About the founder: MELINA BUCHER

Melina Bucher, the visionary founder behind the eponymous luxury handbag brand, brings a unique blend of passion, expertise, and innovation to the world of sustainable fashion. Born in Mannheim, Germany, Melina's journey from a business student to an award-winning entrepreneur is marked by her dedication to ethical and sustainable practices and animal welfare.

Early Life and Education

Melina's academic journey began in Heidelberg, where she completed a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Taxation and Accounting, followed by a Master's degree in Mannheim. While working on her PhD thesis she decided to align her career with her values, leading to the creation of her vegan handbag brand.

Commitment to Ethical Fashion

A lifelong animal lover, Melina’s decision to avoid animal products extended beyond her diet to her fashion choices. Frustrated by the lack of vegan luxury handbags, she founded MELINA BUCHER to offer stylish, high-quality bags crafted without animal materials. Her brand prioritizes sustainability, ethical production, and traditional craftsmanship.

Balancing Roles

As a mother and entrepreneur, Melina adeptly manages her dual roles. Her day involves running her business and spending time with her family, exemplifying the balance between personal and professional life.

Additionally, Melina lectures at universities, sharing her expertise and inspiring the next generation of business leaders.

Pioneering vegan leather

In her Mannheim atelier, Melina revitalizes the nearly extinct craft of fine bag making using modern, eco-friendly materials. Her work with MIRUM® vegan leather and other biobased materials is pioneering, pushing the boundaries of sustainable fashion.

Melina's dedication to sustainability has earned her prestigious awards, including the PETA Vegan Fashion Award and the German Sustainability Award. These awards underscore her innovative approach and commitment to ethical fashion.

MELINA BUCHER on TV

Watch these short (German) TV news about MELINA BUCHER, which were filmed after our nomination for the German Sustainability Award in Design

Read the corresponding article here

© SWR 2022

Request your...

... Consulting service

Request a first orientation call to pitch your project, and our team will be happy to provide initial thoughts on whether MELINA BUCHER sees a fit. Services range from general business consultation, sharing our network, testing and prototyping your material to developing your brand, rigorous sustainability solutions and high-end products. Please note that we only work on vegan friendly projects and do not accept any offers to promote animal-based products.

... Investment advice

With her in-depth understanding of the next-gen materials space, Melina Bucher is consulting VCs in due diligence processes. Please reach out if you need help with your investment decision.

... Speaker Service

As an experienced speaker, Melina is available to speak at conferences, fairs, political events and other professional setups with formats ranging from lectures to panel discussions.

... Interview Opportunity

If you want to talk with Melina in an interview format, feel free to reach out! Also, don't miss our press page for more detailed information.

... Startup Advice

If you are a startup eager to change the world for the better, please reach out and pitch our idea.

Contact Melina

Melina's personal message

I have always had a special connection with high-end fashion. But with time, I did more research on the conditions of fashion production. The impact on the environment and people involved is huge, not to mention the treatment of animals. I began to ask myself: Are these products in line with my understanding of value and quality? And the simple answer was: no. With my brand, I am on a mission: a mission to do it all! Combining what a long time seemed contradicting: Ethics and luxury, sustainability and aesthetics, smart functions and design. With a modern approach to materials and 100% transparency. High fashion for strong women who claim their agency.

  • SUSTAINABLE BAGS: HERE YOU CAN FIND YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGN.

    Handmade in Europe, the bag models combine elegant design and sustainable materials. The models, which are produced in small series, can be traced back to a 100% sustainable value chain and are free from animal components. As a vegan brand, this claim runs through the entire company and so the focus is also placed on this endeavor in the packaging and all other steps. MELINA BUCHER's bags are scratch and dirt-resistant and equipped with smart features that offer space for organization. The classic products surprise with an inner lining made of organic cotton in a colorful design and offer the wearer a surprising sight.

  • 6 SUSTAINABLE LABELS THAT EVERYONE WANTS TO WEAR NOW

    A good handbag has to be made of leather? No way! MELINA BUCHER proves this with her sustainable designs, which are not only vegan but also completely plastic-free - and can hold a candle to any sinfully expensive luxury bag. However, ecologically fair materials are only one thing; the designer also focuses on transparency, innovation, short transportation routes and certified production. With their stylish designs and sustainable character, these bags make our hearts beat faster in two ways."

  • VEGAN LEATHER: 6 ALTERNATIVES YOU SHOULD KNOW

    The material MIRUM®, which was developed by Natural Fiber Wedling, contains no plastic and is 100% bio-based. A textile carrier, such as cotton or organic cotton, is used for production and treated with a coating made from various plants and minerals. The patented process enables production without synthetic components and does not require any water during production. In addition, the vegan leather alternative can be mechanically recycled and processed into new MIRUM® - the ideal prerequisite for working on circular products. So far, brands such as Pangaia, Camper, Allbirds and BMW as well as the vegan bag label MELINA BUCHER are working with it.

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