FASHION CITY: ATHENS (III)

Sheer dress and coat: Stefanos Chrysafis, circle dress and bra: Clon8, skirt: Eirene Athens, leather earrings and cuff: Aumorfia

CLON8’s name originates from the Ancient Greek word, κλών, meaning “twig”. When we think of cloning we think of new life, of plants, fungi and bacteria reproducing, of clonal colonies where genetically identical plants grow from a single ancestor.
In Numerology, 8 represents balance; the number is both spiritual and materialistic in equal measures.
Angelika Chilikova was born in Kazakhstan – a land situated in central Asia, with vast steppes and sweeping views, a place of traditions and folk tales. Stemming from a long line of tailors and craftspeople, she is an intuitive and passionate designer.
Raised in Greece – a country famous for its philosophy, art and drama – Angelika was immersed in its deep-thinking and religious culture, its rocky landscapes and breathtaking vistas. Drawing on this rich past, Angelika offers us a deep relationship with the earth and its elements through her use of natural, simple and ancient techniques.
“I was born and raised in Kazakhstan, in a Greek immigrant family away from my so called in Greek Πατριδα but I was very much within it through the traditions, music and the dialect. I feel that while physically i could belong everywhere, emotionally i do belong to Greece. It is like microchip that every immigrant parent has the tendency to fit to his child with the hope that one day, as a patriot, he will return to his lost country.
My personal approach and way of expressing myself creatively is influenced by my life experiences. There are engagements, observations and adjustments I had to go through to understand, so my position and culture around me at large. There are sometimes influences from literature. There are also images, people, sounds, and tastes that I absorb within a short period of time that give me insight into my process.
I am inhaling life when i work on more creative and artistic projects and I feel great satisfaction seeing people wearing my clothes. I came to conclusion that i like to separate those two and embrace each of the feelings in their full capacity. So at this current point i like to take both paths of the journey and create wearable clothes while working on artistic projects, such as connecting myself with theatre and performance as it has always been in me as a story teller.. I feel i am at the right place and time to make both happen.

Stefanos Chrysafis started studying Fashion Design at the age of 18. From the very beginning he was doing stylizing, clothing processing and designing for several brands. Now, at the age of 22, he already has his own brand and presented two clollections.
“My inspirations are people. Feelings. Behaviors. Situations. Actions and reactions. I’m focusing on human soul hypostasis trying to find the keys for a better way of life and of course all there are affected by art and designers.
I think that the connection between commercial and art is the reason that I choose to do fashion. You know sometimes we have to go back in time and think why you started… To tell u the truth I prefer the artistic satisfaction but my annoyance about commercial success brings the result of my clothes. By deciding to be a fashion designer, you decide to be an oppressed artist for me. You like to be limited sometimes even if you never admit it to yourself. It’s like a fetish game with yourself. I feel limited by the customers but all of us before saying that we have to comport with the limits that we put to our work. I’m never playing safe!”

Ioanna Liberta started working with jewellery as a hobby but six years it became her main occupation. She now runs her own store in Athens but she also presented her works at Paris Fashion Week in Cube Showroom.
“My inspiration depends from my mood, I design mostly jewellery I imagine wearing, I also like the human body. One of my favourite designs is the realistic heart.
When I decided to make a living of this work I started with more commercial designs , then after one year I started doing the things that satisfied me. I like to risk and safety is not an option for me. Of course I have fears. Will I think of another collection? What if my mind stops? I also worry about our government and how things are in Greece.”

I don't think any of the designers has to worry as long as they keep delivering such strong, beautiful and high quality designs. I am very optimistic about their future and I'm already preparing the next episode of my Greek adventure, so stay tuned ;)