Athens, April 13th 2016

PRESS RELEASE


Impressive collections, creativity, smiles, new talents, international guests stood out during the 19th Athens Xclusive Designers Week

43 Greek and international designers and brands gave a strong statement


The 19th Athens Xclusive Designers Week has been completed, at Ethniki Asfalistiki Conference Center, with impressive fashion shows, thousands of guests, glamorous presences, international guests and the suggestions of 43 established and emerging designers from Greece and abroad for the season Fall/ Winter 2016-2017.

.LAK LAKIS GAVALAS, Celebrity Skin, Elmira Begatti, Funky Buddha, Gio Sourgiadakis, Jaroszewska, Kathy Heyndels, Makis Tselios, Nikos-Takis, Notis Panagiotou, Panos Apergis, Tassos Mitropoulos and TOPSHOP by Sotris presented their collections in the catwalk. As every season, the 3rd day of the event was dedicated to the new talents and the creativity of New Designers, the New Designers Awards. 23 new talented creators presented their unique and impressive collections to the public and the jury of the New Designers Awards, claiming significant awards: Best Catwalk, Best Trendsetter and Best New Designer. Thousands of people supported the effort of the new designers, watching their fashion shows and the award ceremony that was presented by the well-known actor Giannis Aivazis.

13 new talented designers competed and showed their own suggestions in the catwalk of the 19th AXDW: Andry Anastasiou, Valia Kaσtrouny, Chloe Moumbaris, Fotini Lgk, TLΓΔ, Penelope Demetriou, Maria Vytinidou Luxury Handwoven Design Brand, Euphrosyne Vlassi, Christina Teligiannidou, Chris & Tonia, Joy Koumentakou I madebyJK, Marω Martzη, MK by Marios. Just before the big moment of the awards ceremony of the New Designers Awards, the fashion school ATHENSFASHIONCLUB FASHION SCHOOL presented a group collection of 10 of its students with subject the wearable technology.

As always, important representatives from the fashion world attended the Organization by participating in jury: Vasilis Zoulias, one of the leading Greek fashion designers, with significant long-term career, Elena Karozi, buyer of the Sotris stores which host the most special fashion trends since 1969, the international guest of the AXDW, Branco Popovic, founder of the FashionClash, the greatest institution for emerging young designers in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Roula Revi, one of the most vital photographers of our country, who has gone through a big career in the field of magazines and fashion and Zeta Tsakoumi, journalist and fashion blogger of the Pink Girl Notes and PR Manager Greek well-known fashion brands.

 

The President of Athens Xclusive Designers Week, Tonia Fouseki, during her speech, congratulated everyone who took part and highlighted their efforts to achieve their goals. She also referred to widen the contacts of AXDW with international media and buyers globally strengthening the positive perpective for "made in Greece" fashion and the synergy with carrier that support openness and clothing industry.

The winners of the New Designers Awards of the 19th AXDW were:

Best New Designer: Fotini Lgk showed a collection inspired by traditional Japanese clothes and space phenomena which were accompanied by impressive head pieces. The prize corresponds to ensure trade cooperation with Sotris stores, with which she will see her creations to adorn the shop windows of Sotris and to be sold beside great names of international fashion, such as Topshop, Ann Demelemester, Jeremy Scott and more. For the presentation of the award was called the honorary guest of the evening, former Minister of Tourism and Minister of Education and current Director of Tourism of the Municipality of Athens, Mr. Aris Spiliotopoulos.

 

Best Trendsetter: Joy Koumentakou I madebyJK won for the second time the award of Best Trendsetter presenting the collection "Feelings" and impressing public and jury with her pop art creations, that filled the room with colors. The award corresponds to the provision of space and work equipment, as well as accelerated courses on garment production in a new business development area and the fashion creativity support, the Athens Fashion Design Lab. Mr Meletis Karabinis, General Manager of the Association of Manufacturers of Ready-to-Wear clothing, the institution that offered the prize, enabling young designers to further develop, awarded the winner.

