We will start with Zeus + Dione brand. Their store is located exactly on the amous Voukouristiou street, for which we wrote about before.
This luxury brand was born in the midst of the Greek financial crisis, bringing new life to a traditional craft.
Clear geometry in drawings and clothing models taken from the ancient Greek architecture, is complemented by handmade elements: embroidered patterns, fasteners forged by Athenian craftsmen. Now Zeus + Dione is one of the biggest breakout brands in Greece, with
90 percent of their sales coming from overseas markets.
The next brand is Mary Katrantzou, known all over the world for her collections which are full of contrasting colors, while all models of their dresses are particularly feminine.
Mary Katrantzou has won the Swiss Textiles Award and Glamor Designer of the Year and boasts that an impressive list of celebrities have worn her clothes, among them Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Cate Blanchett, as well as the former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Melania Trump.
Young people know the designer Mary Katrantzou from her collaboration with Adidas Original. And although she doesn't have her own flagship boutique, her collection can be found in various luxury department stores such as Selfridges of London and Bergdorf Goodman of New York.
Mary Katrantzou is not the only one whose outfits are worn by stars. Another Greek designer - Vrettos Vrettakos - was Beyoncé's wardrobe designer during her 2013 world tour, whose costumes are remembered for all the dazzling brilliance of Swarovski crystals.
Vrettos is also known for his haute couture, where he combined unique prints and out-of-the-box materials, like for example, silk jersey interwined with a metallic silver mesh. Many celebrities have made their outfits after his style, as he himself calls it "Ultra Glam Rock Femininity".
Would you like to see “Vrettos Vrettakos” for yourself? You can visit his showroom in Athens.
If the above designers reflect a more anarchic Athenian look, the next ones show a relaxed, classic and almost biblical one.
Evi Grintela is a glossy magazine veteran for over 20 years! Inspired by the sophistication of men's dress shirts, she created a minimalist and sophisticated brand of women's summer wear. Their touch is so soft, like a feather - all the clothes in her collections are made from Swiss and Italian cotton and silk of the highest quality. “The shirtdress has no age, no identity, no season,” Evi says. Grintela proves that it doesn't take a lot of effort to look amazing under the Greek sun.
The brand offers countless models, in a store in the center of Athens.
The family-owned Greek brand Kourbela has been founded in 1971. At that time, the brand sold hand-knitted clothes in their shop at Plaka.
Today, Ioanna Kourbela emphasizes elegance while balances tradition and modernity. All of her clothes are made in Greece and sold in 28 countries. Ioanna Kourbela says that "clothing is the home of the body." Therefore, it can be twisted and draped in various ways to emphasize your style and mood. The store is still located at Plaka, in the center of the Greek capital.
Another store nearby is The Artians. A bold young brand that combines fashion with art. It's Athenian artocracy's favorite.
The brand demonstrates a modern take on ancient Greek iconography - clothes are often decorated with symbols and ornaments in bright colors, borrowed from ancient Greek frescoes and Minoan or Mycenaean vessels. Elegant silk kaftans and kimonos are particularly popular.
The creator of the Konstantin brand is a former interior architect. She says she views women as works of art. Therefore, its goal is to improve their personality, not their sexuality. The Artian range is mainly made from silk or cotton produced in Greece.
We would like to finish this post with Sophie Deloudi's swimwear brand. She has also been an interior designer for a long time.
Now her luxurious swimwear is very popular and sold all over the world. If you are allergic to Brazilian bikinis, this is the swimwear for you.
Models with thoughtful cutouts, smooth shapes and simple geometry look like coming from the pages of the French magazine of the 50's, Elle.
One piece swimwear is Sophie Deloudi's enduring passion. “You can better express your creativity with solid pieces,” says Sophie, “they better reflect the personality of the designer.”