High quality handcrafted jewelry, handmade knits and handwoven fabrics. Environmentally conscious, ethical to people and planet and responsibly sourced
Mélina Be
Mélina Be is an intentional artist and sustainable brand creating handmade designs, handwoven fabrics and repurposed leather crafts that are ethically sourced and responsibly packaged. Mélina Be aims to create positivity and beauty in the world through artwork and teaching, and to always produce in a way that is good for the planet.
Mélina Be employs slow fashion and slow crafting by using what’s on hand rather than buying more, trading with local artists to keep resources native and by repurposing scraps. Mélina Be’s high quality creations are meant to last for a lifetime, making them sustainable for our living planet.
EARTH FRIENDLY | FAIR PRACTICES
Mélina Be’s Sliding Scale and Pay It Forward programs are socially responsible ways to promote inclusivity and peace by incorporating fairness to people and the planet.
Mélina Be’s goal is to keep becoming a more responsible brand by continuing to reduce packaging, source locally and increase repurposing practices for all materials and products.
“I believe no one should be left behind! Art and making art is so important to me, that I am passionate about making it accessible to everyone. We all go through hard financial times. I would like my wearable art and classes to be affordable for everyone. That’s why I have always offered a Sliding Scale & Pay it Forward method of payment. Don’t be shy, reach out and we can work something out together. Thank you to all who have been Paying It Forward. Without you it would be very difficult for me to offer a Sliding Scale method of payment.”
If you buy something from me I will package it in second hand paper products. With all the gifts my family has received in the past I have a collection of bags, wrapping paper, ribbon and strings to nicely package my creations. This is important for me as I don’t want to contribute to purchasing new products - often made in China - that pollute our environment. We tend to forget that even paper products that are harmless when biodegrading can be harmful and polluting in their manufacturing.
Have you ever heard me say, “buy local, support local?” I believe in supporting your local economy because the money you spend circulates seven times in your area. Since I preach this to my potential customers, I also practice this rule when buying my supplies. Ninety-five percent of my supplies were purchased locally. When I travel to France I bring back material from there too. I always strive to better myself and my business habits to live the most sustainable lifestyle possible.
Artist Mélina Bernhardt has been exploring creative possibilities in textile for nearly two decades. Weaving, felting, knitting, sewing, jewelry making, leatherwork and basket making are integral parts of her creative expression. She especially thrives when finding new ways to combine these art forms to create one of a kind accessories, wearable art and home decor. She prefers to use natural fibers such as cashmere, opossum, alpaca, silk, organic cotton, angora and bamboo; reserving synthetic fibers for sparkle or texture.
The Artist
I come from a family of makers. It is in my blood. I’m from France and Germany and bring a European sensibility to my creations. My French mother taught me to knit and crochet when I was twelve. She always had a knitting project and a book open, and would also draw. My German dad is a carpenter by trade, so I grew up helping him at the saw and with all his handmade furniture in our house. My maternal grandmother made all my mom’s and her sister’s clothes when they were little. She knits all kinds of things like sweaters and hats. My paternal grandmother knitted, wove on a small loom, crocheted and cross stitched. She sold her wares at their local church to benefit the congregation. When I moved to Colorado at age 21 and started working at Lambspun, I learned and began teaching weaving, spinning, felting and more advanced knitting. Our customers enjoyed my patience and kindness, and encouraged me to teach more. They also liked my original patterns and asked me to make more to sell. When I began slowly tinkering in beading and leathercraft, people asked me to make those for sale too. This makes my heart sing because creating art everyday is my passion and my pleasure.
PS. This picture shows me how you will always find me — making (and wearing!) something with my hands. Maybe I could have been diagnosed with an attention deficit disorder, but I have been told I’ve put it to good work!
“Color and texture are the two major sources of inspiration for the art that I create. Whether I am knitting, weaving, crocheting, sewing or making jewelry, I am always seeking out ways to blend colors and textures in unexpected ways. My work is also very inspired by nature. I sometimes use wooden sticks I’ve found in nature for my tapestry weavings to create rugged looms. I use natural fibers as much as possible and I often incorporate hand-dyed fibers into my pieces. Because nature has been a huge source of inspiration in my art, I make a conscious effort to take a sustainable and environmental approach. One way I achieve this goal is by re-using all my packaging or making my own. Also, this environmental mindfulness carries over into my efforts to diminish my carbon footprint and to support local businesses. As such, I purchase my supplies at local stores.”