7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

When it comes to swimwear, Greece certainly knows how to do it right. The country’s seemingly endless summers, stunning beaches, and love of the outdoor lifestyle make Greek designers leaders on how to dress for a long day out in the sun!

And let’s be honest- a good swimsuit is an integral facet of a summer wardrobe; so here, we round up Greece’s coolest swimwear brands (inspired by the Aegean Sea) to have on your radar, because there’s nothing quite like summer in Greece!  

lile Du Soleil

This new brand was born on the Ionian island of Corfu and launched in April 2020. With “The island of the Sun” as its main inspiration, the brand’s SS 21 collection features limited-edition swimwear designs that are elegant and sophisticated. Using high-quality fabrics and premium local craftsmanship; each piece is sleek, minimal, and crafted in a way that makes the wearer feel stylish and confident. 

  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

Stefania Frangista 

Stunning swimwear that embodies joyfulness and femininity- Stefania Frangista’s brand aims to be modern yet classic, unique yet sophisticated, high-quality yet sustainable. The designer’s pieces celebrate, sculpt, and protect the form while aiming to leave as little environmental impact as possible. 

  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

Ancient Kallos

With simple and striking designs that will last almost a lifetime, Ancient Kallos is renowned for its ready-to-wear collections. Clean considered lines and romantic cuts set the mood for nostalgic and classic swim sets and one-pieces. This season there is a one-piece and a bikini swimsuit featuring the traditional Akrokeramo design. 

  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

Zeus + Dione 

This timeless brand has risen to international fame; offering design-led innovation. With attention to detail, and quality craftsmanship, Zeus + Dione’s sophisticated and effortless swimsuits arrive to make the modern woman look and feel their best. In keeping with the brand’s overall Greek feel, the pieces are Grecian-inspired in both design and colour. 

  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

HOLYDAY 

Classic swimwear through and through. If HOLIDAY Swim doesn’t spark memories of spending time on a Greek island, we don’t know what will. Each piece is carefully thought out, as the modern, yet timeless designs are made for every body type and can easily take you from a long, lazy day at the beach, straight to a fun evening of dancing and drinks.

  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

Mitos 

Beautiful, must-have pieces that are executed to the highest standard- each design is treated as a piece of art. With an emphasis on fit, simplicity, and fabric, Mitos celebrates the female form with premium swimwear that enhances and endures. Influenced by art, life, and Greece (of course), Mitos designs blend retro nostalgia with crisp, clean lines.

  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

Maa Boo

Maa Boo launched in 2013 and soon evolved into a swimwear brand offering a wide range of fits and shapes, respecting and celebrating the multiple facets of the female form. Created with an intention to celebrate all bodies, their collections immediately gained a reputation for their sophisticated but joyful patterns, contemporary cuts, and the soft buttery fabrics that shape each body in the most flattering ways.

  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 
  • Insights Greece - 7 Greek Swimwear Brands You Should Know 

Featured image: HOLYDAY swimear 

Pandemic Dampens Real Estate in Greece but Holiday Homes Still Shine  

The Covid-19 pandemic has pulled the brake on Greece’s real estate market, freezing deals and prices on housing, but pockets of demand have emerged from foreign buyers looking at property on Greek soil.

Interest from investors located mainly in European countries, led by UK nationals, has increased in recent months as they search for property either for investment purposes or to be used as a holiday home, real estate agents report.

Demand has been focusing mostly on homes on the Athens Riviera, the southern beach stretch running from Piraeus to Sounio, as well as islands such as Mykonos, Crete, Corfu, and Paros.

Homes worth 7 to 10 million euros are on investor radars but the majority of enquiries concern properties in the range of 500,000 to 1.5 million euros, Christos Mourdoukoutas, sales analyst at Algean Property, tells IN+SIGHTS GREECE.

“They are mainly looking for a place in a prime location that is close to international airports – popular holiday destinations and the Athenian Riviera – which could offer a good yield too, since their interest is usually related with investment purposes,” he says.

Growth in Greece’s real estate prices had been growing steadily, recovering from a ten-year slump, when the pandemic hit. Data from the Bank of Greece, the country’s central bank, showed that prices last year jumped 7.3 percent and then by an annual pace of 6.9 percent in the first three months of this year.

Since then, local buyers and home owners have adopted a wait-and-see stance due to the uncertainty caused by the pandemic and the recession at hand. Insights Greece - Pandemic Dampens Real Estate in Greece but Holiday Homes Still Shine  

Due to travel restrictions, interest in buying Greek assets comes mostly from nearby European nations as investors from further away are still having a hard time getting to the country. This is a trend seen globally, with real estate investors currently preferring their own regions due to travel restrictions.

Market officials say that buyers from China, who have been a main source of foreign investment in Greek homes in recent years, are still showing strong interest in Greek homes.

A key reason why buyers remain keen on Greece is that prices in the country remain well below levels seen in other European countries. Additionally, yields offered on homes on islands, such as Mykonos, exceed the 8 percent mark, ranking among the highest in Europe, according to data provided by Algean Property.

The country’s successful handling of the pandemic over the lockown period earlier this year boosted its appeal as a safe destination, with homes offering privacy and large areas sought after.

“We see that more than half of those interested have accelerated their decisions and want to invest in a private vacation and place for relaxation. For many, the pandemic has led to a review of their priorities, resulting in them speeding up decisions to leave their jobs and are now seek to buy a luxury property for the rest of their lives,” Savvas Savvaidis, president and CEO of Greece Sotheby’s International Realty told Kathimerini.

In March, Sotheby’s handled one of the biggest deals to take place in the residential market in Greece in recent years. An Australian business owner purchased a villa in Corfu for 12 million euros, with the sale going ahead normally despite the lockdown period. It is Sotheby’s third sale above 10 million euros in Greece in the last year.

*Images courtesy of  Sotheby’s International Realty