ABOUT US

I never design anything as a one-off – everything I make has a lasting style that can be enjoyed for years to come. I focus on simplicity, and I believe that every wardrobe should include custom accessories that you love and can wear anywhere, year after year. Let’s face it, every trend setter knows the value of stocking her wardrobe with timeless, classic items! Contrary to popular belief, standing out from everybody else doesn’t mean you have to dress flashy in a desperate attempt to get attention; it means having a personal sense of style that separates you from the crowd. Each piece in our collection is a thoughtful reflection on your inner Goddess, and harmonizes perfectly with any outfit. Our accessories are great conversation starters for those awkward silences in post COVID get-togethers. I am often asked, “Where did you get that ostrich leather bracelet?” I always enjoy talking about South Africa. Who wants to go on a Safari? Well, we all do!

In recent years we’ve all become more conscious of our need to be responsible citizens of this diverse planet. Job creation is one of the immense challenges facing our world. As a South African who was raised in an unbiased family, I have a deep respect and concern for all humanity. Only by working together as a global family can we unlock the economic potential of developing countries. Once I realized that I could fuse my passion for fashion accessories with the desire to create job opportunities, I jumped at the chance to work with local suppliers in South Africa. In my research, I learned that international fashion buyers waste large amounts of exotic materials and leather in manufacturing their products. To counter that harmful trend, I decided to use reclaimed materials and hardware to repurpose genuine ostrich leather into custom jewelry pieces.

Our goal at Mello Accessories is to make sure that each stage of production is ethically sourced, sustainable, and supports a growing community while delivering a quality product to the consumer. As our brand grows we look forward to bringing more environmentally friendly creations to the market. We are proud that our exotic accessories are not out of reach for the average consumer.

Be wary of the fact that fake ostrich leather products can still be labelled as "Genuine Leather". In cases like this, the famous bump pattern is simply printed, heat-pressed, or artificially embossed onto a much cheaper base leather, like bovine leather. Another small detail to spot a fake is that embossed leather would not be able to provide the small crown hole at the follicle. Heat-pressing by its nature is a two-dimensional process, and you will not be able to lift the crown that meets the hide with your fingernail.

Ostrich leather is a luxurious leather well known for its softness, flexibility and durability. No other leather has a three dimensional texture, lending itself to be more prized than traditional leathers. Naturally occurring oils in the leather contribute to its suppleness and prevent cracking, even under sun exposure. Ostrich leather is treated in a very particular way and needs to be processed several times. This manually intensive effort adds to the leather's value, beauty and durability. Our ostrich leather products meet the highest leather quality standards as deemed by BLC., which are tested and comply with BS 2780: 1983.

You may also notice repeating quill patterns in faux ostrich skin where the embossing stamp started the pattern over. Natural products are unique, there should not be uniformity in the pattern. Each one of our genuine ostrich leather accessories is one of a kind, as unique as you are.

Furthermore, ostrich leather accessories explicitly state on the product that it is genuine ostrich leather. Mello’s ostrich leather products are heat-stamped to guarantee authenticity.

Can you spot authentic ostrich leather? We think you can!

Some pieces are limited edition, and special colours may not make a return. If you don't see a bracelet you are interested in, just email us to be notified of similar items [or] the product might be available for pre-order. We appreciate feedback, and your excitement as we continue to bring new items to you.

At Mello Accessories we strive for continuous improvement of our products. Every small step we take toward eco-friendly living is a step that helps the world. We are proud to be part of the worldwide Eco-Packaging Alliance reforestation program, and that means with every print production order a tree is planted in our name in an area of need. Reforestation is just the start, and with you by our side, we can collectively accomplish anything.

Simple steps to an eco-friendly purchase: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

Because of our commitment to sustainability and ethical production, Mello Accessories designed packaging and printed materials that are friendly to the planet.

Here are some more steps we've taken to do good for our planet:

• We use FSC certified paper. It’s made from 100% recycled Kraft card stock with natural fibers and contains 30% post-consumer recycled materials.

• Our tissue paper and stickers are printed on acid free paper. 

• We use soy inks wherever possible with low levels of VOCs, thus reducing air pollution during the drying process.

• We include reusable containers and a silk pouch for storing your accessories.

• We use genuine ostrich egg shell buttons as tassel ends on the reusable silk pouch.

• We ship our products in Kraft mailing boxes that are sealed with custom water-activated environmentally friendly packing tape.

As a small business, we are committed to continually improving our products and performance. We strive to provide our customers with products that meet and exceed expectations.