Second Life Melissa Morris: Founder of Métier
Oct 20, 2025
Melissa Morris, founder of the luxury handbag brand Métier, shares her journey from working with fashion giants like Helmut Lang and LVMH to creating a line of bags that seamlessly blend elegance with practicality. She discusses how her background in sculpture influenced her design philosophy, focusing on creating bags for specific journeys. Morris emphasizes the importance of rigorous durability testing and the unique appeal of her collection, which avoids chasing trends. She also candidly reflects on her career shifts and offers advice on building confidence for those looking to pivot.
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Design Training Shaped Product Philosophy
- Melissa links her sculpture training to functional product design, especially chairs that balance art and purpose.
- This perspective guided Métier's blend of elegant form and everyday utility.
Gap Rotation Fueled Her Merchandising Skillset
- Melissa joined Gap's rotational program to learn cross-functional business and presentation skills.
- That crash course taught her merchandising as the hub connecting design, finance, and production.
Data Alone Won't Predict The Next Demand
- She warns that overreliance on historical data can blind brands to new customer needs.
- Melissa argues intuition must guide innovation beyond merely repeating past winners.
