My Athens: Nassos Ntotsikas
Designer, Nassos Ntotsikas, whose wearable-off-the-catwalk knitwear creations are a must-have this autumn, believes in Athens’ creative nature, but stays true to his Chios roots.
What do you do?
I am a fashion designer, specialized in knitwear and I run my own label the last 2.5 years.
What are your creative inspirations?
It varies… It can be an interesting book, a theatrical play, a photo, a journey… But at the core is always the woman as I ideally have her image in my mind!
Why knitwear?
Because knitwear for me is a way of escaping and expressing myself.
Your creations are aimed at:
Sophisticated and elegant women with a strong personality
The one thing that you always pack in your suitcase?
Books, music and my pencils.
Why did you choose to come back to Athens?
I never really left…
Which area of Athens do you live in and what do you see from your balcony?
Lykovrisi, where I see a friendly and quiet neighbourhood!
Athens to me is….
A creative chaos!
The most endearing and most annoying quality of Athenians?
Endearing: Their feeling of solidarity in a crisis
Annoying: their habit of doing everything at the last minute!
Can you describe a quintessentially Athenian sound, smell, taste and sight?
Whenever I am at Acropolis, thousands of feelings flooding me that I can’t describe them in few words.
With the crisis, has Athens now become a creative hub?
Athens always was a creative hub but during the crisis, more people have become creative.
Your island of choice:
Chios, where I come from!
A perfect day on the island starts with… and ends with:
It starts with Greek coffee at Mesta village and continues at Mavra Volia beach and ends with a stroll at Chios Hora enjoying a perfect Kronos ice cream!
A restaurant or bar in Athens you’d highly recommend:
‘Armolia’ restaurant at Chalandri, specialized in Chios cuisine.
What would you take back from Greece as a gift for friends and family?
Mastiha and Pixari liquer from Chios.
Which Greek designer/s do you most admire?
Loukia, Rita Attala, Celebrity Skin, Angelos Frentzos