 

Best Catwalk: The brand TLΓΔ of Despina Toulgaridi, presented oversized creations with nostalgic items such as traditional knitwear and hats, traveling the audience that watched the show back in time. The award represents the visit to the Salvador Ferragamo Museum in Florence, where the winner will have the opportunity to live this unique experience admiring up close all the exhibits of the designer and to travel in the history of the famous fashion house. The President of the International Fashion Week Athens, Athens Xclusive Designers Week, Mrs. Tonia Fouseki, awarded the winner.

 

The international guests of the event, buyers και media, had the chance to discuss about clothing industry in Greece and fashion with the participants designers, in a dinner organized by AXDW the last day of the Event at "The Sowl", a beautiful art space restaurant, in Thisio. In a relaxed atmosphere, beneath the Acropolis' Sacred Rock, enjoying the wine Pupulo Tsantalis, the designers discussed with the international media about their impressions of the collections that had been shown so as to be adduced in the media with which they cooperate, and with the international buyers talked regarding possible cooperations and procedures that could follow for the start of these partnerships in order to achieve the best possible result.

 

During the four days, the guests of the AXDW had the chance to visit the section Xclusive Elements, the special room of Greek artists fashion accessories of the 7pm by marina panagiotoulia, Art2wear - Rachil Andreadou, Dristela Handmade Creations, E.T. Creations by Elsa Toli, Elissavet Maurogeni, Miaou Niaou and Treis. During all the days of the Event, the Fashion Design Project was prosecuted, the open design competition of the event that gives the chance to a design-talent that will be voted from the public via facebook to take part in the next New Designers Awards. During the 19th AXDW 43 projects were submitted, which will be posted in the coming days on facebook to be voted the winner by the public

Unique makeup looks awaited the invited guests at Erre Due venue, while the series of hair spa products Rene Furterer and the Ilias & Staff, were in AXDW offering unique tips for healthy hair. The central bar of the event refreshed the guests with cool juices bfresh spitiko in 3 flavors, while coffee Jacobs Flavors gave flavor to the evening Fashion Week. MediPrinou, known for the leading health and beauty services which they offer were part of the fashion week. The female guests had the chance to get to know the secret for invisible support in revealing necklines by ByeBra.

The public was informed about the purpose of the NGO Pisti, having the opportunity to strengthen the Association by purchasing candles and souvenirs.

 

For the first time, the AXDW hosted a really crucial project,  «Art meets Fashion in 19th AXDW», in which the artistic duo of Iakovou Philippou and Adonis Haniotis presented the sculpture composition "Chair" from pentelic marble, which was accompanied by a vintage fashion creation from the personal collection of the artist and musicologist Michael Romanos, who curated the project.

 

 

INFORMATION ABOUT THE DESIGNERS' COLLECTIONS

Το fashion brand .LAK with the signature of Lakis Gavalas opened the 19th Fashion Week in a prive show. Lakis Gavalas, surprised his guests with a subversive show, guiding them in the kitchen of the venue with a highly fanciful scene where the boys of the show walked with great styling, clogs and table tennis balls in mouth. The collection .LAK POLO STORIES revealed the evolution stages of a polo style shirt, while the show opened as guest the famous stylist and owner of the Al Showroom in Mykonos, Al Giga.

A unique show that brought us in London was presented by the fashion brand Topshop by Sotris with highlight the participation of famous Greek fashion bloggers: Alexandra from Muse Rebelle, Elena from Cool Ur Style, Aggeliki from Barefoot Duchess, Kleri and Vasia from Fashion Has It, Chrisanthi from Here C Comes , Eva from Jeantonic, Katerina from Miss Margaret Cruzemark, Stefania from Not For Sale, Eva from Talking About F and Marianna by The Fashioner gave their own mark on catwalk with special, young clothes with rock and punk elements of London style.

The collection "Body Sculpture" was presented by the well-known fashion house Kathy Heyndels, starring golden tones in white fabrics, female transparency, stunning laces, specific details of skin as well as laser cut openings highlighting the female body, while men's creations Giannetos fashion house accompanied the collection with their classic and sur mesure suggestions.

