made in Greece Archives - Insights Greece

Unique Greek Christmas Gifts

Bring a touch of Greek charm to your loved ones this Christmas with our hand-picked selection of gifts.

The clock is ticking but you still have a little more time before Santa beats you to it—and to help, we’ve put together the absolute best treats for all tastes, ages and interests.

These made-in-Greece brands create unique items we love giving and receiving – and no doubt you will also find the perfect piece (or two) here for family, friends, or yourself!

Insights Greece - Unique Greek Christmas Gifts

For everyone…

11 Modern Muses

Greek brand 11 Morden Muses has beautiful minimal calendars, scented candles and art prints that you will fall in love with. Perfect for gifting this season, their new planner aspires to keep your creative fire alive throughout the new year and will help you stay organised and grateful for each new day.

11modernmuses.com

Naked Summers

Visual artist Christina Mandilari paints with a special technique on both fabrics and ceramics, which remind us of warm, carefree, “naked” summers. Mandilar’s gorgeous creations include plates, painted vases, woven pillows, paintings and posters. Ideal gifts for those who can never get enough of the wonderful Greek summer.

nakedsummers.com

Rhoeco

Is there anything better than enjoying a warm, strong tea by the fire at Christmas? Whatever image this short description created for you comes to life through the notes of Rhoeco’s Christmas blend tea, a small business that produces beverages inspired by Greek nature. And what’s even more ideal is that they come beautifully packaged in pots that can be reused.

rhoeco.com

Contrust Collective

Even though this concept store is small, there is lots to see. Owned and operated by a group of five local designers and artisans, it features lovely neutral ceramics, jewellery, and bags made of cork, leather, and canvas. It’s the prints, though, that truly catch the eye here; some of them are prints or sort of pop-up books featuring Greek cities that are vividly coloured and abstract.

contrustcollective.gr

For foodies…

Politeia

Savour delicious, nutritious dishes and enjoy a healthy diet, the Mediterranean way! An easy-to-follow, step-by-step guide is the perfect gift for those wishing to cook traditional, delicious and nutritious dishes that have stood the test of time. The Art of Greek Cooking has a recipe to satisfy everyone. You can discover this and plenty more cookbook choices in English at the famous bookstore Politeia, at the centre of Athens.

politeia.gr

Olive Wood Land Shop

Buying kitchen accessories made of authentic olive wood is a quality and timeless choice. You can either visit this unique store in the historic centre of Athens in Monastiraki, just a few hundred meters from the Acropolis, which specialises in creating products from the olive wood, of your choice, or head to their online shop.

olivewoodlandshop.gr

For kids…

Wandering Workshop

If you are looking for original stylish wooden toys that can stimulate children’s imagination and enhance their creativity then look no further than the online store Wandering Workshop. “Our toys wander carefreely between the earth, sea and sky, inviting children to invent the play,” say the creators’ Hose Navaro and Athina Doukaki.

thewanderingworkshop.com

Greek Games

Discover the magic word of Greek games-literally, with a series of games, posters, card posts, t-shirts and more fun items. These products entertain children (adults as well) and at the same time, provide knowledge of Greek mythology and history, with an artistic twist. It’s the lovechild of Effie Karagouni and Christos Papachristou, two creators with a passion and respect for the arts, museums, the history of Greece and above all, with deep love and caring for children and their education.

mygreekgames.com

7 Greek Sandal Brands You Need to Know

Sandals are a summer wardrobe essential and Greek designers are leaders in creating these sensible yet stylish shoes that can effortlessly be worn from day to night!

We’ve rounded up our favourite Greek sandal brands that produce elegant flat shoes; handmade by highly skilled local craftsmen, using traditional, and in some cases centuries-old techniques.

Elina Linardaki

This Athens-based brand was created in 2014 by a mother and daughter duo and has now become an internationally known luxury made-to-order shoe brand- featuring pom-poms, semi-precious stones; as well as bold and colourful embellishments.

Insights Greece - 7 Greek Sandal Brands You Need to Know

Kyma Sandals

These traditional Greek leather sandals are inspired by the beauty and aesthetic of the Greek islands. Handmade in Athens, using a range of vegetable-tanned vachetta leather, KYMA sandals are designed to be worn from a casual day at the beach through to evening drinks by the sea.

Ancient Greek Sandals

Established in 2012, Ancient Greek Sandals are a modern footwear label for both men and women. Inspired by traditional Greek myth and style, the label is focused on creating wearable and laid-back sandals using local artisans and traditional techniques. Each sandal is handmade using sustainable, natural, and chemical-free vegetable-tanned leather.

