athens understated blog

…available soon on the net!

• What inspired you to get into fashion design?

Stelios Koudounaris:Since my early childhood, and due to the fact that I was raised in a family that was involved in the clothing business, I was always being charmed by the changes of the collections, trends, fabrics, and colors …..

• What is your educational background?

SK: I hold a BSc in Fashion Design and Clothes Production Technology that was followed by a degree in graphic and interior design.

• Describe your philosophy about the art of fashion?

SK: Style is all about attitude.

• What inspires your designs?

SK: Nothing and everything. I suppose… from the greater things in a man’s life to the most insignificant. But anyway, I am mostly inspired from people and their aura.

• Favorite designers

SK: Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balencianga, Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, Gareth Pugh, Basso & Brooke, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, Alexander Mc Queen and John Galliano

• What about fashion as a business?

SK: In three words: demanding, evolutionary, and creative.

• Let’s talk about your new SS09 collection…

SK: From materials that emphasize movement of very feminine silhouette such as the fluidity of silk gauzes, cottons and viscose, to high quality fabrics that give out the sense of paper. Everything shapes in a neutral palette of light colors such as bone or beige, pearl gray, latte and lime without dismissing sheer white. The items in this collection are built out of fine lines and edgy cuts. A mix of ethnic chic references is given out in a luxury punk mood while androgynous elements form an extreme feminine edition.

• What is your target audience for this collection?

SK: I create for the emancipated, self-confident woman who lives, works, and moves in the city. A woman who knows her wills and claims them, a woman who is open-minded and loves avant-garde outfits.

• In your eyes, what makes a good collection?

SK: A collection is the outcome of decisions and current experiences of each designer, his feelings and reactions towards them. The key is not to be lost in translation!

• In these tough economic times, what can designers and brands do to stand out and gain the attention of the customer?

SK:Fashion is art, and such as, it is strongly interrelated with human history. Throughout the ages, fashion taught and at the same time was taught from this continuous journey, adapting changes or even giving out solutions to any kind of crisis. And this is what we have to keep in mind nowadays.

Stelios Koudounaris collection is available at London Fashion store, Simple Caractere,  Par Amour and other selected boutiques.

London Fashion  is an idea, that Eugenia and Kostis came up with. It started as one of those plans that everyone makes for the future, on the first day of 2007. In less than one year, this exciting idea became reality, thank to their willingness never to give up. twoinagondola, Filep Montwary, Stelios Koudounaris and Kristina P  are among the top up-and-coming designers who present their collections in London Fashion store. 

26 year old designer Stelios Koudounaris was born in Limassol, Cyprus and came in Athens four years ago .

His F/W 08-09 collection is inspired both by Greek and Chinese culture . Stelios Koudounaris femme is sexy and sophisticated at the same time. All he wishes is to see women walking on the streets, dressed in his own creations!

Good luck Stelios!