ASTORIA – The Business to Business (B2B) Tableware and Textiles / Fine Ceramic Art event, opened its doors with an exclusive event on November 14 at Hellenic Aesthetic NYC, 30-91 31st Street in Astoria. Marianthi Vlachos and Maria Kosmidou present the work of Barbara Papadede of Natural Greek Fabrics and ceramist Ilias Christopoulos at the Hellenic Aesthetic boutique until November 21.
As noted by Kosmidou, the work of Papadede and Christopoulos is being shown together for the first time in the United States, and the goal of this innovative collaboration between two internationally renowned designers is to nurture client relationships and new collaborations for their brands, boost their already high credibility in the US market, create brand awareness and expand their marketing and social media presence for themselves and all of their customers.
Vlachos, in her remarks at the Nov. 14 event, noted that she started Hellenic Aesthetic six years ago and “I was quite shocked that there wasn’t a single platform where you could buy greek brands in the US, a place where everything was imported to the US it could ship to you very quickly, I just thought why wouldn’t I be the person to do it?”
She continued: “So almost six years later here we are and I finally have a brick and mortar that opened about a year ago…I wanted to create an authentic Greek experience, transport my visitors in Greece and one of the first people I spoke to we talked about Natural Greek Fabrics, we have Barbara here, and that led me to Maria Kosmidou who represents Natural Greek Fabrics here in the United States and you’re pretty much the reason this all happened is because she represents these two wonderful designers that we’re showcasing today and hope to spread the word and awareness here in the United States and beyond.
Kosmidou thanked Vlachos, everyone present and everyone who supported the project. She said: “I love bringing all these talented people together and I had a vision to create a team of talented people and go further and promote, as Marianthi does, the image of contemporary Greece and I think it is everyone’s obligation in these times to combine our efforts and truly promote a better goal.
Barbara Papadede, the creator of natural Greek fabrics, brought the brand to international markets. In her remarks at the event, she noted that “when Maria met us with Marianthi and Ilias, it was easy to come here”.
Founded in 1936, Natural Greek Fabrics produces high quality fabrics, tableware and textiles directly from natural yarns such as cotton, linen, cotton duck, burlap gauze, gingham, herringbone, sailcloth, woven fabric and cotton velvet. Papadede studied as a fashion designer in Paris France at Esmod. She works in collaboration with architects for interior projects and has worked for many high-end resorts, homes and restaurants in Greece, France and Italy. Notably, the work of Natural Greek Fabrics has been featured on the cover of Architectural Digest, Elle Decoration and Marie Claire in France, and other interior magazines.
Ilias Christopoulos is a fine ceramist. He won four prizes and three commendations at pan-Hellenic ceramic exhibitions. He has participated in individual and collective exhibitions of ceramics in Greece, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Denmark, China and Japan. His works are part of private collections and museums in Greece, Slovenia, Hungary and Japan. He has taught ceramic art workshops in Greece and in a training program under the auspices of the Center George Pompidou. He studied ceramics with Hero-Myrto Maganari and Saimon Hill at the School of Ceramics of the Municipality of Nicaea and is a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece and the International Academy of Ceramics.
Christopoulos joined the event via computer from his studio in Kalamata, Greece, thanking Kosmidou, Papadede and Vlachos who opened his shop to display their work, as well as all the supporters of the event and the aim to promote the products Greeks. He then talked about his work and the unique handmade creations exhibited at Hellenic Aesthetic. Christopoulos concluded by thanking everyone for the opportunity and offering his best wishes for the event.
Attendees enjoyed cocktails and appetizers with food provided by Maria Petrides of Maria’s Mediterranean in Bayside, NY. Everyone also received as a farewell gift one of two Christopoulos-designed magnets with the Linear B symbol for wine or olive oil in a special pouch made by Papadede.
The collection will be open to the public November 15-21 during regular store hours.
The event is supported by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, the Greek Trade Office of the Consulate of Greece in New York and the Office of Public Diplomacy of the Consulate of Greece in New York.