About Perfect Brown

Our Story

Perfect Brown was inspired by a simple, honest conversation between a parent and child. One afternoon, on our way home after I picked up my daughter Malaya from elementary school, she began telling me about a class project she was working on. The assignment was to create a self-portrait. During the project, it was explained to the class that Black people come in different shades and skin tones.

At the time, Malaya didn’t fully understand the concept of skin tones or what those differences meant and with genuine curiosity and innocence she asked me a question that gave me pause: “What color brown am I?” It wasn't that I felt that the question was wrong, but because I realized how early these ideas are introduced and how important the answer could be I paused (thinking carefully about what to say and how much to say) and the answer came to me clearly and I said to her:

“You are Perfect Brown—like me, like Mommy and like Granny. Every brown person is Perfect Brown.”

That moment became more than just a response, it became a reminder, a declaration and a message that deserved to live beyond that car ride. Perfect Brown was created to affirm what our children (as well as adults) deserve to know from the very beginning that our skin is special, beautiful and Perfect Brown no matter it's shade. Perfect Brown is more than a brand, it’s an affirmation, a legacy and truth that should be passed down.