If you’re new here, or even if you’ve been following along for a while, I thought it might be time for a little reintroduction.
Because while you may know Mel Boteri Fashion Partners for our leather goods, silk accessories and on-site gifting experiences, there’s a much bigger story behind what we create.
And it’s very much a family affair.
I started Mel Boteri with a love of beautiful design and a belief that the things we choose to wear should say something about who we are and our personal style.
Over the years, that has grown into something I value just as much as the products themselves: the relationships behind them.
We’re a small, tight-knit group. Some of us are actually family. Some have become family after years of working together. And together, we’re creating some pretty incredible experiences at scale.
Growing Together Since 2015
2015 was a pretty pivotal year for Mel Boteri.
It was the year I began working with Francisco and his family in Spain. It was also the year Kerry joined me to help grow the sales and business development side of the company.
More than 10 years later, they’re both still here.
Kerry has been beside me through so many chapters of this business and has joined me on countless activations over the years, including several this past summer. And now, there’s another generation joining us: her daughter, Kylie, became part of our Brand Ambassador team last year and has already proven to be an incredible addition.
There’s something pretty special about watching the people who helped build this business from its earlier days now bringing their own family into it. And that story extends across the Atlantic.
Our Family in Spain
Our primary factory in Spain has been part of the Mel Boteri story since 2015.
Francisco currently owns the factory that his father, Manolo, started in the early 70s. His daughter, Gema, manages production while his mother is still one of the main leather workers helping execute our designs. Maria Dolores, his wife, works for the company that manages all of our shipments. Over the years, I’ve gotten to know multiple generations of their family and they’ve watched our business grow right alongside theirs.
This summer, I had the privilege of bringing that relationship outside of the factory when Francisco, Maria Dolores and Gema joined us for an on-site activation in Barcelona.
Having the people who actually help make our products there added an incredible sense of craftsmanship and authenticity to the experience. But it also made everything feel incredibly natural.
After more than 10 years of working together, there’s a sense of trust that can only be built with time. There’s an understanding of how each other works. And there’s a genuine desire to create something exceptional together.
And Our Family in Italy
Since 2022, our Italian partners have become another important part of the Mel Boteri family and, like so many good relationships in this business, one introduction has led to another.
Stefano, who manages our production in Italy, has connected me with an incredible network of small, family-run producers and artisans over the years.
That includes Luca, whose family produces the hardware used throughout many of our leather accessories, as well as Graziano and his son, Stefano, who run one of the small factories producing our leather belts.
In 2024, I had the opportunity to work alongside Graziano and Stefano at an activation in Greece. And this past summer, Stefano and Luca joined us aboard our European cruise activation.
Different countries, different events, different years but the same feeling each time: the people behind the product became part of the experience itself.
These aren't simply names on a purchase order or factories I've never stepped foot inside. They're people I know, people I’ve worked beside and people who genuinely care about what we're creating together.
And standing there with members of our international team working side by side really solidified something for me: This is what I want my business to look like.
Small Teams. Big Experiences.
We talk a lot about building strong relationships with our clients, and rightfully so. But I believe the relationships on the other side of the business matter just as much.
Who makes the product? Who finishes the hardware? Who is sewing the leather? Who answers the phone when we suddenly need to figure something out for an event halfway around the world? Or who gets on a plane to personally deliver goods that otherwise wouldn’t make it on time? (I’ll save that story for another day!)
For us, I actually know the answers to those questions.
They’re people I’ve worked alongside for years. People whose families I know. People who know mine.
And the Family Keeps Growing
And the best part? Our little family is still growing.
I can’t wait to introduce you to some of our newest partners including the family behind our silk production in Como, Italy, and the artisans in Barranquilla, Colombia, creating our beautiful handwoven straw bags.
Those stories deserve posts of their own (and they’re coming!), but for now, I’ll just say how excited I am to continue building a network of talented people around the world who care as much about how something is made as we do.
As Mel Boteri Fashion Partners continues to grow, I never want growth to mean becoming disconnected from the people behind what we create.
Quite the opposite.
I want our growth to create more opportunity for the small family businesses we work with. More beautiful things for them to make. More opportunities for our team. More experiences for us to create together. And more chances to introduce our clients to the craftsmanship, and the people, behind their gifts.
Because while the events may be getting bigger, I actually want the business behind them to continue feeling small.
Personal. Connected. Collaborative.
A family affair at its finest.
So, whether you’re new here or have been with us for years, welcome...or welcome back...to the family.
Have an experience in mind? We'd love to chat to help create something meaningful together ->