A little about me & MGD!

Hello! I thought I would share a little about MGD and where the concept came from! My name is Melanie and I am British but I have grown up in the Middle East and I have been living in the UAE since 2000 with my husband and twin daughters. I was educated mainly in UK and after an Arts Foundation course in Bath, I finished with my BA Hons Textiles Fashion Degree in London. I explored constructed Textiles - woven, knitted and printed both for interiors and for fashion and so designing and fabrics have always been my passion!  

Having grown up in the Middle East, I have always loved exploring the souks of the city, fully immersing myself in the smells, sounds and visual delights of the tiny streets filled with treasures, from spices & food to trinkets & textiles! 

Finding amazing fabrics from chiffon & linen to the luxurious silks & lace have constantly fuelled my imagination and creativity. So developing the brand of Melanie Gissing Design was a natural step in order to design easy to wear pieces that are suitable for the warmer climate and that allow women of any size or culture to be able to wear my designs in a number of different ways. In todays world of sustainability I think it is essential to have flexibility in styling and outfit to enable a customer to have the benefit of more value per wear of each piece they buy. I pride myself on creating small collections, and never mass manufacturing to always give the customer a more bespoke experience.

Our extensive kimono and kaftan range allows a customer to wear our pieces over swimwear, over shorts or jeans, and even over a smart crisp white shirt as an alternative to a jacket. They can be dressed up for an evening look over smart trousers or a dress with your favourite heels. The options are endless!