OUR STORY

Melanin Markets (MM) is a Manchester-based platform on a mission to elevate Black-owned businesses and shift the narrative around Black entrepreneurship in the UK.

Founded to challenge the deep-rooted underrepresentation and lack of inclusivity in mainstream business spaces, MM reclaims space through bold building takeovers and city-wide pop-ups across the North West. We’ve transformed iconic venues like the Royal Exchange Theatre, Aviva Studios, and HOME Manchester into vibrant marketplaces — celebrating Black creativity, commerce, and community.

Each edition of Melanin Markets is carefully curated, and often themed to tell deeper stories. The Kings Edition, for example — pictured above — was dedicated to Black men in business. It spotlighted masculine versatility, dismantled stereotypes, and championed authentic self-expression and emotional truth.

To date, we've welcomed over 25,000 visitors and amplified more than 600 Black-owned brands. Our trusted partnerships with organisations like Nike, JD, the University of Manchester, and local institutions have helped expand our reach and deepen our impact.

Now growing into festivals, workshops, and community-focused experiences, Melanin Markets continues to innovate — honouring our roots while shaping a new future for Black business in Britain.