 

Elmira Begatti, a well-known pilates trainer, showed S/S 2016 collection sports & casual wear for comfort in movement, clothes seamless expressing flow, passion, intensity, style and energy. Highlight of the catwalk were fitness equipment that was placed on the catwalk with the models doing live performance pilates.

The guest of honor designer from Poland Natalia Jaroszewska with the brand Jaroszewska, presented black maxi dresses with leather details and lace, and airy tunics that impressed the guests.

Tassos Mitropoulos with the collection Bourlesque brought the rhythm of swing music of 30's and 40's with impressive creations with corsets, feathers, eccentric fringes in fuchsia, red, blue and yellow.

Gio Sourgiadakis, with the fashion brands Gio.S and Me and My, presented alternative suggestions for the male style, with modern and timeless suits and casualwear in unique color combinations.

The unique Makis Tselios presented an haute couture collection with graceful creations in which the lace dominated, the silk muslin, flowers in white and black and resembled old red wine.

 

The well-known fashion house Nikos-Takis presented impressive, glamorous creations dominated velvet, silk muslin, crepe-satin, tulle and lace.

The Cypriot designer Notis Panagiotou presented men outfits with colorful bomber jackets and shorts while for women, he suggested elegant costumes and airy dresses, inspired by Marlene Dietrich playing in the tones of white, black, crème and green. Notis Panagiotou chose for the integrated display of men's sets special jewelry from Honor Jewelry collection.

 

The Greek well-known fashion brand Funky Buddha presented modern casual pieces for men and women who want to stand out for their style. Jeans, shirts, t-shirts and shoes that completed all the outfits attracted interest and with highlight the impressive motorcycles which were placed on the catwalk, creating a very young style stage.

 

Panos Apergis presented his collection Rock-Romantic for winter 2016-2017, which was based on the technique felting from silk and wool with leather details and silk chiffon in shades of green, beige and black.

 

Total black and nude impressive creations with knitted stoles and poncho, lace and feminine transparence were presented by the subversive design duo Celebrity Skin, Dimitris Strepkos and Eleni Barla, impressing once more the public with the avant garde creations of the collection "hUmAn". For once more a great deal of  celebrities captured the catwalk of the Celebrity Skin.

 

 

Makeup Sponsor: Erre Due Hair Sponsor: René Furterer - Ilias & Staff Salons Supporters: MediPrinou, Jacobs Flavours, bfresh spitiko, ByeBra

Hospitality Sponsor: Athenaeum InterContinental Athens Communications Sponsors: MAD TV, MAD RADIO 106.2, EN LEFKO 87.7, VOTRE BEAUTE, TLIFE.GR, FASHION DAILY, HOPE, EPILOGES, SOCIAL, FASHIONUNITED, FASHIONWEEKWEB

Partners: So Fine! Communications Management, Discover Greece, Hairstyling School Diamantopoulos, Freddy MakeUp Stage, IEK AKMI, Chef sto Spiti, Aperitto

Under the auspices: National Tourism Organization (EOT), Enterprise Greece, Municipality of Athens - Athens Development &Destination Management Agency (EATA), City of Athens - Cultural, Sports and Youth Organization, Cyprus Embassy, Embassy of Polish Republic, Athens Chamber of Commercial and Industries (ACCI), Athens Traders Association (ESTHA), Hellenic Retail Business Association (SELPE), Panhellenic Exporters Association (PSE), Federation of Industries on Northern Greece (SVVE), Greek International Business Association (SEVE), Hellenic Knitting & Apparel Industries (PSVPPE), Athens Chamber of Small and Medium Industries (ACSMI).

Ethniki Asfalistiki Conference Center  is administered by the Athenaeum InterContinental Athens.

More details about the schedule of the event are announced on the website and the official pages on social media:  www.axdw.gr facebook.com/axdweek twitter.com/AXDWeek youtube.com/AXDWeek instagram.com/axdweek pinterest.com/axdweek