Nicky Hilton is one the designers who participated in the Athens Exclusive Designers Week.

Fashion as an exchange between nations is one of the ideas behind a multifaceted event which took place this weekend. The third edition of the Athens Exclusive Designers Week opened its doors at the Ethniki Insurance Megaron and run to April 12, under the aegis of the Italian and US Embassies in Athens.

Besides catwalk shows by local and foreign talent, the event featured a photography exhibition, a live performance by Vakalo School of Art and Design students, a party by Best Radio, a business forum and a closing party featuring live music by local band C-Real combined with a catwalk presentation with a charity angle. Also new to the Athens Exclusive Designers Week was the establishment of an award for young Greek designers. Event organizer Tonia Fousseki pointed out that the organization is increasing its ties to foreign fashion weeks and events. A collaboration has been secured with Chicago Fashion Week, for example, while the Athens Exclusive Designers Week is keen on bringing over fashion designers of the Greek diaspora.

 A model presenting an outfit by Catalin Botezatu.

On the international front, the event featured an array of designers presenting collections for fall/winter 2008-2009: A scion of the Ferragamo family, Vivia Ferragamo is based in London where she designs a ready-to-wear and accessories collection; Thes Tziveli is a Greek-born, Italy-based fur and leather specialist; Nicky Hilton, sibling of Paris, is the designer of a collection for the younger, fun-loving generation; and Penelope Zagoras is a Greek-born designer with a Paris and Middle Eastern following. A regular fixture at the Athens Exclusive Designers Week is Romania’s Catalin Botezatu, while Cypriots Marios Messios, Notis Panagiotou and Marina Zachou also presented their collections. Presenting a catwalk show for the first time in his homeland was Ioannis Guia, a Paris-based Greek designer who enjoys working in a quiet, but steady manner.

Also part of the catwalk schedule were local designers Katerina Dapi with the Angel D collection, hat specialist Katerina Karoussos and Miltos. On the young Greek designers front, the event showcased collections by diaspora Australian-Greek Christiana Livaditis, Ioanna, Elie Papacosta, Vassiliki Assimomiti, Rannia Angelakou and Andreas Georgiou.

Athens Exclusive Designers Week, Ethniki Insurance Megaron, 103-105 Syngrou Avenue, Athens, tel 210 9092988.