Melanin Manchester

Melanin Markets follows success of Black Pound Day

Bianca Danielle (L) and Kelly Morgan (Image: Supplied)

HUNDREDS OF keen shoppers gathered in Manchester to support black-owned businesses at a new kind of Christmas market. 

Melanin Markets, one the city’s biggest showcases of black businesses, was put together by business-owners and native Mancunians Kelly Morgan, 32, and Bianca Danielle, 31.

After being introduced by a mutual friend, the entrepreneurs realised they shared the same passion in creating a space for black talent to thrive. 

With the success of the ongoing Black Pound Movement, a festive market celebrating the creativity and diversity of their community was born.

For Kelly, after spending six years living in London before returning to Manchester, her mission was to make the northern city feel like home for black consumers.

We’re navigating spaces as well like the theatre that historically were not places for black people

Kelly Morgan

I was spoilt for choice when it came to black owned businesses or finding shops and places to find gifts that represented us and our culture and that just kind of honoured multiculturalism to a deeper level,” she told The Voice.

We felt like it would be a really good thing to bring a market to Manchester, which is not only beneficial to the black community, but it’s accessible to all communities. 

We do have some markets that promote the Black Pound movement. However, they’re very much in places where it’s predominantly just the black community accessing those places…we also feel like it’s important for the wider community to see us and for us to take spaces in public domains.

The highly-anticipated event, which was held at one of Manchester’s most popular theatres, was special to the duo who previously worked there at different times, but also for the message it sends to the black community. 

“Melanin Markets is not just about putting black businesses on a pedestal, it’s us celebrating each other,” says Bianca.

“We’re navigating spaces as well like the theatre that historically is not a place for black people, and black people in our community don’t go to the theatre normally.

“We’re saying to people it’s okay to come into a space that will embrace you and we’re using the Christmas market as that vehicle.”

Over 100 vendors applied to put their businesses on the map at the first Melanin Markets, and the pair wilted it down to around 40 stores selling an array of goods from hand-made jewellery, self-published books, food and drink and clothing sourced from different corners of Africa. 

Pamela Richards is the founder of Craftspiration, who’s handmade jewellery is inspired by giving young people a space to express themselves. She described the turnout of the event as “overwhelming”.

“I literally have no words…I hope that we can continue to go with it [the promotion of black businesses in Manchester] because I think it’s fantastic.”

Bianca’s own brand, Ruby Dean Designs – named after her grandmother who she describes as a “living legend” – takes inspiration from her Jamaican culture when creating her handmade accessories.

She and Kelly, the owner of Plantain Avenue, currently sell their products online to regular and growing customers, but have seen firsthand the unique struggles black business owners often face in the market. 

But they also feel that encountering these everyday microaggressions with each other has made them stronger business women.

“When you work with white led institutions, when you’re trying to translate your values, your aims and your goals, sometimes I get frustrated and talk about it out of emotion, and I feel like I’m not being able to get my point across,” says Bianca. 

“But, Kelly is able to be there and we navigate that together. There’s just so much power in that because it’s a lived experience, it’s a shared experience.”

She adds: “There’s just so much power in that because it’s a lived experience, it’s a shared experience. and as well like That then helps us forevermore to really help the vendors that we’ve got on board. 

“We understand how to register a business, public liability insurance, the branding of your business, we understand it because we’ve done that too. So, we were on the same journeys as our vendors.”

Despite their success, the pair have continued to come up against those on social media who still question why there has to be a market solely dedicated to black businesses.

However, a report by the Runnymede Trust unearthed that for every £1 of white wealth, black Caribbeans have £0.20p and black Africans have £0.10p.

A black household on average has one-quarter of the wealth of a white household amongst others.

“We have had a couple of like tweets where they say this is not inclusive and that it’s racism against white people,” says Bianca. 

“It doesn’t make any sense, because actually we’re showcasing black businesses. But we are constantly saying the whole point is that all communities come in and spend black.

All communities have this opportunity to be introduced to black businesses as normal practice and not just for festive shopping.”

The duo have dreams of making Melanin Markets an annual event for the city of Manchester and hope to be centre stage in bigger venues for more black owned-businesses like their very own to have their limelight. 

We’re loud, black women. We’re strong, we’re not meek women. With Kelly’s brand, it’s called Plantain Avenue with my brand, it’s named after my Caribbean Nana. We don’t shy away.

Right now that London energy is starting to really push through in Manchester. There’s people who are really making noise and doing it loudly and we want to be part of amplifying that.”

To find out more about black businesses in Manchester, visit Melanin Markets.

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