Dear iDEALS, I get very emotional every time I meet a designer I admire. Sotiris Georgiou, whom I briefly spoke to during my stay in Athens, is no exception. When I first met him back in 2008, he greeted me with a gift: a wonderful asymmetrical t-shirt, full of colours.
His collections are always deeply inspiring for both men and women as they reflect a glimpse of his own visionary, strict and precise personality.
His recent collaboration for a series of photographs with stylist-turned-photographer, Dimitra Spiropoulou, became the perfect excuse for an interview and the perfect way to present his men's Winter 12-13 collection. Ironically, words often fail to describe his other-wordly and balance-sheet-nucleus creations. I hope this conversation will do it.
Motwary: How did everything start for you Sotiris?
Georgiou: I was working for various clothes companies and I was watching the process of making clothes: patterns, fabric cutting, sewing and at the end the final result. I found it would be more interesting to be involved in the whole process; it was then that I decided to attend the Veloudakis Fashion School. Three years later I felt the need to express myself through something more personal. I had read somewhere that the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…. I guess, that’s how it all began
Motwary: Why you have chosen fashion as your profession in the first place.
Georgiou: Fashion has always been a multidimensional world with lots of opportunities for creation and self expression. I always loved the magical ability to construct from nothing, re construct and transform. Fashion gives me the opportunity to combine construction with transformation expressing at the same time my inner self and my vision of a part of a word.
Motwary: How did you form the Sotiris Georgiou hero/the man you dress?
Georgiou: For me every collection is like a different movie which has a different hero. The inspiration comes from art, cinema of course and every day’s life’ s aspirations and activities
Motwary: And who is this man?
He is a sophisticated, independent man who wants to have fun; he is unique and authentic. He is a city wanderer, fond of the urban environment and its noise but at the same time he longs for calmness and relaxation. He doesn't follow the trends, actually he tries to discover himself through the way he is dressed so the clothes he combines and wears help him express his own needs and finally state his personality and attitude towards life
Motwary: Do you feel fashion is changing? If yes to which direction?
Georgiou: Change is one of nature's laws. If there was no change there would be no motion; and without motion there would be no life. So everything is changing, especially in nowadays, and fashion follows. I find it is becoming more human, more real, less of a need of showing off and more of a need to return to the basic things of life and existence like security and being part of a community, belonging somewhere
Motwary: What is the most important thing a young designer must know?
Georgiou: Firstly,before anything else, a young designer should gain some experience from working for someone else so as to see the ways the industry works. Afterwards, when you go your own way ; although it is difficult to determine yourself in a such a big market, do not be afraid to express your individuality. It is important to experiment with new ideas, to test your limits.
Motwary: How difficult it is for a visionary designer like you living in Athens considering the political dis-balance, the financial problems and the fear of the unknown?
Georgiou: It is not easy at all to be creative in an environment of poverty and dis-balance. However, strangely enough, this hard reality seems to be giving me an opportunity to better express my feelings through my work. I feel alive in my vibrant city, though unknown is there I can detect a light of hope and at the bottom line, who knows what the future will hold for every one of us?
Motwary: What in your opinion should happen and how it would help the rise of creativity in Athens?
Georgiou: There are a lot of creative ideas in the city, Ι think what is missing is creative collaborations. Some fields of business and art could work together in order for their voices to be more easily heard
Motwary: What shall we expect from you in the near future?
Georgiou:I am actually working in my new collection for summer 13 and examining a few new projects that would ideally merge fashion with design
Motwary: What did you do yesterday? How was your day?
Georgiou: I had a full morning in the atelier and in the afternoon I went to the theater.
Motwary: Your favorite song?
Georgiou: I can not state a favorite song at the moment but lately I am stuck with ‘Thin White Duke’ by Bowie
Photography & Styling by Dimitra Spiropoulou / Makeup:Alexandra Spiridopoulou using M.A.C products / Μοdel:Giorgos Pantelakis (ACE) / Αll clothes SOTIRIS GEORGIOU AW 2012 collection / Necklace is from Sarah Spiridou ‘NOQUVY’ collection.
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