In a show fit for the gods, Greek designers took to the stage in the 35th annual Athens Fashion Week in a showcase of true glamour and authenticity. As you know, Voir Fashion are always on the hunt for spectacular designers and international talent, and since taking to Athens ourselves, in true Hermes style we are here to tell you who’s on our radar. Staying at the enchanting Académias Hotel, Voir got all the behind-the-scenes access and front row footage of the glorious Greek designers, and with special guest John Richmond, our time was nothing less than celestial.
Daphne Valente
With extravagant pleating at its core, Daphne Valente has expertly displayed her methodical craftsmanship and elegant eye through her show at Athens Fashion Week, dotted with pieces from her AW24 collection among with many new elaborate additions in a melting pot of luxury.
Daphne describes her brand as synonymous with timeless sophistication and refined elegance, along with meticulous attention to detail which shone through in her sculptural pieces and accessories. Hues of haunting magenta, deep burgundy and a collage of earthy greens pierced our senses and made up the collection, with nearly all designs focusing on the classic pleat, Daphne is here to remind us that she did it first!
The devil is in the details, and Daphne knows this all too well. The intricate styling included spiked hairstyles, married perfectly with the pleating, and demure accessories as to not take away from the main aspect on show.
Images courtesy of Daphne Valente
Vassilis Zoulias
Vassilis Zoulias was THE show of the week to talk about at Athens Fashion Week. Held at the iconic Four Seasons Athens, the location speaks for itself as the audience watched a show backdropped with the exquisite Greek scenery. Zoulias’ designs eagerly complimented the location with luminous summer tones capturing both the ethereal and sensual essence of travelling to Greece. And with endless, deep blue tones in the garments creating a lively river running down the runway, none could escape Poseidon’s charm.
Zoulias indulged us in a vast variety of pieces. Every occasion was catered for in his collection ranging from draping maxi dresses, sensuous swimwear, and striking blazer co-ords. Much akin to all Greek fashion powerhouses worthy of a place at Fashion Week, the brand prides itself on craftsmanship and tapestry that would rival Arachne herself, and what Zoulias delivered was nothing short of mesmerising.
Instagram @vzoulias
Instagram @athensfashionweekofficial
Taken by Jyoti Matoo
Parthenis
The Parthenis show entitled “metamorphoses” delighted audiences with their hooded ensemble of transformative designs all perfectly complimenting eachother. The collection redefines everyday essentials with their fresh, iconic designs, relaxed silhouettes, and harmonious tones that guide us on a journey from dark to light in a modern Promethean gift. Reflecting the evolving identities of those who wear it, the relaxed-fit clothing came in a variety of muted earthy hues and intertwined an almost futuristic vibe mixed with a charming, medieval aesthetic in a true homage to the Greek mythology we all know and love.
Hailing from Athens itself, Parthenis pride themselves on having a timeless look with an easy living feel as they capture the elegant Greek aesthetic. In a light and airy runway, a new take on bohemian was achieved, giving it a simplistic, Greek touch.
Instagram @athensfashionweekofficial
Instagram @parthenisofficial
Dassios
Dassios struck the runway with a truly thunderous collection, showcasing work filled with gothic tropes and dark motifs. Regal velvets, haunting burgundies and blood-stained wine tones redefined god-like while complementary deep pinks peppered the show in pops of jewels.
With his career originating in the costume jewellery world, Dimitris Dassios made sure to incorporate that as the focal point of the collection as the audience beheld grandiose pendants and extravagant jewels draped across models. Dassios also adorned models’ faces with a fishnet veil, creating a sense of mystery to the collection, giving him a unique angle in his show. Along with a focus on jewellery and smudged makeup; this creates a strong point of blurred identity in his work. By anonymising models’ faces, we are able to inject ourselves into the show and denote a personal effect to the collection.
Instagram @dassios_official
John Richmond
Honoured guest designer, John Richmond, reintroduced 90s grunge into our lives in his rock n’ roll SS25 collection. The sartorial pieces, mainly in dark colours, illustrated a punk aesthetic with a mixture of garments including grungy tracksuits, preppy leather shorts, distressed jeans, and statement accessories adorned with sparking silver finishes. However, elegance was also apparent in his collection and highlighted and deepened the motifs by contrast. This duality that argues and celebrates creates an effortlessly complex image on the runway, showing us all why he is the guest of honour this year.
The English-born designer, clearly well-versed in showbusiness, illuminated the runway as lights flashed over an industrial style catwalk, capturing the essence of his style as he introduced Greece to his vision.
Instagram @officialjohnrichmond
AFW was once again a glorious event for fashion in Greece. From charitable sponsors Georg Jensen, Académias Hotel Autograph Collection and Colgate, AFW is setting a strong and unwavering foundation for establishing a long- lasting relationship between Greek and international fashion industries. Providing opportunities for Greek-born designers and creating strong communities, we know as well as anyone that Athens is a hot topic for fashion.
Words by Zlata Gavula, Edited by Isobel O’Connor
