With a crowd of  thousand glamorous guests the 14th International Fashion Week of Athens, Athens Xclusive Designers Week, was completed at Megaro Ethnikis Asfalistikis, with the presentation of the collections of 23 important Greek  and international designers for Spring/Summer  2014 and many side events.

Panos Papadopoulos, the Greek designer that works in Sweden and overseas with the brand PANOS EMPORIO, brought a summer breeze on the AXDW catwalk with one of a kind swim-suits and summer creations. The spectator's eyes turned to the impressive beauty of Evangelia Aravani, who opened the fashion show. This show is the 1st official presentation of the PANOS EMPORIO collection in Greece and was accompanied by the presentation of the line of his three new perfumes!

The accomplished Greek designer Makis Tselios, surprised the crowd with his summer collection, Collection Atelier 2014 for men and women, influenced from the 1920s-2930s. Long silky kimonos and crepe satin dresses and muslins done up with lace, with an over ruling tone of white, were accompanied by live jazz-swing music of Star Motel band.

The eccentric Deluxe Street Wear creations and the accessories for men and women of the collection Apostolos Mitropoulos for Underground and the Ancient Greek concept of the Underground collection stole the impressions and enthusiased the event's guests.

 

Laskaris reserved for his guests a dreamy show filled with romance: ethereal presences, mermaids taken from fairy tales and complete female creations with transparencies in light tones and handmade details moved the guests to an imaginary atmosphere directed by Bessie Malfa! The show was framed by the soprano Basia Zaharopoulou and the music by Tasos Xatzis. The highlight of the show was the presentation of Fani, the 13 year old girl from Make-A-Wish of Greece that wished to become a designer and that came true with the help of Laskaris who took upon himself to make two designs belonging to the little girl and also the dress she would be wearing: Fani's parents were so proud of her at the point where she walked on the stage in her beautiful pink dress, as all designers do in the finale of the show, a fact that didn't only move Fani but also the crowd!

Athina Korda made a strong debute on the catwalk with a special style and the geometrical lines of her collection, which combined different materials and dark colors.

Valtadoros presented the new Spring and Summer collection of 2014 themed the Galactic Butterfly of the Mayas. The lively  colors and the ethnic designs of the collection, that connect through the Maya "butterfly", gave the collection a special character and impressed with their tones. Adonia Kallimoukou starred in the show of the designer, but the black wigs that all the models wore, particularly impressed the crowd.

Christos Petridis, presented a haute couture collection of 15 creations for Faliakos by Petridis fashion house, in a striking red color with obvious influences from the Russian Tsars. The show finale closed with a white unique creation!

9 new talents of the design stage presented their collections and competed for important prizes, while last year's winner of Best New Designer, Insomniac by Spiros Stefanoudakis and Carmen Emanuela Popa from Roumania, winner of the Best Catwalk of the 12th AXDW, closed the day of New Designers with 2 impressive collections.

The brand Insomniac presented the collection "Diamonds" that is inspired by the brightness of the diamond, while it touched the glow that every woman hides inside  her and the spontaneous dynamism of every man.

The designer Carmen Emanuela Popa presented her new collection, which is addressed to the refined, but yet extremely powerful woman. Through stylish contrasts but retaining the harmony and color panel, the collection describes the evolutionary path to the future.

The jury for the evaluation of the contestants was made up from Mrs Katerina Gouma, owner and designer of the label "Underground", Mrs Lila Koutsiomari, fashion editor of the magazine Like!, Mr Laskaris, distinguished fashion designer, Mrs Maria Papagrigoriou, fashion editor of Attica Media Publications, Mr Christos Petridis designer of the historical fashion house Faliakos by Petridis, Mrs Nelly Skoufatsoglou, editor in chief of the magazine Ozon, Mrs Maria Tzavara, fashion distributor for the magazines MarieClaire & Vimadonna and Mrs Eva Fotopoulou, owner of Pop Up Store.

The awards ceremony, was presented by the 15 times World Champion of kick boxing Mike Zambidis, as a role model of a charismatic and self-made man that with hard work was able to conquer the top of the world. Mike Zambidis wanting to encourage the new talents to continue their effort in trying to shine in the world of fashion, he presented the winners of the night along with the organizer of Athens Xclusive Fashion Week, Tonia Fouseki. Mrs Tonia Fouseki during her speech at the award ceremony spoke about the support of the organization to the Greek designers, though she did refer to the late desist Michalis Aslanis, a designer - milestone for the Greek fashion, for whom this year's AXDW wanting to honor his memory and to assign the most possible tribute to his 40 year course for Greek fashion, created a special exhibition tribute that was open to the crowd for the whole duration of the fashion show. In addition during the award ceremony a rather emotional video was previewed, showing the highlights of the designer's life!

