Sunday, May 23, 2010

Dimitris strepkos ......up close and personal



About one year ago ...i found out about Celebrity Skin...and since then i wanted to know more about Dimitris Strepkos' work..recently i had this opportunity when we sat down on a windy day... at a coffee shop and talked about everything... Dimitris is 36 years old and he was born in Germany ,Herford....his parents were from Macedonia and Mesologgi .....he now lives in Ampelokipoi ..and he loves the centre of Athens because he doesn't like big distances...so he also has his atelier there...he admits that his atelier isn't too big because he prefers to put all his energy and earnings in the finding of good fabrics...and materials....
He had two obsessions since he was a child...body workout..and painting....
at a very young age he started working as wardrobe editor....at theatrical plays....he didn't always know that fashion was going to be his future activity...as a young boy he knew he wanted to work with pictures...to creature pictures...he was decorating his house and he was always watching a lot of films and theatrical plays...
So first wardobe editor ,then stylist and then designer.....
He teaches fashion for ten years ...now he teaches  at INTERGRAPHICS .Also with Eleni Mparla  his former student and  his now co-designer... they are Celebrity Skin ....

He things its a good think to be around so many young people..to be freshened up ...his students were...
Dusanka Duric...Christina Skarpeli....and of course Eleni Mparla.




His way of thinking is more similar to international markets...that is the reason that the clothes also do so well abroad .....Celebrity Skin clothes are sold in Ampelokipoi,Kifissia,Dubai and London!




The name came to him...after the compination of the word skin( as he considers clothes as a second skin) and the word Celebrity due to this celebrity madness of everyone these days....
funny story...at his first interview FYI for F TV...he was asked if he was inspired from a song called Celebrity Skin.. until then he didn't even know that a song with the same title existed...
He is a fan of mix and match for his personal style...and he can't stand everybody dressing in the same way...Dimitris hopes he can keep the same energy and freshness in the future..he believes that every designer who doesn't have something interesting to say must stay silent...
Some of the new designers he likes are Dimitri Zafiriou,Dimitris Petrou,Delight and Evangelos Kavathas...
He waited to make his designer opening, despite being in the fashion industry for so many years ,until he was really ready...until he had the maturity he has now...as he admits...he now feels that he knows better what he wants and  feels calmer...
I always was wondering about some unfinished touches that some Celebrity Skin clothes have..and Dimitris told me that this happens to give to the people that wear the clothes the sense of handmade clothing....to bring the consumer closer to the product...
Every Celebrity Skin piece is handmade....
He recently created the It's fashion darling blog...he is more into blogs because he thinks they are the future...instead of sites...
He likes to help new people in the industry...because he knows how it feels to be new and talented but not to have the connections...
He gets his inspiration from movies,feelings and words...He makes every show al little story....
Dimitris..stays loyal to AXDW..because he has a very good relationship with them as he has been the fashion director of AXDW twice and this time he was also the fashion consultant of AXDW...
He admits it isn't the easiest hobby to be a fashion designer in Greece...a lot of work and knowledge is expected...
The first time he saw someone to wear a creation of his was when he was 5 years old..and he made a hat for a friend of his.....
since then he has created many things..like when he was a student he created some jewelry...that also were  the first money he ever made from fashion....
Dimitris after some sad situations he's been trough he is a fan of the NO MORE PAIN quote...and that shows with his always attached smile...
The preparation for every show starts...about six months ago...that means exactly after..every show they start preparing for the next one...
When i asked Dimitris about his co-designer Eleni Mparla...he talked to me about a great collaboration based on respect...
he loves her very much...and he likes her positive energy and  never-ending her passion for work....

Dimitris loves animals very much..more than people as he says..he is a cat person...now..he has Avant Gard...a little cat....that has Katia Dede this year's Playmate as it's godmother....


Dimitris has an innovative grand mother that is 95 years old and her name is Katina...she stays in Macedonia...and they keep in touch everyday...and has as a hobby, recording Dimitris on DVD every time he appears on TV..she also asked Dimitris to create clothes for her....I love that!!

Dimitris also owns with one of his two brothers  a theatre called Mixani texnis and  he creates clothes for the plays.....
Dimitris is also fashion editor..at MAG THETA...free press fashion magazine...

I had a lovely time interviewing Dimitris and I love the fact i found out so many things about him...I now have a lot more respect for his work...as all Celebrity Skin's creations are made with so much love..vision and talent....

4 comments:

  1. great inside look into Dimitri's mind and creative life

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  2. Euxaristo gia to arthro :) Polu m´aresoun ta sxedia tou Dimitri kai tha ithela kai´go na ton gnoriso!

    Kalhnyxta kai kali ebdomada apo aurio! :)

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  3. thanks...i had a great time interviewing Dimitris aka Celebrity Skin...

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