“Melyon is designed for melanin-rich skin, but it's created for everyone.” Interview with founder Roger Dupé
From the Vogue runway and the historic H&M campaign in Times Square to the universe of inclusive beauty: the story of Roger Dupé is that of a personal and cultural revolution. Born in Sweden in 1991 to immigrant parents, the first black model to make history for Rolls-Royce and Kenzo transformed the skincare rituals handed down by his West African family into a mission of self-love. With the birth of Melyon, Dupé has redefined the concept of accessible luxury, celebrating every skin tone through formulas that smell of tradition, identity and redemption. In this interview he told us how the brand was born, the value of its roots and what it means to break the aesthetic canons of the industry.
Interview with Roger Dupé, founder of Melyon
You described your parents' approach to skincare as a form of 'affordable luxury'. Looking back, how did those simple everyday gestures shape your idea of true luxury?
Growing up, luxury wasn't something we bought, it was something we practiced. My parents didn't have shelves full of expensive products, but they never made any compromises when it came to taking care of themselves. Looking well-groomed, moisturized and proud of your image was a way to show respect for yourself and those around you. This is a teaching that has stayed with me. Today I don't define luxury through exclusivity or price, but through intention. Luxury means creating something with care, using the best ingredients, a careful design and authentic craftsmanship, making people feel valued and seen. And that's exactly what I wanted Melyon to become: a brand able to transform everyday routine into a special moment.
Which specific rituals or ingredients handed down by your family had the greatest influence on Melyon's formulas?
In my house, West African ingredients were never perceived as something exotic, they were part of everyday life. Shea butter, black soap, moringa and baobab had been used for generations, long before skincare became a matter of trend or marketing. Growing up, I was fascinated by why these ingredients had stood the test of time for so long. And that curiosity spontaneously led me to science. With Melyon we have united two worlds that in my opinion should never be separated: ancestral knowledge and modern scientific research. Cultural heritage gives us centuries of experience, while science helps us understand, refine and maximize the benefits of those ingredients. For me, innovation does not mean replacing tradition. It means respecting it enough to make it even better.
How did your personal experiences in an often uninclusive fashion industry inspire you to create Melyon?
Fashion has given me opportunities that I could never have imagined. It allowed me to travel the world and work with incredible brands. At the same time, however, it made me experience first-hand a problem that many people with dark skin are well aware of: often the products were not designed for us. Whether it was skincare, hair care or make-up, the expectation was that you would adapt, rather than being considered from the start. I never wanted Melyon to start as a controversial reaction to all this. I wanted it to become an example of what the industry could and should be like. We started by asking the right questions, planning with intention and making sure that people felt represented. Not to chase a trend, but because it should be the norm.
What was the most complex challenge you faced when you launched Melyon?
Understand that to found a company you must become a person you have never been before. Each phase requires a new version of yourself. One day you're focused on product development, the next you're looking for funds, hiring people, solving supply chain problems, or making difficult decisions that impact the lives of others. I've learned that being an entrepreneur doesn't mean always having all the answers. It means keeping your cool when you don't have them. The biggest lesson was learning to trust the path, even at times when no one else could yet see my vision.
How can you balance creating specific solutions for dark skin while maintaining an inclusive approach for every skin type?
It is often thought that inclusivity coincides with creating something generic that works for everyone. I think it's the exact opposite. True inclusivity starts from recognizing that different needs require different answers. If you really solve those needs without compromising on quality, you'll end up creating products that benefit a much wider audience. Melyon was designed with melanin-rich skin in mind because for too long that perspective has been ignored. But skin health isn't defined by color. And that's why our philosophy has always been: designed for melanin-rich skin. Built for everyone.
The aesthetics of the brand appear deeply rooted in modern Scandinavian design, while paying homage to your African roots. How do you manage to merge these two worlds?
I've never really seen them as two separate worlds. They are both part of who they are. Growing up straddling Swedish culture and my Ghanaian roots has taught me that identity is not a choice of choice. Rather, it is a matter of welcoming both of your souls. The Scandinavian design brings with it simplicity, functionality and a timeless aesthetic. West African culture brings warmth, storytelling, craftsmanship, and an extraordinary botanical tradition. Melyon was born exactly where these worlds meet in a natural way.
The debate surrounding male grooming and self-care is changing rapidly. How do you think Melyon is contributing to this new era of male well-being?
I believe that the very concept of self-confidence is finally being redefined. For a long time, self-care was mistaken for vanity. I see it differently. Taking care of yourself is a matter of personal respect. It means feeling good in your skin and carving out small moments during the day to reconnect with yourself. These are the moments that matter. Melyon doesn't want to tell men what they should look like. We simply want to encourage people to take care of themselves, because they deserve it.
If you could go back and talk to your child growing up in Västerås, what would you tell him about security, identity and the path that awaits him?
I would tell him to stop trying so hard to go into rooms that weren't built for him. Because one day he will build one of his own. I would tell him that security does not come from approving others, but from accepting who you are, where you come from and from understanding that your story has value. The things that I once thought made me different have become the foundation of everything I have built. And that is perhaps the greatest lesson of all. You don't have to become someone else to be successful. The world needs more people who have the courage to truly be themselves. This is the journey that Melyon is taking, and it is the journey that I am still on today.
