Regarding the fashion shows of Greek designer Laskaris, two amazing ideas came up: using, for first time, Greek music in his show but also ancient music instruments. 

For the first time, during the Paris Fashion Week, Ada Iliopoulou dared to use an exclusively Greek soundtrack with songs of well-known artists. “I wanted to show, together with Laskaris,  another creative collection that embraces the traditional element under a modern perception, just as is the case of the designer’s clothes. Many people told me not to do so. The artists, however, immediately accepted my suggestion and Laskaris  was very excited to accompany his creations with the songs of important music artists of our country. In the end, all journalists were thrilled. We wanted the entire planet to listen to Psarantonis in a modern composition, such as the return of Odysseus, entitled "The Return” by Alex Kavvadias and Manos Sfyrakis from Crete; to meet Christos Stylianou, whose music is already included in the Buddha bar playlist; to feel the sensuous voice of Eleni Tsaligopoulou; to understand how we persist on creating in every way in Greece, through the song of my beloved friend Kostas Livadas “Your persistence” performed by Eleonora Zouganeli. We wanted everyone to understand the power of the Light emitted by all Greek artists and all Greeks who are still striving to do their best under very difficult conditions. And it was precisely this power which was united with the great talent of Laskaris. Because Hellas means Light and as long as there are designers and people who keep trying to make things happen, they shall only bring Light everywhere, through their work and their ongoing efforts.”

The Greek designer’s catwalk parade entitled “Prisma”, was held at the tunnel “Faust” next to the Seine River, hosted by the Parisian Press Office Méphistophélès  Productions, under the auspices of Ms Ada Iliopoulou, who is the head of their Greek office and the person in charge of the Greek designers who would be presente d in Paris.

Faust is an old tunnel in Paris and the venue where the show took place was black; however, a white light path at the catwalk brought the ‘Light of Creative Power from Greece’ with it, as Laskaris’ stunning clothes were on display and a soundtrack consisting  exclusively of Greek artists was playing in the background; everyone in the room was left amazed at the sights and sounds around them.

Steps were heard. A key unlocked the door. A bird popped up into the sky and Psarantonis’ voice, along with Alex Kavvadias, became the soundtrack music of Laskaris’ show at Paris Fashion Week.

The collection displayed 16 couture items, coupled with handmade shoes, fur coats and leather with fur details from the Kastoria-based, Greek company of Iordanis Michaelides and specially designed jewelry from Greek Anapnoe. The colors dominating the collection were black, red, white, gold whereas the fabrics used the most were wool and cashmere.

Clothes with pure geometric lines and style, reflect the path that each person brings on based on their own course of life. The paths we lived in. Those we did not. And those which we will pass.

This collection reminds us that the Light changes everything. Hellas means Light, a light shed in the darkness of the world. The highlight of the collection was the final dress, a wedding gown bearing motifs embroidered in Thrace, cut and mounted with organza, fur and butterflies, the latter being reminiscent of the notion of rebirth.

Olympia’s and a collaboration with Daemonia Nymphe

In his second show, we preferred to work on something really special, in terms of music, so we worked with Daemonia Nymphe, a music band which reminds the entire world of the ancient hymns and music instruments.
Laskaris’ second show took place in the amazing Maison des Centraliens, the first hotel decorated by the Belgian fashion designer Martin Margiela. Besides the title, the hall was decorated with ancient Greek columns and busts of Alexander the Great, exuding the overall feeling of the theme chosen by Laskaris’ for the summer collection. The very instant the song “Sirens of Ulysses” by Daemonia Nymphe was heard, the public was transported to Ancient Greece. The Daemonia Nymphe  of Spyros Giasafakis and Evi Stergiou, is an ethereal world music ensemble; they are the first artists worldwide to compose and perform improvisations with reproductions of Ancient Greek instruments, manufactured by Nikolaos Brass. The collection travelled side by side with the life of Olympias. It started by Olympias’ birth in Pasaronas, an ancient city of Epirus. Legend has it that Olympias was sleeping with snakes and feeding reptiles. The snake is symbolizing opposing forces: the regeneration, the primordial life-giving impetus but also death, good and evil, the light of knowledge and the darkness of the unconsciousness.

The snakes that Olympias domesticated were recreated on leather outfits, embroidered with handmade enamels and represented on the designs with dazzling Swarovski crystals. The fabrics were handcrafted to recall a traditional tool. The collection sandals were hand-crafted using traditional methods.