Valia Gabriel

These carefully handmade sandals are created using the finest leathers from all around the country, with each pair reflecting minimalist lines and earthy tones. The design blends together classic and modern elements, creating timeless shoes that can be worn for many seasons.

Olympian Sandals

These handcrafted luxury Greek sandals are made of quality leather and are well-designed, using traditional techniques passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Each pair is uniquely inspired by original ancient Greek culture, art, and mythology and blended with modern designs.

Sandalaki

Inspired by the minimalism and simplicity of the Greek lifestyle, Sandalaki (based in Thessaloniki) designs sandals that combine Ancient Greek tradition with modern touches. Each pair is exclusively handcrafted in Greece using the highest quality and traditional techniques by local craftsmen.

Melissinos

Melissinos in Monastiraki, Athens has been a favourite sandal destination for celebrities including Sophia Loren, Jackie O, The Beatles, Barbara Streisand, Jeremy Irons, Sarah Jessica Parker and Leonard Cohen. Established in 1920 by Georgios Melissinos, whose son, Stavros aka ‘The Poet’, took over in 1954 and who passed it on to his own son Pantelis (Poet & Artist), in 2004.

Main Image by Valia Gabriel

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Best Greek Wines for Your Easter Table

Easter is nearly upon us once again and as with any holiday it sets new conundrums for wine pairing. It seems that no sooner has the dust of the busy Christmas and New Year period settled, we are again arranging for our Easter festivities and deciding on menus and most importantly, wine lists; just how are we going to pair these for our celebratory table?

During childhood, Christmas is easily everyone’s favorite season. And why not, there’s Santa Claus and gifts; traditional desserts, reindeer, and snowmen. But as one grows older and wiser, it dawns on every Christian that Easter is indeed the core event of the Christian experience.

The very foundation of Christianity revolves around the Holy Week (which starts on the Sunday preceding Easter). Unlike Christmas, which has become more about offering gifts than commemorating the humble incarnation of Christ, Easter still retains the very essence of the faith. After the 40-day period of Lent, which includes abstinence — from meat, fish, dairy, alcohol, and smoking — and days of fasting and prayer, Easter is celebrated with a feast.

Insights Greece - Best Greek Wines for Your Easter Table — Santorini of Argyros Estate

Lent fasting ends on Holy Saturday with the Resurrection where we all gather at home to crack each other’s red-dyed egg and enjoy a dish of the hearty, viscous and sweet-smelling magiritsa, which is a Greek traditional soup whose main characteristics are the aromas of fennel, dill and the sour taste, that match respectively to a glass of wine with good acidity and rich aromas.

Personally, I would choose an Assyrtiko from the beautiful island of Santorini, which affords some of the best and most notable versions of the grape. The “Santorini” of Argyros Estate with its full body and “aggressive” acidity, will penetrate the greasiness of the dish, refreshing the mouth and balancing at the same time the lemonish character of the soup. Alternatively, the “Santorini” of Sigalas Estate or the “34” of Karamolegos Winery will fit with our magiritsa ideally.

The lunch table on Easter Sunday consists mainly of lamb or goat cooked in the oven or grilled and kokoretsi. Kokoretsi consists of lamb or goat organ meats like intestines, lungs, liver and sweetbreads. All the above dishes call for wines with a rich body, intense acidity to break down the fattiness of the meat and noticeable tannins to bind to the protein.

“Chateau Julia Agiorgitiko” from Domaine Costa Lazaridi is a rich and elegant wine. There is cassis, sour cherry, chocolate, baking spices, and cedar on the nose. The palate is straight-up fruit with a sleek balance between flavor and feel. It is a carefully crafted medium-bodied wine with a long finish. It will match perfectly with the kokoretsi dishes.

The main dish of the Easter menu meal is the lamb of course either roasted in an oven or grilled on a charcoal barbecue. Lamb meat is juicy, fatty and spicy. The wine of choice to accompany it should be exuberant and full of aromas of fruits and spices, in order to match the intensity of the meat, as well as the spicy character of the entire dish. That would be a wine with intense tannins for spiciness and good acidity to balance its greasiness. The choices of Greek labels are countless and concern the personal taste of each one. From the red varieties, I would choose Xinomavro and Syrah while from white, nothing else than Assyrtiko.

