Company - Mely's

COMPANY

LET’S GO, I FEEL SOMEONE IS WAITING FOR ME IN PARIS

Madame Sanarelli

HISTORY

1956

Mely’s is founded by Amelia Donati together with her husband, Italo Sanarelli. Thanks to Amelia’s talent and ambition, and Italo’s entrepreneurial skills, the company enjoys steady growth, driven by the strength of the family unit.

’50s

Mely’s establishes collaborations with clothing wholesalers and begins to gain a reputation for the quality of its creations.

1961

Driven by burning ambition, Amelia decides to set off with her husband Italo, bound for France, her native country. Here she knocks on the door of Monsieur Bosque, head of purchasing for Gallerie La Fayette, and succeeds in getting her first structured order. This marks the start of scheduled management of production.

‘60s

Florence becomes the cradle of Italian fashion and Mely’s rides the wave of the economic boom, investing in training with a view to offering knitwear of outstanding quality.

’70s

Mely’s establishes its first partnerships with haute couture and top prêt-à-porter fashion houses, embarking on a journey of technical growth and refinement of know-how, and opening up new markets for the company.

MID ’80s

Mely’s ends its partnerships with the sales offices in Florence, investing further resources instead in top quality raw materials and production processes, collaborating exclusively with haute couture fashion houses. In this period, Amelia and Italo’s children, Marco and Elena, join the business.

’90s

Mely’s invests in hi-tech machinery for knitwear manufacturing, while maintaining its focus on the exquisite craftsmanship of its products.

2000s

The company moves to new, larger and more efficient premises. Marco and Elena remain at the helm, assisted by Daniela and husband Marcello.

2017

Marco Sanarelli buys out his sister’s share and, together with Daniela Zuccherelli, heads the company, which now welcomes the third generation: Maria Claudia Sanarelli is Operations Manager, Maria Elena Sanarelli heads the research and development department, and Maria Laura Sanarelli is specialized in quality control.

TODAY

Mely’s is a manufacturing company renowned internationally for its excellence, with a workforce of over 120 specialized staff who manage every stage of production, from prototyping to shipping.

A FAMILY HISTORY,

A SUCCESS STORY

MISSION

To promote and enhance the synergy between tradition and innovation, preserving the art of knitwear and constantly renewing it.

Mely’s offers a comprehensive service, 100% Made in Italy, to leading fashion houses and up-and-coming stylists, constantly investing in the study of craftsmanship techniques, in innovative new machinery, and in sourcing raw materials of excellent quality.

CUSTODIANS OF AN ITALIAN SARTORIAL HISTORY

SWATCHES ARCHIVE

Mely’s swatches archive contains more than 5,000 knitwear samples, organized and classified by yarn, type of knitting and year of production. This is a precious tool which supports the creativity of designers and stylists from all over the world, and the research and development department, which uses the collection as a source of inspiration for new experimentation.

MELY’S MUSEUM

Mely’s has meticulously cataloged and archived finished garments created over the years, carefully preserving them: this has enabled the creation of a veritable museum of haute couture knitwear. Documenting over 45 years of production with more than 7,000 garments, the space is a source of inspiration and a historical record, recounting the evolution of style and expertise that has taken the company to where it is today.

MELY’S ACADEMY

In the past, sartorial skills were passed down from one generation to the next, but today knitwear requires study, constant practice, manual skill and passion. Mely’s is committed to preserving and spreading the culture and techniques of knitting through the Mely’s Academy and its training sessions and on-the-job training for young people eager to take up this profession. This is a unique opportunity to learn the art of knitwear, from theory to practice, taking part in an age-old handicraft tradition.

TERRITORY WHICH BECOMES IDENTITY

An ambassador of its local heritage, Mely’s takes inspiration from the beauty and culture of its surrounding area and adopts sustainable practices in manufacturing and management processes in a bid to minimize its environmental impact and contribute to people’s wellbeing.