By Tanya Rabe
With 40 years upholstery experience, Michel (Michelangelo) Melfi is highly regarded in the marine, commercial, film and television industries for offering a diverse range of custom upholstery manufacturing. Everything from interiors, lounges and helm chairs are sold within Australia and exported to Canada, New Zealand and the United States. During these four decades and with a lot of devotion, Michel has built a reputation based on offering the highest quality craftsmanship.
Some might say that Michel is at the pinnacle of his career but I’m sure he would disagree. Here we have a man, a true creative with an insatiable curiosity who loves to pull things apart to understand how they work and then put them back together in a new and improved way. His inquisitive nature means there are always new discoveries which in turn means the way he does things is always evolving. ‘I am constantly researching and growing ideas,’says Michel. To research a problem for one customer can often refine a whole process. Melfi Designs are a dedicated team of five, which are more like extended family, each with their own special niche. Forget production line in this business. No two products are ever the same. Everything is customized to suit the customer. Whether you are ordering a brand new custom made helm chair or restoring a 100-yearold chaise, your project receives complete attention from beginning to end. ‘It’s much more than throwing some foam cushions together,’ jokes Michel.
His passion is undisguisable as he handles a piece of leather and talks about its origin and the process it will undergo onsite before he molds it into a stylish custom-made piece. The attention to detail is beyond expectations from the perfect stitching and embroidery to the inner mechanisms of the product – the combination of foam, springs and runners. Michel is not just creating custom chairs, he is creating a quality of life for his buyer.
Remembering back to when he started out, Michel tells the story of his 16-year-old self living in Abbotsford, Sydney above an upholstery shop. Enticed by the idea of making some extra cash, Michel would make buttons for the upholsterer. It wasn’t long before he actually fell in love with the art. ‘I was intrigued that you can take certain materials and create something special.’ Michel has advanced from button maker to upholsterer on 18 films and television shows, his latest gig being Baz Luhrmann’s blockbuster, ELVIS. Michel’s work also features in other famous movies including THOR, Pirates of the Caribbean and Aqua Man.
Michel is proud to acknowledge being the recipient of the Best Marine Upholstery Manufacturing Award Queensland in 2021 and 2022. He says it’s not so much about the award but more about being recognised for the hard work you do.
Despite his success, Michel is a humble gentleman who would love to see more young people involved in the art of upholstery. The demand for high quality custom made products is there, as not everyone wants mass produced items. For someone with a creative, inquisitive mind and willing to work hard, the world is their oyster in this game.
www.mmelfidesigns.com
Published in print January-March 2023