A beautiful blend of 87% Xinomavro and 13% Syrah makes a very nice lamb pairing, no matter how you have chosen to cook it. “Diaporos” of Kir Yianni Estate is a classic example of the Naousa region, which is known for reds dominated by Xinomavro. This medium-bodied wine reveals a bright red fruit bouquet alongside flinty minerality and chewy, gripping tannin structure reflecting a profile similar to Italy’s Nebbiolo-based wines. Syrah adds some spicy notes. It cuts through the fattiness of the lamb, and the result of the combination is impressive and slightly rustic, highlighting the best of both.

If there is a white wine that pairs beautifully with lamb, it’s Assyrtiko. Assyrtiko’s traditional place of origin is Santorini, but vilifications are found all over Greece. This white grape has searing acidity that cuts through the high-fat savor of lamb. It also has plenty of lemon flavors to match the lamb roast with lemon potatoes. A full-bodied Assyrtiko, like those aged in oak barrels, is the best choice. “Nykteri” from Hatzidakis winery is an oaky full-bodied, creamy version of Assyrtiko expressing more elements of lemon custard, fresh pineapple, crème brûlée, and some baking spice. A complex wine that will pair nicely with our roast lamb.

Although the Easter table includes intense dishes in terms of flavor and fat, there is always room on it for a variety of desserts, mainly syrupy ones. One of my favorite sweet Greek wines is the “Muscat of Rio Patras” of the Parparousis winery. It has aromas of apricot, bergamot, lime, orange peel, honey and elegant notes of lily and jasmine. Concentrated and complex, in the mouth, but without tiring as it has enough acidity that gives it balance and elegance. It will fit ideally with cheese platters but also with sweets that contain syrup or are based on pastry, cream and fruits.

I leave you with my best wishes for a HAPPY EASTER HOLIDAY.

For more wonderful wine explorations, follow George on Instagram @george.winestories

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Our Favourite New Greek Beauty Brand

Nemertes combine the principles of self-care, holistic wellness, eco-conscience and the purest natural ingredients. Here are the reasons why they’re our favourite new Greek beauty brand and my tried and tested account of some of their feel-good products.

The Greek company collaborates with award-winning producers from around the country to source the best raw materials each region or farmer can provide, such as organic extra virgin olive oil from Crete, the Peloponnese and Western Greece as one of the base ingredients in their face and body care ranges. Their products also contain many valuable and skin-loving oils such as argan oil, wheat germ oil, castor oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter, and are enriched with essential oils, herbs, and other ingredients with healing properties used since antiquity.

The brand sees its luxurious products as a means to an end, and it’s not just about looking good: “Your physical health, mental euphoria, and a positive attitude to life are the most vital qualities we seek to offer! Our products represent something deeper than just beauty and health; they stand for self-love and everyday evolution. Our goal is to help each person develop the confidence to realize any self-improvement goal and inspire them to contribute meaningfully to society.”

Being environmentally friendly is another key priority for the company, so they use alternative energy sources to supply their production unit. Their product core ingredients extraction is being granted without the use of chemical solvent and their products are packaged in recyclable packaging Meanwhile they’re setting up a new service through which collaborating artists will create art on the packages of used products that customers will be asked to return, turning them into decorative objects.

Nemertes products are sold online via their eshop as well as in luxury Spas, 5-Star hotels (for which they’ve created a Welcome Gift Kit for guests) and high-end clothes boutiques. In the near future, the brand plans to create a children’s product series in collaboration with parenting and mental health consultants. “We will be creating a holistic package including practical advice on the physical care of babies, their dietary habits and also their spiritual and mental wellbeing.” Soon they will also be launching a new Exclusive series that will be based on award-winning organic wild oil and will contain gold leaves.

Tried & Tested Products

I had the pleasure of trying the following products-

Moisturizing body oil (Mandarin) & Moisturizing body oil (Sweet Fig)
These indulgent oils – the mandarin cheering and invigorating and the fig sensual and relaxing – smell incredible, like the real thing. I used a few drops of either oil in my bath, or as a perfume on my chest, neck and behind my ears, because the aroma of each is both therapeutic and lasts a long time. They leave the skin feeling soft and plump.