Thanks to the oak tree, the emblem of Epirus, green was the prominent color of the collection that consisted of ecru, pastel, black and gold, and Greek-style Veran. Olympias is known to have served at the Oracle of Dodoni, and she had already been initiated into the Bacchic rituals of the Dionysian Mysteries. Thus, the entire collection was reminiscent of the ancient Greek costumes of priestesses, and they were combined with the pagan composition “Thracian Gaia” of Daemonia Nymphe, including lyrics in Ancient Greek and themes mainly of bachelor ceremonies, Orphic hymns and invocations.

Olympias’ life journey then brought us to Samothrace, where she became a priestess of the Mysteries of the Cabiri. According to Ancient Greek history, Philip II was attending the mysteries, when he met and fell in love with Olympias during a mystic orgies ritual of the Mysteries of the Cabiri.
The collection was influenced by the columns of the temple of Samothrace, where during the feast, it seems that the charismatic Alexander the Great was conceived. The clothes were made with handcrafted meanders, destroyed columns, matted with real stones, light rays and copper.

Olympias told Philip that one evening, Zeus, in the form of a snake, visited her in her chambers and impregnated her, thus making Alexander the Great the son of a god. By the time of his birth, Olympias had one mission in life: to make Alexander the most powerful among men; and she did make it. 

The last phase of the show identified her as Philip’s wife in Pella and Aigai – the modern city of Vergina – the source of influence for the leather, embossed flowers on the wreaths of the collection. A collection glorifying Vergina, and Macedonia, Greece. Τhe topical subject honors all Greeks, emphasizing through Macedonia’s Queen that Macedonia is Greek.

The show was hosted by the Parisian Office Méphistophélès Productions and its director in Athens, Ms. Ada Iliopoulou. “ Among others, this show wishes to remind us of the ancient mysteries that always fascinate people all over the world. Olympias was indeed a priestess and to us it was appropriate for the show ambience to remind people of Ancient Greece, the ancient Greek columns of temples from which the designer was inspired. In order to emphasize further that aspect, we decided to use matching music. Daeomia Nymphe with the reconstructions of Ancient Greek instruments and their lyrics in Ancient Greek was simply perfect for that project. During the show, we used Orphic hymns. Our guests were thoroughly impressed and left asking me to translate for them the lyrics from Ancient Greek. The way that foreign journalists love ancient Greece never ceases to amaze me”. 

This collection was an amazing journey within a journey, a tribute to Ancient Macedonia, to strong women and great civilizations that never die.

More info about Daemonia Nymphe

Daemonia Nymphe (Spyros Giasafakis and Evi Stergiou), is an esoteric ensemble formed in Greece. Their founder, Spyros Giasafakis, is the first artist worldwide to compose and perform improvisations on ancient Greek instruments, such as kithara, lyre and varvitos, handcrafted by Nikolaos Brass, using design and materials authentic to their epoch. Currently based in the UK, the group has released music on labels of several nationalities(German, French, Italian, Portuguese) most prominently on a long established French record company specializing in world music (Prikosnovenie records). Due to the superb costumes and masks, attending a Daemonia Nymphe connect is to have the eerie sensation of beholding characters stepping out from scenes on attic vases. They have performed and toured in the USA, Austria, England, France, Belgium, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, Cyprus, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Greece (Headliners at the Wave-Gotik-Treffenin Germany, Festival-Mediaval in Germany, Ethereal Fest in Spain, Caivano Arte Fest in Italy, invited at Psalm/Styriarte Festival in Austria, Exhibition Road Fest in the UK). Their presentations are also portrayed on film, such as television documentaries, short films (Life in Five Acts/Greece) and DVD productions (Treasures of Athens and Olympia/Channel 5, London). They have composed music for theatre (Theatre Lab Company/London, National Theatre of Northern Greece/Thessaloniki, Creatives  Across Sussex/UK), provided music for stand-up comedies (Colin Quinn’s Long Story Short Broadway, New York) and fashion shows (Gucci Spring Summer 2016, Milan). Evi S. has contributed (with LBC) to Neil Davidge’s (Massive Attack) score for the game “Halo 4”. Their style has universal appeal, melodically and visually. They have collaborated with international musicians such as, among others, English Peter Ulrich (ex-Dead Can Dance, This Mortal Coil), Jo Quail, Bulgarian Dessislava Stefanova (London Bulgarian Choir),Greek Alkinoos Ioannides, Psarantonis (Antonis Xylouris), German Beefcake, Australian Louisa John Krol. Several compilations by European and International labels include songs by Daemonia Nymphe that appeared along with tracks by artists such as Lisa Gerrard, Loreena McKennitt, Low, Ladytron and many others. Daemonia Nymphe’s  music is part of the collection of the British Library.

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