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So we begin.....
Stathi, let's start with that funny story you were telling me the other day about your nickname ''The Greek Manolo''. How did this came up?
As I told you, this was a joke that started from my close friends because they know my
admiration for Manolo Blanhik, because they love me, they love my work and so on. They
used to call me, and still do, Statholo, from Stathis and Manolo.
Of course this was an inside joke, so I was fine with it.
After a while, a Greek magazine asked me for an interview and when the issue got published
it was entitled ''The Greek Manolo''. As you can imagine I was amazed by this, since
I had never mentioned it in public, my friends either, so I was left in sock. And then this
title was repeated numerous times in other magazines too and so it stuck with me.
How would you describe you style in three words?
As an upcoming designer, what is important for me is that I still have to show more of myself and my style. This has to do with style. Why?
As a designer my biggest concern is to design things that are wearable, because I am someone who makes my living through this
and my products are targeted to everyday people. I might design a couple of things especially
for a photoshoot, a ceremony, or a red carpet appearance but this is a mainly profession
to me. With this I mean that I am not designing shoes just for the sake of it, or not to be
able to walk with these. It is a job. If you exclude some things that I would never choose
to include in my collection due to my studies and personal taste, other than this I do not
want to be associated with just one style. As time passes, I mature as a designer; I
accept new things, gain new experiences. I already see things differently than when I
was younger. So, I cannot say my style is this, finish, and I am not going to do anything
different. For example if you see the collaborations I have made with other designers, the result
is very different to what I have shown in my collection.
I think you have collaborated with Deux Hommes? Yes I designed the shoes for Deux Hommes,
which then got presented at Mad Walk 2012. I also designed the shoes for Stelios Koudounaris
show, which later was presented in Cyprus Fashion Week in 2010 and then at Athens Xclusive
Designers Week. I am currently working on some more projects, but sadly I can not reveal
any more just yet. What would you never design? For example I
know some people who just hate wedges. No, I do not hate wedges. Maybe, only a particular
wedge. What though I do not like at all is the ballerinas. I think I will never overcome
this. I prefer, a thousand times more, seeing a
woman wearing a heel of two or three centimetres height than seeing a pair of ballerinas.
Which are the designers that you admire? In accessories or in general?
Whatever you want. Let's say accessories..... Manolo (laughs)
Manolo is not a favourite one here in Greece, as he is considered to be rather classic.
However, nowadays his designs are replicated by others.
Manolo... I really like the house of Fendi and Dior.
Can you tell us now about the design competition you participated and came first? We read the
concept of your designs and we found it very interesting. How did this came up?
Yes of course.... In Milan there is a blogger called Francesca Silva, who approached me
and asked me to do a post on my work. And that is what happened. After a while she contacted
me back informing me that her post on me had the highest clicks.
So, Francesca Silva to celebrate the one year anniversary of her blog she decided to make
a contest with a very interesting but also rather difficult subject entitled ''From individuality
to globalisation''. The idea of this whole concept was how to live in a world with so
many visual influences (globalisation), without changing your own personality, both as a designer
and consumer. For my concept, I got inspired by the history
of Greece and the wars we fought as a country, with Germans, Italians and Turks.
Greece was one of the first European countries to experience globalization, not the way we
consider globalization today, but in the form of war. I believe that war is a form of globalization,
in case we take that the conqueror is someone who tries to force to the conquered country
his own traditions, habits, monetary.... With this in mind, I created a small story
on Greece, in which I presented her as a young woman who loves fashion and shoes in particular.
She was loved/conquered by three different persons: Hitler, Moussolini and Kemal Attaturk.
To make her love them, each one of them offered her a pair of shoes. Each pair was designed
in a way that Greece would become familiar with the culture of each country. The German
gave her a pair of boots with lots of buckles, the Italian a high heel, silk pump with the
Italian flag on it and the Turkish a pointy, exotic brocade shoe with the Greek 'founta'
in front. The Greek girl was initially wearing her ancient Greek sandals and at the end she
was left with a clear shoe, as a blank canvas, that symbolizes her freedom and the chance
for a brand new identity. I believed a lot in the whole concept and
so, I made her believe in it too. That is how I won the first prize in the accessories
category. Let me tell you that this is the second contest
I come first. Also in 2005, in 12th Biennale at Napoli I came first amongst all the young
designers of the Mediterranean. A great future is a head of you. Congrats!
Now, can you tell us a little beat what we have here? For what season is the collection
and what inspired you? Yes...This is the collection for S/S 2013
which has already been sampled. What I propose for next season is the thick heal, something
I have not shown thus far, and with this I return to what I was saying earlier about
the fact that my style is not just one thing. However, people who know me as a designer
always somehow recognise my lines and designs. The atmosphere that I am suggesting for next
summer is more relaxed, not very aggressive as opposed to my winter collection, a calm
and sweet summer without spikes as details or tough colours and materials.
You were telling us that your favourite is the gold sandal....
Yes, this is my favourite one. Now, we would like to ask about your opinion
on blogs. How do you find blogging in Greece, the collaboration between blogs and designers?
If I had a blog, I think I would take notice to have mainly international visitors and
create some special links with other blogs from abroad. Why? Because blogs can help tremendously
a designer, as thousands of people is reading it. On the other hand, I have to confess I
don't like personal style blogs. That is something we hear from a lot of people.
I don't like it.... I just don't care!!!! On the other hand, if you would ask me: Would
you like to see your shoes worn by a famous blogger, then I would say: Yes, of course!
Well I guess, in general, I don't like blogs who only limit to personal style and that's
all. It's not either this or that. I really like
blogs that present life in Athens, the art spaces, suggest places to visit, shows to
see and so on. If I was a blogger I guess I would have a column where I would say: ''I
bought this beautiful pair of shoes for the designer X and here is how I styled them'',
but I would never open my closet, dress-up and get photographed out in the streets. I
find this meaningless. That's for me at least and as I am as a person...
Look. I believe these posts are successful because people like to see how their favourite
bloggers are getting dressed because people consider bloggers as style icons.
Yes, I guess you are right. It's true.... For example the Italian blogger Chiara Ferragni,
of The Blonde Salad, who has bought a pair of my shoes....She might be wearing a dress,
and this dress to be sold out the next day. Yes, she has this buying power.
She has that influence. This is extremely important, undoubtedly,
but I would suggest to bloggers to do something more than this!
As for my plans for the future, I have to tell you that I am trying already to sell
also abroad, to show my work abroad, in showroom, competitions. Only that it is difficult for
stores to trust you. Where? In Greece or abroad?
I believe here. Abroad it might be a little harder to trust you especially now due to
the difficult financial situation but I also know four designers who collaborate with show
rooms in Italy. Ok, thank you.
Where can someone find your designs? Oh right, we forgot the most important question.
My wholesale is at 15 Achaiou str., and you can contact the showroom by visiting my web
page www. stathissamantas.com where you can find about the contact information and points
of sale. Ok great. Thank you for your hospitality and
for accepting to do this interview with our blog.
Thank you for your interest!
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