Founded in 1979 by the Grendene Bartelle brothers, Melissa is a high-end, sustainable shoe brand based in Brazil. The original shoe design was inspired by footwear worn by French Riviera fishermen which has since become a fashion symbol for generations. 

At the foundation of the brand, Melissa focuses on sustainable shoes without sacrificing art, fashion, and design. They have maintained their space in the pop-luxury fashion demographic with their iconic Jelly shoes, while staying fresh and fun for all ages. They aspire to always be the same, but always different.

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What is Mini Melissa? 

Mini Melissa is a line of baby, toddler, and kids shoes from the brand Melissa. The brand is extremely passionate about sustainability and being eco-friendly. The sustainability page on their website has impressive data and information on what they are doing and how they are taking a big stand to ensure a better world now, and for future generations.

One item on their sustainability agenda is transparency. Since 2020, they have been collaborating with the Fashion Revolution Transparency Index, which is the world’s largest fashion activism movement, mobilizing citizens, brands, and policymakers through research, education, and advocacy. The Fashion Transparency Index reviews and ranks the world’s largest fashion brands and retailers according to the information they disclose about their social and environmental policies, practices, and impacts, on their operations and supply chain. In 2020, Melissa had the biggest leap in performance among the brands reviewed.

Is Melissa a luxury brand? 

Yes. Melissa is a high-end brand that respects life, the community and works to preserve the environment. Melissa is also vegan, sustainable, eco-friendly, and recyclable, which is hard to find in the luxury apparel sector. They devote time, research and technology to develop a production chain that is attentive to the current global landscape.

Sustainable development is the balance between economic growth and environmental protection. It includes recognizing local cultures and social inclusion and is achieved through a combination of positive, constructive practices.

They focus on eco-efficient operations, with efforts to minimize the impact caused by production. In 1 year, 1,810 MWh of renewable energy was generated, which is enough for 1,000 houses to use that amount of energy at the same time. This proves you do not have to sacrifice sustainability for luxury. 

Who makes Mini Melissa? 

The brand, Melissa, makes Mini Melissa. All items are proudly made in Brazil.

What does Mini Melissa sell? 

Mini Melissa sells different styles of shoes, many of which are the iconic “jelly” style shoes for the brand:

• Boots
• Flats
• Sandals
• Sneakers
• Slides

What are Mini Melissa shoes made from? 

Mini Melissa shoes are made from 100% MelFlex ™, which is a long-lasting patented plastic material that provides elasticity, impermeability, and resistance. This gives them the “jelly” appearance, which many people are familiar with. Made with no animal products or materials and with approximately 6% carbon from renewable sources, Melissa supports the global fight against the uncontrolled use of plastics, particularly single-use plastics. Their sustainability page states, “When you have respect and care for what is around you, the way you look at plastic must constantly be revisited”.

What do Mini Melissa shoes smell like? 

Mini Melissa shoes smell like bubblegum! Yes, bubblegum! They infuse the shoes with the signature scent to create a scented experience when you buy each pair of shoes. The scent won’t last forever, but it will last quite some time and has become a signature for the brand. 

How do you get the Melissa shoe smell out? 

Since the signature bubblegum scent is infused, there isn’t a simple one-step process to get the smell to disappear. My recommendation is to wear them a lot since the scent will disappear over time. 

If you want to try a cleaning method, you could make a baking soda paste with some water and leave them on the shoes for a couple of hours to see if that helps. Baking soda is a natural odor eliminator, although I wouldn’t classify the scent of bubblegum as an odor!

What sizes do Mini Melissa shoes come in?

Baby and Toddler sizes range from size 2-10 US & CAN. Kid sizes range from 11-3 US & CAN. 

How do Mini Melissa shoes fit?  Do Melissa shoes run large or small? 

