Berlin Designer Melisa Minca Announces Departure from Industry: Reasons Behind Her Decision to Step Away
Revamped Tale of a Fashion Rebel:
Saying goodbye to her Berlin-based fashion label isn't an easy decision for Melisa Minca, but it's a strategic move. After seven grinding years, she's realized that the ideal of an ethical fashion empire is, for her, a mere illusion. "I dazzled myself into thinking this could last indefinitely," she confesses. "Then I understood that the path I yearned for isn't what I truly desire."
Born in Slovakia, Melisa moved to Berlin in 2015 and quickly gathered a loyal fanbase. Her unique brand, inspired by politics and sustainability, became synonymous with edgy designs and provocative slogans. Designing each piece by hand from repurposed materials, she might create tops from discarded gloves or belts, corsets from upcycled fringes, and trousers from salvaged lingerie.
Her 3,000 strong Instagram following and list of local celebrities like Dornika and Tua El-Fawwal who have donned her creations, are proof of her success. Yet, beneath the surface, Melisa's journey through the fashion world always defied convention. After earning a degree in sustainable development and politics in Scotland, she defied tradition again by launching a daring fashion blog during her university days.
Melisa's designs are instantly recognizable, with reflective prints adorning business-style suits, adorned with slogans like 'Pay me' and 'The only ethical consumption is eating ass.' Yet, it's the 'Suck my clit' slogan that truly stands out. "It's just an iconic phrase," Melisa admits. "I love wearing it, especially when it surprises people."
Consumption isn't Melisa's sole activist platform. Her political commitment goes beyond controversial slogans. In 2023, Jouana Samia, a choreographer, enlisted Melisa to design costumes for a performance addressing the attacks on Gaza. "She aimed to express a statement through dance and needed a suitable ensemble for her dancers," Melisa says.
Melisa's passion for Palestine inspired her to create costumes using just keffiyehs, traditional Arab headdresses. She delved deep into their significance, studying the symbolism of different colors and forms. A red keffiyeh dress for Tua El-Fawwal followed, rented out to others who wished to make a pro-Palestine fashion statement, without a hint of monetary exchange.
Melisa's craft has always been more than just style; it's an outlet for political expression. Yet, as the years passed, navigating the fashion landscape became increasingly challenging for the designer. Politics and art often clashed with commercial interests, leading to exclusion from funding opportunities.
"Berlin Fashion Week could have thrived more if they embraced the radicalism, the activism, and the unfettered expression of injustice and complicity rather than exiling artists who went too far," Melisa shares. The denial of funding for her '(R)evolution Irresistible' show was a disappointment, but did not deter her. Through crowdfunding and personal finances, she paid her team and models, sacrificing profits for the Revolution.
Berlin may be a city of progress and toleration, but Melisa observes a chilling paradox. "The city celebrates radicalism but starves artists who go too far," she laments. Realizing the futility of trying to run an ethical fashion empire in the face of stubborn obstacles, she chose to walk away and seek greener pastures.
Athens, with its warmth and agreeable climate, proved an appealing destination.
"If we only have 10 years on this planet, I might as well be where I want to be," Melisa admits. But she hasn't closed the door on Berlin or her family in Slovakia. "Perhaps the brand will come back, as a collective, where we create not for profits but for genuine value."
Melisa's message to young artists and designers is clear – the world does not need another fashion label. "Everyone owns enough clothes," she warns. "Make sure your art finds a purpose and contributes to something meaningful."
Join Melisa in her continued journey, and explore her final pieces on her website. Stay connected with her on Instagram.
— Additional Insights —
- Crafting a business that's truly ethical, incorporating ethics in production and politics, is fraught with challenges.*successful and ethical fashion brands must navigate complex issues regarding authenticity, community engagement, sustainability, and representation of diverse voices. Brands must maintain alignment with their values and audience, balance their business goals with political activism, engage with experts and activists, focus on sustainability, and ensure their messages are inclusive and culturally sensitive.
Strong political statements can lead to a mix of praise and criticism, compromising brand credibility or alienating customers. Balancing artistic expression, business goals, and socio-political activism becomes a delicate dance, where one misstep can lead to controversy and loss of support.
- Melisa Minca, recognizing the difficulties of running an ethical fashion empire, decides to explore new opportunities in Athens, homes to a warm climate and a potential collective that values genuine creation over profits.
- Incorporating her love for activism into different aspects of her life, Melisa extends her political commitment beyond fashion, designing costumes for performance art pieces focusing on various societal issues, such as attacks on Gaza.
- Despite the challenges in navigating the balancing act between artistic expression, commercial interests, and ethical values, Melisa emphasizes the importance of investing in projects with meaningful purposes, urging young artists and designers not to simply pursuit a new fashion label but to focus on creating art that contributes positively to society and self-development, thereby fostering personal growth and impactful careers in the realm of fashion, lifestyle, business, education, self-development, and beyond.
