that foundation form. Between these two worlds, EUMELANIN takes shape, the same way the chemist and the designer in me have always been one.

Deirdre Roberson, Founder of EUMELANIN

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 becomes design · Design becomes cultural legacy ·

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 has always been a tool for change.

Our founder, Deirdre Roberson, at TEDxDetroit, on fashion as a force for change and the belief that design can shift how we see ourselves. That conviction lives in EUMELANIN today.

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 2022, 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 talk at TEDxDetroit.

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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