Based on numerous reviews, the shoes run on the small side. It may be helpful to read some reviews on the specific style of shoe you’re looking to buy to ensure you order the correct size. Since they are made with 100% MelFlex ™,  they do not have a lot of stretch to them, unlike materials used in other shoes (leather, for example). So it is imperative to find your correct size. Some people prefer to get them a tad big and then wear socks.

Do you wear socks with Mini Melissa? 

You do not need to wear socks, but you may choose to for added warmth or aesthetics. 

Why is Melissa so popular? 

Melissa is popular due to their brand ethics, style, and superior quality products for decades.

Consumers know and trust the brand, which is essential in today’s market. Melissa has stayed true to its brand roots and has not changed much since their launch in the late 70’s. They have consistently launched quality products that can last for years.

Melissa was one of the first brands in the world to create collaborative collections. In 1983, they launched their first collaboration with Jean-Paul Gaultier, renowned for his eccentric and avant-garde designs. The idea behind the collaborations was to carry the signature of big names in fashion, art, and ensign, but make them accessible to everybody.

With dozens of collaborations over the years, there have been some big names in the fashion, art, and design industry. Some of them include:

• Alessandra Ambrosio, supermodel
• Disney, a global brand
• Hello Kitty, a global brand
• Jeremy Scott, fashion designer 
• Karl Lagerfeld, fashion designer 
• Vivienne Westwood, fashion designer 

Is Melissa a Brazilian brand? 

Yes! They are proudly 100% made in Brazil by Grendene, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of synthetic footwear with over 40 years of experience. Brand director, Raquel Scherer, explained that Melissa is a global brand but the characteristics and what the brand values are from all Brazilian DNA.

Grendene works toward sustainable development on three fronts: people, operations, and products. Appreciation and respect for people start with ethics, the workplace, and relationships. They have health and well-being projects as well as professional development and improvement programs. 

Are there fake Melissa shoes? 

Unfortunately, yes. With any luxury apparel brand, there is always a risk of counterfeit products being manufactured. It is important to take steps to ensure you do not purchase counterfeit products, which can hurt the fashion industry as a whole.  

How can you tell if Melissa shoes are fake? 

There are several different things to look out for when purchasing Mini Melissa’s to ensure you are getting the real deal.

The real Mini Melissa’s will have the following:

• A soft textured insole, NOT a smooth printed on the insole.
• Multiple sizes on the bottom, including United States, Canadian, Brazilian, and European sizing.
• Shoes will say “Made in Brazil” on the sole
• Signature Bubblegum scent (when in doubt, sniff the shoe).
• If the quality appears off or cheap, do a double take.

Why are Mini Melissa shoes so expensive? 

Mini Melissa shoes are high-quality shoes produced by a company that takes initiatives to ensure sustainability, not only for Brazil but the entire world. Manufacturer Grendene adheres to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which is a global effort to build a better future. By adhering to SDGs, they recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth. 

Grendene embraces the following SDGs:

• Health and Well-Being
• Quality Education
• Gender Equality
• Clean Water and Basic Sanitation 
• Clean, Renewable Energy
• Access to Jobs and Economic Growth
• Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure 
• Responsible Consumption and Production

Mini Melissa shoes are also high-quality that can be passed down to future children or can be sold in the buy/sell/trade (BST) online market. A lot of people will buy Mini Melissa shoes and then resell them when the child has outgrown them, which aids in responsible consumption and recycling by buying and selling used apparel. 

Is there a Mini Melissa discount code? How can I save money on Mini Melissa? 

Mini Melissa runs sales promotions periodically throughout the year. You can find a Mini Melissa discount code directly on the Mini Melissa website.

Nordstrom Rack and Saks off Fifth also offer authentic Mini Melissa footwear at a discounted price.

Where can I buy Mini Melissa? 

Mini Melissa can be bought at several retailers. Always choose a trusted retailer to avoid inadvertently buying counterfeit products. 

• Nordstrom
• Zappos
• Saks Fifth Avenue
• Saks Off 5th
• Bloomingdale’s