melissa

Melissa Academy is the newest project of the brand that aims at developing the interest and the creativity of future design professionals in the world. The aim is to encourage the development of new ways of thinking, working and creating with plastic, apart from working with design experts to let the general public better know the latest news launched in this area.

Edson Matsuo, Manager of the R&D Department of Grendene products, set up the project, whose first partner was the renowned Geneva University of Art and Design (Haute École d`Art et de Design), the Head Genève. "The main idea was not to create a shoe, but a `walking object` and a `body accessory`. It has been a great experience, with 24 students of different nationalities, from fashion and jewellery design courses who created their own interpretations of what they had been asked for stated Edson Matsuo who, together with Fernando Mascaro, sustainable design consultant and professor of the institution, held the workshops and taught the students.

At the end of the course, students had created very contemporary and witty models working on the pre-existing models. The three finalist models of this "challenge competition" appeared in a limited edition, in the 2011 Melissa Winter Collection, and will be sold in the Melissa Gallery and in the online store of the brand, from April on.

For the 2011 Winter Edition of Rio de Janeiro Fashion Week, the director of Head Genève, Bertrand Maréchal, will be accompanied by his students, Julie Simon, Marine Stampfli and Morgane Ribeyrolles for the launch of the Melissa Academy Project. The launch will take place during a cocktail party in Pier Mauá with the exhibition of the Melissa models of the students and a round table on the topic "Collaborative Academy".

This debate marks the launch of the Melissa Academy Project in Brazil and announces the future partner teaching institutions, like Unisinos and Senai. The following guests will be present: Edson Matsuo, Fernando Mascaro, Paulo Borges, creative Director of Rio de Janeiro Fashion Week and of SPFW; Prof. Dr. Rodolfo Capeto, director of Esdi – University of Industrial Design of Rio de Janeiro – next institution to receive the Melissa Academy Project. The following professors will also be present: Prof. Paulá Visoná, coordinator of the UNISINOS Design Course and Prof. Fabiana Luna, coordinator of strategy and market of the SENAI-CETIQT. The chairperson will be Erika Palomino, consultant and fashion journalist.