Face oil

Nemertes Face Oil is 100% Organic and offers a unique formula designed to maximize the results of your overall skincare regime. Containing Wild Rose oil, Rose Essential Oil and Evening Primrose oil, the formula is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Rose Essential Oil has properties that moisturize dry skin and anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties to treat redness and inflammation. Evening Primrose oil is packed with crucial Omega-6 Fatty Acids and strong antioxidant properties that help prevent the formation of fine lines and wrinkles. Although rich, it doesn’t leave an oily residue on the skin and it smells amazing! I found that it made my skin feel plumper and look more glowy, rosy and alive.

Bath & Shower Mandarin

Like the mandarin oil, this shower gel has a vibrant, mood-boosting and natural smell of mandarin that stays on the skin after you’ve dried off. It feels soothing and refreshing at once.

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Natural Greek Products Celebrating the Sacred Honeybee

As a big fan of bee products and bees, I was thrilled to discover this organic Greek brand, created by scientists Giorgos Athanasiadis and Chara Mangana on the island of Evia. I interviewed the couple to learn all about their vision and life, and tried some of their products, sharing my experience here.

Giorgos and Chara

Having finished their studies in natural sciences, environmental physics and art, the visionary duo behind the Bee Naturelles beauty, healing and edible product range decided to leave Athens and relocate to Evia island. “We were enamoured by its nature and biodiversity and eager to discover its secrets. We both believe that the sacred honeybee is the connection integrating nature and human beings. Since we had both spent a lot of our childhood years living in natural habitats where honeybees always fascinated us, we wanted to celebrate them. We believe, and there’s a lot of evidence showing, that honeybees are the regenerating force behind nature and humanity,” they say.

Biotechnologist and Tutor Chara Mangana and her partner Giorgos Athanasiadis, an Organic Apiarist, Physicist and Tutor are organic producers with expertise in bee science, natural sciences and remedies, such us beeswax cosmetics (the so-called “Apiceuticals”) who are passionate about bee products and natural ethics and determined to spread knowledge and awareness on this topic. They are partners in life and live year-round with their two sons in Evia. “We’ve been in the bee-siness for a decade now, lovingly creating products in which we combine unprocessed natural ingredients, such as organic beekeeping products, plant and herbal extracts, and essential oils produced with methods that are truly gentle and respectful to nature. The Bee Naturelles mission is to help prevent diseases and enhance your quality of life and overall health, by delivering our multi-awarded (more than 28 awards of quality and taste worldwide!) and highly reputed for their health benefits organic and natural products to the world!”

“Bees are the natural fertilizing power that gives life to everything, literally! They have been declared the most important living beings on this planet by the Earthwatch Institute, because of their pollination activity and so more. Bee products and bee medicine science provide everyday-life solutions to a huge spectrum of skin, body and mental problems. We, as bee ambassadors and Bee Naturalles as a brand, envision that every household should be using bee edible and cosmetic products for its everyday routine solutions and, by that the individual will actively help to the sustainability, regeneration and ethical contribution to and of mother nature and the honey bee!”

Tried & Tested Bee Naturelles Products Review

FACE CREAM FIRMING & RESTORING for mature skin

This yellow cream has a rich but lightweight texture and although initially (for only a couple of minutes) it leaves a shiny residue on the skin it is then completely absorbed and feels like it’s activating the skin’s circulation, making it rosy and bright. This bestselling 24-hour firming facial cream is enriched with propolis, cistus and helichrysum essential oils to provide rich hydration, healing and restoration to tired, dry, or mature skin. I’ve been using it mainly as a night cream to leave it to do its magic while I sleep, and on particularly cold mornings to protect my skin from icy winds.

BEESWAX OINTMENT CALENDULA & CHAMOMILE

Made with pure beeswax with skin-soothing and regenerative calendula and chamomile oils, this ‘Keralifi’, an ointment used traditionally in Greece for millennia and known to have immediate skin-healing properties, is especially recommended for baby skincare, dry and sensitive skin, mild skin irritations and rashes. I used it on my son’s upper lip and nose, which became red and cracked when he had a cold, and literally saw the skin heal considerably within hours of my first application.

BODY CREAM MYISIS INTENSIVE CARE

A rich body cream designed to deliver deep nutrition to the skin and has a strong aroma of relaxing, meditative sandalwood, one of the seven essential oils used in it. It’s suitable for all skin types, especially for dry skin. Using this as I step straight out of the shower and my skin is still a little damp, a little goes a long way and the feeling of hydration and aromatic comfort is lovely.

