A Note from the Founder

In Indonesia, melati or jasmine is our national flower. The small, white blossom is simple and delicate, yet it’s also meaningfully part of Indonesian culture. Melati has such a distinct fragrance that you can’t possibly mistake it for something else. Melati is the epitome of beauty in simplicity. You don’t need all the bells and whistles to look beautiful.

That’s also how I see Melati as a brand: distinctive and timeless.

I’ve always loved fashion. But I’ve never drawn to the editorial or the haute couture, à la Vogue, or wearing the latest fashion trends just to stay current. What has always fascinated me is the core sense of what fashion is: the way a fabric drapes around the body, the quality and feel of different materials, the cut, and how it moves when you wear it.

The craftsmanship is the thing that speaks to me more than the trend.

Having a petite frame, finding clothes that fit me is a constant struggle, as I’ve always ended up having them custom-made or altering them. Growing up surrounded by the ocean and the sun, I’m comfortable enough wearing swimwear and sarongs. But I also love wearing something elegant, something that makes me beautiful, without being too much or trying too hard.

Melati is still young, and there remains so much more I still want to explore and learn. But the vision I have for every Melati collection stays the same: timeless. A piece that you can wear and keep for years, be part of your travel stories, and when you pass it on to someone else, it carries memories of a summer somewhere far away, an afternoon in the water, a dinner under a star-lit sky, a place you love and always return to. For me, that’s how a piece of clothing stops becoming a trend and starts being meaningful.

That’s the feeling behind every Melati collection. Every piece is a reflection of where I come from and what I aspire my life to be. Whenever you put it on and wherever you may be, whether it’s on the Bali shores, the Mediterranean, or somewhere else, I hope you feel the heartbeat of where it came from.

Thank you for supporting Melati and making me the happiest girl on the island.

E. xx