Entrepreneur Highlight: Mélanie Sarlin of Jour de Mistral

I’ve been following Jour de Mistral on Instagram for a few years and have always loved the spirit of the brand. Full disclosure, I’m not a big jewelry person, but I do love good storytelling and objects that provide an emotion. That is what Mélanie has created with Jour de Mistral. And that is why her Florette bracelets were featured in La Box Holiday Edition! I hope you loved it, and that you will enjoy this interview filled with passion and Provence love.

Tell us about you: who you are, where you live and what you do.

My name is Mélanie, I’m the founder and creator behind Jour de Mistral, the French jewelry brand inspired by Provence.

I left my native Provence for Paris to start a professional career as consultant. Today I live with my husband and little girl in a lovely town near Paris. We can even see the Eiffel Tower from the bathroom window!

When and how did you become an entrepreneur? Do you feel like you always had that in you, or did it come later in life?

 I started Jour de Mistral in 2015. At that time, I had been working in a big Parisian consulting firm for nearly 10 years. I was consulting for start-ups, entrepreneurs, and I felt the urge to start my own thing too. I was working long hours which didn’t leave much room in my schedule to do anything else. So one day, I decided to quit my job and go all in in building my jewelry brand from scratch. I never thought I would pivot so drastically but here I was, giving it a try!

Where does your passion for making jewelry come from?

I’ve always loved making things, and especially pieces of jewelry. I’m passionate about it and also about artisanat. I love being able to communicate an emotion through such a small object, and help beautify a hand, wrist or neck…

Where does your passion for making jewelry come from?

I’ve always loved making things, and especially pieces of jewelry. I’m passionate about it and also about artisanat. I love being able to communicate an emotion through such a small object, and help beautify a hand, wrist or neck…

What is the  raison d’être  (the why) behind your brand?  

The original purpose of Jour de Mistral was to create jewelry which talks about what I love and what generates an emotion in me. I wanted to tell the story of where I’m from, the South, my Provence, and these places which remind me of joy, beauty and childhood memories. I was born in Marseille, where I grew up, then studied in Aix, then Nice… My family roots are between Marseille and la Côte Bleue (the Mediterranean coast  just West of Marseille). 

What does a typical day of work look like for you?

There isn’t one, really. The only similarity is that each day is busy, and even more since I’ve become a mom. Preparing customer orders, managing wholesale, creating new jewels, marketing and sales, social media, brainstorming new collection, preparing for trade shows, photoshoot and business management… There is not a dull day! 

I have surrounded myself with a team of experts that helps me every day with some of the tasks at hands. Today, Jour de Mistral is represented in over forty stores across France.

Congratulations! I also saw that Jour de Mistral was part of the Noël en Provence feature in the BHV Marais. That’s amazing!

Yes, it’s a great initiative to highlight the beauty and richness of Provence and I’m happy to see Jour de Mistral be a part of it.

What is your rapport with nature? 

Nature plays an important role in my happiness. My husband and I made the choice a few months ago to leave the center of Paris and get a house in the suburbs with a garden and a little forest nearby. We wanted more “green” and more space for our baby and ourselves. I miss the countryside though and love returning to Provence to hike on the hills and enjoy nice walks along the sea. I find inspiration for my jewelry collections by reconnecting with the simple yet rich scents of the Mediterranean coast.

I’ve created a few collections in honor of nature: Mimosa, Olea (inspired by the olive tree) and Collines (inspired by the herbs of Provence). I love to tell the many stories of nature in my work. I like the idea that perhaps a woman will wear one of my jewels and it will create an emotion, or fondly connect her to a childhood memory.

Any advice you can give for aspiring entrepreneur that may read this?

Listen to yourself! Starting your own business is a combination of concrete things (numbers, projections, concept and trials) and an intuition that comes from the heart. I’ve learned to listen to that intuition. Within reason, to always fall back on my feet! 

What is your mantra or inspirational quote that keeps you going?

My mantra: “if something lights up your soul, go ahead and live it fully.” It works for love but not only!