Fashion and charity hand in hand at the Megaron
The Athens Concert Hall opens its doors to fashion next week, with an unexpected event scheduled to take place on the premises on Wednesday, July 21. Under the aegis of the Greek Tourist Organization (GNTO) and the municipalities of the cities of Athens and Paris, a select group of European fashion designers will present their work. The idea belongs to Cretan-born, Paris-based designer Penelope Zagoras. «We wish to give Athens some sparkle and glamour in view of the Olympics,» said Zagoras to Kathimerini English Edition. «Foreigners are expecting a lot of Greece; we have a great responsibility.» Besides Zagoras, participating in the Athens event are designers Claude Montana, Zandra Rhodes, Susanne Wiebe, Lars Wallin and the house of Cerruti. Paris-born Montana began his career in London’s Carnaby Street in the early 1970s. By the 1980s, he was a major fashion player in the French capital and in 1990 began designing haute couture for Lanvin. Zandra Rhodes’s own textile designs were considered rather loud for British manufacturers in the 1960s, prompting her to make the clothes herself. Since then, the flamboyant designer has dressed the rich and famous, while last year, she established the Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Nino Cerruti’s grandfather founded the family fabrics company in 1881. It was only in 1967, however, that the business took a new direction toward upscale ready-to-wear. Both German-born Susanne Wiebe and Swedish couturier Lars Wallin have established solid careers in their respective countries. Expected to attend next week’s event are Minister of Tourism Dimitris Avramopoulos, Athens Mayor Dora Bakoyannis, French Ambassador to Greece Bruno Delaye and Municipality of Paris officials. Proceeds from the event will go to Epilogi, the Athens Municipality’s center for drug rehabilitation. For more information and tickets: Penelope Zagoras, 16 Vassilissis Sofias, 210.720.9600, and at the Athens Concert Hall, Vassilissis Sofias and Kokkali, tel 210.728.2000.
