Makia and Melodica
STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART: OUR SIT-DOWN WITH MELODICA’S JANNE HAUTA-AHO
Founded in Seinäjoki in the late 90s, Melodica is a pioneer in the Finnish skateboarding and apparel scene. DIY to the core, Melodica operated purely on instinct and feeling. From that place of passion and authenticity came the prints that made waves throughout the country. The Makia and Melodica collaboration is a tribute to the unique brand and the people who built it – people we’re lucky to call our friends.
Melodica was the brainchild of Janne Hauta-aho and Tuppu Ritola. For this story, we had the pleasure of taking a walk down memory lane with Janne.
Give us a short introduction to Melodica.
Melodica was founded in Seinäjoki in the late 90s. We spent our days skating at our local skate plaza, Torikeskus, dreaming about doing something of our own for the scene, maybe even starting a team or a small brand. Skating was a big part of our everyday life, so doing our own board company just felt natural.
The hub for skateboarding was, of course, in California, but the NYC skate scene was also starting to blow up. Brands like Zoo York, Silverstar, etc., had this raw, creative energy that really inspired us. In a way, what we were doing in Finland felt connected to that same DIY spirit. Our first Melodica decks were pressed at a random furniture factory here in Finland, and we painted and silk-screened the graphics ourselves. It was a beautiful time, pure creativity, and no rules. As demand grew, we started ordering boards from the States but kept doing all the finishing, such as screen printing, ourselves. From there, it was a natural step to add clothing to the mix, keeping the same graphic direction and attitude.
Where did the idea for Melodica and its unique visual look come from?
The idea for Melodica came from a simple curiosity and urge to create. We wanted to make something real within our own scene, something that looked and felt exactly the way we imagined it. At that time, most skate brands were coming from the U.S., and there weren’t many European companies around yet. Back then, it wasn’t about chasing a market or building a business plan; it was purely about expressing ourselves through skateboarding. So we just went for it, started a company, and made it happen. It really was that straightforward.
As for the visual look, we just created what felt right, and it’s always been like that. If an idea looked cool, we made it happen. That freedom was everything.
But of course, our tools and skills set some limits. To get as close as possible to a polished, production-like finish, we experimented with whatever we had: stencils, tape, layers of paint, and hand-pulled silk screens. Our sketchbooks were overflowing with drawings and half-formed ideas. Inspiration came from everywhere: the streets, graffiti, travel, record sleeves, anything visual that had energy.
Back then, the internet was still in its infancy, so everything we did came straight from what we saw and experienced. That’s probably why Melodica’s visual style feels so raw and genuine; it was built from real moments, not moodboards. When we received a shipment of blank decks to Finland, we usually screen-printed the graphics on them that same night, and by the next day, they were all sold. Skateboarding was booming, and the demand for Melodica decks grew fast. We could really feel that energy, and it was a really exciting time to be part of the scene. Around 1999, we started adding clothing and accessories to our lineup, and we can’t forget the printed tote bags. They blew up pretty quickly and became really popular in Finland. We’re not saying we started the trend, but honestly, we don’t remember seeing tote bags with bold prints like ours back then.
How would you describe Melodica’s philosophy?
Melodica’s philosophy was always about being real and creative and doing what felt right. It was about staying close to our roots, keeping things hands-on, and doing it with heart.
Usually, a brand’s first years are a struggle. How were the early years of Melodica?
We didn’t really have any big financial goals back then. We started with a small amount of initial capital, and of course, we were really happy that the brand kept gaining recognition, and we were able to grow the operation.
Free word.
If there's one thing we've learned along the way, it's that good things take time and patience. We're sending our love to every young dreamer out there who's following their own path. Keep pushing, stay true to your vision, and trust the process.
