Founder of Black-Owned Gift Wrapping Paper Says Chinese Companies Are Stealing Her Designs
Ardean Miller-Marbley, Founder and CEO of Mah Melanin, the trailblazing African American–owned stationery and gift wrap brand, is raising alarm after discovering that multiple Chinese and other overseas companies are copying her signature designs and misleading consumers with counterfeit products.
Mah Melanin is more than a viral TikTok sensation. It is the first Black-owned stationery brand to secure national retail placement in Sam’s Club, Lowe’s, and Hallmark in the gift wrap category. This year marks Mah Melanin’s fourth consecutive holiday season in Sam’s Club, underscoring the retailer’s commitment to diversity and authentic partnerships.
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But Miller-Marbley says that success has come with a devastating cost. After Mah Melanin’s culturally inspired gift wrap designs went viral on TikTok, overseas companies began lifting the artwork, misusing Mah Melanin’s videos, and even misrepresenting their overseas brand as Black-owned to trick customers.
“All my life I had to fight, and here I am still fighting,” said Miller-Marbley. “I fought to break into a category where almost no African Americans are represented. I built Mah Melanin to reflect our culture, our families, our stories. And now, overseas companies are stealing not just my designs, but pieces of my heritage.”
The counterfeits are more than an intellectual property violation, they risk damaging consumer trust. Customers who unknowingly purchase knockoff wrapping paper may associate poor quality with Mah Melanin’s name, even though the brand’s products are trademarked, copyrighted, and distributed exclusively through its retail partners and official website.
Miller-Marbley points out that Mah Melanin’s characters carry deep personal meaning:
• The grandmother figure on the green wrap was inspired by her own
grandmother.
• The character wearing a gold chain and sneakers has become a cultural icon, featured by Master P and endorsed by Teddy Riley.
• Another design reflects Miller-Marbley’s mother.
“These designs are born from lived experience in the Black community,” said Miller-Marbley. “They can’t be replicated by companies that have no ties to our culture. It’s not just theft—it’s erasure.”
Miller-Marbley says counterfeiters are now siphoning customers, profits, and culture. “We are a trademarked brand, protected by copyright, and yet we’re still forced to prove over and over again that these are our designs,” said Miller-Marbley. “Meanwhile, counterfeiters operate unchecked. It’s an unfair fight, and one that could bankrupt small businesses like mine.”
The issue is not isolated. Miller-Marbley highlights the broader economic toll and connected with another small business owner who recently reported over $235,000 in lost sales to counterfeit sellers. “If left unchecked, this problem threatens not only creativity but also livelihoods,” Miller-Marbley said.
Mah Melanin is urging consumers to remain vigilant by purchasing only from trusted retailers such as Sam’s Club, Hallmark, ShoptheHood.com, Mah Melanin’s official TikTok shop and the official Mah Melanin website. Customers are encouraged to report counterfeit ads on Facebook, TikTok, and Amazon.
“This fight is bigger than me,” Miller-Marbley added. “It’s about protecting small businesses, protecting culture, and protecting what we’ve built. I am grateful to my customers, community, and retail partners for standing with Mah Melanin. Together, we can make sure our authentic designs—and our story—remain ours.”
Here are the names of some of the overseas companies that have stolen her designs: Hedition-y, Simply By All Means, Limitedous, CeremonyK, Uniteous, Welfarek, Chicclos, Defnpacious-S, Trovetidy, and various accounts on TikTok including EminentKnown (@EM5028156), Household Daily Necessities 0.1, Silver Etoile, and Harbor Etoile.
About
Mah Melanin is the first African American–owned stationery and gift wrap brand to secure national retail partnerships in Sam’s Club, Lowe’s, and Hallmark. Founded by New Orleans native Ardean Miller-Marbley, the brand celebrates Black culture and heritage through high- quality, culturally inspired gift wrap designs that have gone viral across social media. Mah Melanin’s mission is to bring representation, authenticity, and joy to every celebration. Learn more at MahMelanin.com
For press inquiries, contact Kenyelle Ash at kenyelle@theletslaunchagency.
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