Melanin Meanings

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Oakland, CA
Melanin Meanings

Stationery accessories and novelty pins for purpose, passion + play. Black Woman Owned.

05/07/2026

Happy Small Business Week! It’s Spring and everything’s growing.

I’m proud to announce the completion of the & the Alley-Oop Accelerator Program alongside over 20 Bay Area service and product based business owners. The technical assistance training and 1:1 business development came right on time as I’m trying to watch my margins and stay on top of COG’s.

I founded Melanin Meanings in 2020 at the height of uncertainty. The world had stopped and somehow that became the moment to start. Six years later we’re still here. Hard lessons. Steady growth…and a mean tariff two step to show for it.

To all of the members of the work after work, and late night/early morning club…this week is for you. The infrastructure you are building right now matters more than it may feel in the moment.

Everyday it becomes clearer that economic resilience is a huge missing piece to the puzzle. It builds healthy communities, secures families and changes lives. Small businesses in underserved communities need more than encouragement, we need tangible investment and real opportunity to grow. Thank you Chase, Golden State Warriors, , and entire team!

05/05/2026

Last call ✨

Making our last USPS run in the am for Mother’s Day pencil sets. These are a sweet addition for Mom, Bae and/or the women who hold it together in your life.

Something unique… just like her 💐

05/02/2026

Last month I had the honor of vending at Soko Market during ’s Harambee 2026 Conference and I left full.

Full from the reunion energy of being in an intentionally Black centered philanthropic space after years away, with people I’ve respected in close proximity and from afar.

Full from watching people discover Melanin Meanings for the first time and get stopped in their tracks by an unlocked memory after seeing our products...and others looking for a collection I haven’t released in years.

I connected with a beautiful sister doing amazing work in New Orleans. She came excited to share about her husband (a pin lover!) purchasing from us online and later finding me in person during the 2024 Festival of Culture. The moment she said his name I remembered him immediately. She came and shopped every single day of the conference and brought others. Dr. Batten saw our pencil sets and immediately mentioned she’s been receiving emails from powered by Essence about them. These experiences are not transactional for me. It’s all about strengthening the threads that connect us.

After 5,000+ orders I still pack and sign everything personally. I know that won’t always be possible. But I’m holding onto that feeling until I can’t.

What made this weekend even more special was being surrounded by peers. Fellow Black owned businesses in that space were not just vendors, we were in conversation the entire time about how intentional everything felt from day one. It was contagious.

Melanin Meanings exists at the intersection of Black culture, nostalgia and everyday creativity. Moments like Harambee remind me that the people who need to find us, will.

Grateful for everyone who stopped by, shared love, and took something home. You are why I keep creating.

01/23/2026

Just trying to tighten up my strategy.

Loving this copper order.

Big goals. Higher bars.

01/02/2026

Day 7 of Kwanzaa: Imani
Faith

As a child my faith was inherited…and when I embraced it for myself, I saw it with new eyes, deeper meaning and responsibility.

3 John 1:2

Happy New Year 🥳

01/01/2026

Day 6 of Kwanzaa: Kuumba
Creativity

Still creating. Still exploring and still finding new ways to celebrate who we are as we walk into year six.

When we introduced our foiled cowrie shell washi…our collective joy turned into so many beautiful things. I’m always looking back at tagged photos of all the ways many chose to use it. Thank you.

Something is coming…tariffs be dammed lol.

Shine ✨

12/31/2025

Day 5 of Kwanzaa: Nia
Purpose

Choose to live on purpose.
Love in purpose.
Create in purpose.
Build on purpose.
Plant in purpose.
Bloom in purpose.
Shift on purpose.
Show up in purpose.

Whether working in or on your business…remember our work is bigger than us.

Stay grounded ✨

12/30/2025

Day 4 of Kwanzaa: Ujamaa
Cooperative Economics

In a moment when the economy is unpredictable and many of us are navigating real challenges as business owners, did something powerful…they didn’t just talk about supporting Black businesses — they built infrastructure for us.

The WELOVEUS.shop marketplace intentionally amplifies Black-owned product based brands. They leveraged their platform and reach so our businesses could be seen and supported.

We needed this.
This is Ujamaa in action.
And it matters.

Thank you to and because BOTH (hello somebody!!) articles affirmed my purpose and strengthened my resolve.

I’m grateful to be included alongside growing giftable and scalable brands. 🖤

On purpose ✨

12/29/2025

Day 3 of Kwanzaa: Ujima
Collective work and responsibility.

The principles of Kwanzaa are transformational. Not just this week, but as they are applied in our actions and deeds.

Collective strength is gathering, planting and nurturing. From trees to a forest, a bee to a hive, raindrops to a river, and a soloist to a choir.

Imagine the possibilities when we begin to row in the same direction.

In unison ✨

12/28/2025

Kujichagulia: Self-Determination

When I tell our origin story, it’s often the polished version of being my passion project while creating balance between work/life/pandemic stress/caregiving. All of that is true, but make no mistake about it…frustration was fuel also. I was determined to create something that existed outside of animal print being their retail definition of us.

We define us…and just when you think of shrinking, or that it’s enough, remind yourself to put some sauce on it and go BIGGER.

Stay Determined ✨

Address

Oakland, CA
94602

Telephone

+15109842519

Website

http://melaninmeanings.com/

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