# Melissa

> Melissa is a accessories label based in Brazil, with Galerias in São Paulo and New York, Brazil, started in 1979. Behind the label: Grendene. Known for plastic shoes, starting from a sandal inspired by French Riviera fishermen’s footwear.

- Canonical: https://thecastindex.com/designers/melissa
- Country guide: https://thecastindex.com/houses/brazilian-designers
- Facts checked: 2026-10-22
- Author: Kaiser Khan (Founder & Editor)

## Quick facts

- Behind the label: Grendene
- Based: Brazil, with Galerias in São Paulo and New York, Brazil
- Since: 1979
- Focus: Accessories
- Makes: Plastic shoes and sandals
- Official site: https://www.melissa.com.br

## Who is behind Melissa?

Melissa, a brand of the Brazilian footwear group Grendene, began with a plastic sandal inspired by fishermen’s footwear on the French Riviera and turned 40 in 2019, O Povo reported. It opened its first US store in SoHo in February 2012 and announced its first permanent UK store, on King Street in Covent Garden, in 2014; FashionUnited listed Jason Wu, Gareth Pugh, Vivienne Westwood and Karl Lagerfeld among its collaborators. Its Galerias, at 500 Broadway in New York and on Rua Oscar Freire in São Paulo, also stage exhibitions.

## Timeline

- February 2012: Opens its first US store, in SoHo, New York. (source: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/local/galeria_melissa_opens_in_soho_new_york/2095641/?amp=1)
- 2014: Announces its first permanent UK store, on King Street in Covent Garden. (source: https://fashionunited.uk/v1/design/melissa-to-open-first-permanent-uk-store/201406236521)
- 2019: Turns 40. (source: https://mais.opovo.com.br/jornal/pause/2019/10/06/melissa-e-atitude.html)

## Sources

- [O Povo — Melissa at 40 (6 October 2019)](https://mais.opovo.com.br/jornal/pause/2019/10/06/melissa-e-atitude.html) — checked 2026-10-22
- [NBC New York — Galeria Melissa opens in SoHo (24 February 2012)](https://www.nbcnewyork.com/local/galeria_melissa_opens_in_soho_new_york/2095641/?amp=1) — checked 2026-10-22
- [FashionUnited UK — Melissa to open first permanent UK store (2014)](https://fashionunited.uk/v1/design/melissa-to-open-first-permanent-uk-store/201406236521) — checked 2026-10-22
- [ABC da Comunicação — Galerias Melissa in New York and São Paulo (30 September 2021)](https://www.abcdacomunicacao.com.br/melissa-celebra-mais-de-15-anos-de-galerias-em-nyc-e-sao-paulo-com-novas-experiencias-e-conexao-com-o-publico/) — checked 2026-10-22