Page 84 - NUMO JOURNAL 2024

FO L LOW

Even her shoe
collection is unique
in its exquisite use of
Minoan symbols and
patterns, from bulls
and bees to grapes
and labyrinths. Each
shoe is a fashion
statement.

art. Even those who live in Crete, I think, The greatest source of inspiration is my
sometimes forget that the Minoans were grandfather's village, Alagni, where the
the first major civilisation in Europe and family winery is. There’s a magical place
one of the greatest in antiquity. I’m inter- in Alagni, a unique carved winepress
ested in learning, reading, and discovering with rare findings. Its construction seems CRETE HAS A
about Crete, its peculiarities and secrets. I to date back to ancient times. People
love its essence. My goal is to always con- of the ancient world met there to tread VAST CULTURE.
nect Cretan culture with my creations. I their grapes and transform them into INSPIRATION IS
started with my Minoan Collection of the divine gift of Dionysus, wine. That’s
shoes and jewellery, fully inspired by the where I also like to transform myself from EVERYWHERE.
civilisation. Each shoe in my collection a Cretan woman to an artist. To look at HERE, I FOUND
tells a story from the Minoan world. Even my roots. To breathe and feel my land’s
my Olympic designs, the jewellery and positive energy. To ground myself and MYSELF AND
sandal I designed for the Tokyo Olympics reflect. To reminisce about the past but DISCOVERED
(2020), my Diktynna sculpture, a tribute also plan my future.
to the famous Ancient Cretan archers (in Does the Minoan journey continue? WHAT I WANTED
2021, the Olympic Committee and the The Minoan civilisation lives on in the TO BE AND DO
Confederation of Olympia honouring the modern Cretan soul and still nourishes it
Olympic sport of archery commissioned with a strong desire for life's joys, which IN MY LIFE. A
Elli Lyraraki to design the sport's symbolic have not changed, as seen in the Knos- NEW-MINOAN
jewel), my Runner, all of these designs, sos frescoes, the oldest examples of
as well as the clothes I’m designing now, painted art. Folklore teaches us to ex- AESTHETIC ARTIST,
are inspired by Cretan mythology. It's this perience our land’s history in our daily THE FINANCIAL
tradition I want the world outside Crete lives. I try to understand and interpret
to connect with through my work. Every its relationship with the milestones of TIMES CALLED ME.
place, every village has treasures to re- human life. For example, I’m very inter-
veal. I often meet people with the same ested in Cretan craftsmanship, because
drive as me, people passionate about it’s among the oldest in Greek traditional
their expression and art. art. And the oldest craft is weaving. So, I
In which villages or other isolated corners feel like I'm at the start of a great jour-
of the island have you discovered inspiring ney, and Crete is my guide. Crete leads,
"treasures"? and I follow, enchanted... •

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