Winners of this year's AXDW are:

LKC by Loukia Kyriakou: the designer impressed the crowd and the judges with her fully comprehensive collection and won the prize of Best New Designer, which was given to her by Mrs Katerina Gouma, owner and designer of the boutique "Underground". The award corresponds to the ability of the winner to prepare a capsule collection based on their designs for the label Underground, which will be sold in boutique Underground and on theionline shop, but will also be sampled in other boutiques in Greece and abroad. In the promotional box of the capsule collection of the winner, the award also includes a photo shoot from one of the top Greek professional fashion photographers, which label Underground works with.

180Degrees: Maria Prastakou, designer of the brand 180Degrees, presented a collection with polymorphic creations which gave her the prize of Best Trendsetter for the 2nd time! The winner wins a special tribute in the womens portal tlife, through which they will have the possibility to project their work to a wide audience and develop a spring-board for their recognition in the industry.

360Project: The 3 designers of the brand, presenting a very creative and «lively» concept, won the prize of Best Catwalk, which was given to them by Mrs Giota Dragona, Chief of Beauty & Fashion of IEK AKMI. The award corresponds to a yearly scholarship at IEK AKMI.

The rest of the designers that took part in the competition were just as remarkable, and they were: Katerina Papagianni, Anastasia Dosi, Bold&Locked, Aida, Ellen S. & F. Erotokritos, Nicolaos.

Konstantinos Mitrovgenis showed his collection of swim-suits "Life", with futuristic elements, bright colors starring Irini Papadopoulou. The stylish element that took off the concept of the show was the rubber swimming hats that all the models wore!

The duo of Celebrity Skin excited its guests with handmade, theatrical creations and impressive accessories in nude, black, white tones and red touches. Naturally, the celebrities that walked the catwalk stole all the looks: Katerina Stikoudi, Nina Lotsari, Jenni Botsi, Ada Livitsanou, Eleni Karpodini, Myrto Kazi, Katerina Tsavalou, Courtney Parker giving another tint to the show of the collection Raw!

Panos Apergis presented his new collection with a basic element of biomechanical leather with laser cut, which gives it the essence of lace, along with ethnic references and bright colors!

Yiannis Tongos presented a special collection for the Kathy Heyndel fashion house, which is based in the combinations of rock and chic! Highlight of the show, was the impressive opening with a Belvedere fashion moment: A black translucent shawl especially designed for Belvedere by Kathy Heyndels fashion house,  was combined with an elegant black dress of the collection, and gave a nice surprise to the guests and a rhythm for the flow of the show! The show closed with Katerina Stikoudi wearing a beautiful wedding dress!

The 14th AXDW finished with the show of fashion house ESCADA for the collection Resort 2014, which showed for the 1st time worldwide in the 14th AXDW! Bettina Hammerl, Brand Director, of the fashion house, with a team of 6 people, showed particularly elegant creations that riveted the guests: suits and dresses, shirts in white, black, red, yellow with special prints!

A lot of celebrities honored with their presence the organization:

