It all started in the centre of a charming village in the south of the Netherlands. A cosy little shop with gifts, interior decoration items and jewellery operated from the family home. Jeanne Pepels was doing great for herself. But then her husband, John, got tired of his regular job and decided to shake things up a bit. He didn’t just want to settle for selling these bits-and-pieces locally and so, together with Jeanne, he founded the jewellery brand ‘Melano’. The idea for making interchangeable jewellery was born when a customer returned to the shop with a broken ring: the stone had broken off. For most people, a dramatic experience perhaps but, for them, it was a source of inspiration! 

The newly-started company soon expanded to take over the entire shop floor, first for sales and later for office space. After that, their three children had to watch on helplessly as their bedrooms were gradually taken over by desks, printers, computers and the warehouse.

Since then, Melano has made history. The jewellery brand has become an international phenomenon. The company is now managed by the second generation of Pepels, i.e. brother and sister, Tom and Chrissie. 

Located in picturesque Maastricht, Melano is still an established name to which every proud family member has made his or her own contribution. Except perhaps for Imaan, the first granddaughter of the founders. She can’t quite reach the top shelf of the warehouse yet and her vocabulary is still too limited for attending meetings!