Kalia Bakogianni, Irini Geroulanou, Artemis Staikoura, Emanouela Paulidi, Popi Xaritaou, Makis Tselios, Zenilda, Master Tepmp, Mariada Pieridi, Thomai Apergi, Nikos Ganos, Katerina Kokla, Giannis Kazanidis, Nikoleta Karra, Panagiota Vladi, Elsa Toli, Jimis Stathokostopoulos, Maggy Haralabidou, Maria Androutsou, Patritsia Milik Peristeri, Achileas Haritos, Froso Ralli, Vegas, Olga & Gogo Farmaki, Mary Sinatsaki, Lola Daifa, Areti Darma, Daphne Valente, Rea Toutounzi, Deuz Hommes, Mi-ro, Apolonas Papatheoharis, Katerina Tsandali, Regina Kouri, Marianna Sbokou, Katerina Stikoudi, Al Giga, Thelksi, Kostadinos Emmanouil, Fotis Sergopoulos, Sasa Stamati, Christos Nezos, Irini Daifa, Desi Koubelogianni with her husband, Hlias Vrettos, Euagelia Aravani, the ambassador of Sweeden Charlotte Wrangberg, Elisavet Moutafi, Masa Fasoula, Maria-Louiza Vourou, Haris Sianidis, Apollonia B., Kostantinos Ananiadis, Gianis Siskos, Chrisanthi Thomatou, Vangelis & Aurora Hatzh, Orestis Andreadakis, Gogo Augerinopoulou, Michalis Zambidis, Elena Davla, Aleka Serafimidou (President of Make-A-Wish Greece), Noni Dounia, Vicky Hatzi Katerina Stanisi, Haris Romas, Kali Tsilidou, Fotis Gianiotis, Vasiliki Tsekoura, Christos Veloudakis, Mrs PApadima, OGE and dj Kas, Kostas Fragolias, Nina Lotsari, Sofie Pasxali, Dimitris Petrou, Paulina Christodoulou, Vegas, Kings, Nausika Saradopoulou, Thanos Chronis, 48 hours etc...

 

At the same time Athens Xclusive Designers Week for the 1st time, organized a fashion design project, open to the public, which will give the opportunity to a talented designer to take part in the next New Designers Awards. During the four day event, every hour, 10 competitors designed an outfit that they feel it represents their style and mood and their talent, in a special space that reminded an «atelier» and had all the needed materials that were offered by Buldoza. The designs that were created during the four days, will be gathered and put on a special page of AXDW on facebook, where the crowd will vote which one they like best for a month!

 

Belvedere Vodka, the super premium vodka from Poland, supports fashions and its creators and became the Official Sponsor of the International Fashion Week of Athens! Belvedere's bartenders created unique cocktails especially for the event.

 

The make-up for the shows of AXDW was done with French products of the professional brand Make Up For Ever, that can only be found at Sephora.

The experts of Brow Bars of Benefit took care of the models' eyebrows, a service available only at Sephora! The school of FREDDY MAKE UP STAGE, with Freddy Kalobratsos in charge, was responsible for the make up during the whole four days.

 

 

The hair styles for the four day fashion shows of AXDW were done with products of the British fashion lover brand Toni & Guy, which are loved by millions of women for the irresistible style and the unique tone that it gives to their every appearance! Diamantopoulos school of hairdressing composed the team for hair styling as they do every season, with head Vassilis Diamantopoulos.

For the duration of the 14th AXDW, the visitors had the chance to meet the beneficial properties of a drinkable miracle, of the top drinkable collagen, Collagen Pro-Active, that is both for beauty and health!

 

Delicious and 100% natural drinks and Alpro desserts, rich in calcium and vitamins, from nature low in fat, gave their tastes at the fashion week, inviting us to live in our most beautiful body!

 

For the whole duration of the event, the dynamic DJ sets from the radio station Athens Deejay 95.2 gave music rhythm to the big «celebration» of fashion!

 

More information about the program will be announced soon, through the website and other official sites of the social media:

 

 

www.axdw.gr facebook.com/axdweek twitter.com/AXDWeek youtube.com/AXDWeek instagram.com/axdweek pinterest.com/axdweek

Official Sponsor: Belvedere

Make up Sponsor: Make Up For Ever - Sephora

Hair Sponsor: Toni & Guy

Sponsor: Collagen Pro-Active

Supporter: Alpro

Hospitality Sponsor: Athenaeum InterContinental Athens

Cooperating with: FREDDY MAKE UP STAGE, Diamantopoulos Academy

Communication Sponsors: Novalifε & Novacinema, Athens Deejay 95.2 Rock 96.9, Εpsilon, enet.gr, TV Glam, Eleftheros Tipos, Like!, Deluxe, Adore, msn, tlife, kool, HOPE

Under the auspices: : GNTO - Greek National Tourism Organisation, HEPO - Hellenic Foreign Trade Board,  ADDMA - Athens Development and Destination Management Agency, HRBA - Hellenic Retail Business Association, FING - Federation of Industries of Northern Greece, PEA -Panhellenic Exporters Association, SEVE - Greek National Business Association, PATIKC - Pan-Hellenic Association of Trade and Industries of Knitted Clothes

Ethniki Asfalistiki Conference Centre is under the management of Athenaeum InterContinental Athens.