ORGANIC PROPOLIS TINCTURE

Propolis helps stimulate the immune system, while also being high in antioxidants, antiseptic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and healing properties. It’s also recommended for countering lethargy, brain fog, healing gums and perimenopausal/menopausal symptoms. I have been taking 15 drops in a glass of water (the medicinal taste is a little pronounced but pleasant enough) daily and I have been feeling more energised and clear-headed.

NATURAL SOAP ROSE & GERANIUM SOAP

I’ve really been enjoying switching my shower gel for this creamy soap with a lovely aroma of rose and geranium essential oils that offers a sense of well-being and relaxation. The soothing oils don’t just smell good, they offer the skin moisture. For my face, I’ve been trying the NATURAL SOAP BAMBOO CHARCOAL & SHEA BUTTER in which the essential oils of antibacterial and soothing lavender, invigorating bergamot, mood-lifting patchouli and detoxifying bamboo charcoal with hydrating shea butter leaves my skin soft and nourished.

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Stunning Handmade Ceramics Made in Athens

Handmade ceramics have never been more popular and it’s easy to see why. Organic materials and perfectly imperfect finishes are at the forefront of décor and interior design- as people seek to reconnect with nature and themselves.

And there’s no denying Greece leads the way when it comes to ceramics, as this form of art has been a part of Greek culture since antiquity- with Ancient Greeks using ceramics to store oil, water and wine since the Bronze Age.

Led by brothers Efcharis and Nikos Paltoglou, the creators behind Homatino, this stunning studio in Athens goes beyond everyday ceramics. Featuring a wealth of knowledge and experience, thanks to their father Michael, who had a ceramics workshop in the 1970s and taught them from young- the brothers have now taken over creating bespoke art pieces that are simple yet stunning. Turning everyday items (think: candle holders, plates, mugs, vases and bowls) into masterpieces- each collection is carefully designed to be used as both dinnerware and décor.

Insights Greece - Stunning Handmade Ceramics Made in Athens

Reminiscent of Ancient Greek artefacts, each item has its own unique character showcasing Efcharis and Nikos’ keen eye for detail and their age-old technique that includes some modern finishes.

“Inspired by clay, a simple raw material, using traditional techniques of the past, however, influenced by the contemporary way of life, we mold by hand, ceramic molds and shapes which aim to be a part of our lives for the following years,” they explain.

“We are a workshop that got its name from the etymology of the word ‘homatino’ which means made of fine-grained earth (soil) or clay. We chose this name bearing in mind who we really are. A local workshop which chooses to remain true to tradition, crafting ceramic objects, modernizing, protecting and promoting the work of the family business, with respect,” they add.

As a child, Efcharios says he “felt the need to create things with my hands. I expressed this need through clay and from the first moment I felt an overwhelming attraction to this simple material, without knowing of course that it would eventually become my profession.”

Nikos says it was in his adulthood that his “restless nature in combination with my heightened sense for creativity changed pottery and ceramics into one of my most enjoyable interests. After travelling through various parts of Greece and on a search, professionally, in various occupations, ceramics and pottery are what eventually won me over.”

The pieces, which feature organic shapes made by hand – reflect the tones and textures of Greece’s beautiful landscape and rich history and if you are in Kalogreza, Athens, you can visit the brothers’ studio, where you will be able to have a tour and check out the tailor-made pieces up close.

“We approach ceramics in an ‘earthly way’, attempting to create a harmonious balance among form-texture-colour and functionalism, giving it a rawness along with an elegant finish. A basic value is for each piece of ceramic work to send out the message of exemplary design, quality, timelessness and for it to be a part of the daily routine and way of life of each individual.”

Homatino Ceramics

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Eugenia Chandris’ Magic Cabinet Filled With Greek Treasures

With a love for her homeland, Eugenia Chandris, an executive in the hospitality industry, writer and co-founder of Huffington Greece, has created an innovative platform experience “A Magic Cabinet”, featuring a world of contemporary Greek treasures.

Imagine you had a magic cabinet filled with a recollection of childhood summers in Greece. All those little things that remind you of beautiful moments and entrancing scents, happy places and loved ones you spent time with. You could just open this painted cabinet and be transported to a sensory wonderland; reliving your carefree childhood and remembering the dreams you once had.

Every object in the Magic Cabinet has been carefully selected, tested and researched by Eugenia Chandris herself; and each piece is accompanied by a lovely description compiled from interviews with the producers who reveal how and where Mrs. Chandris discovered them. IN+SIGHTS GREECE caught up with Mrs. Chandris, to chat about the Magic Cabinet, which leads people to a world of eclectic and unique Greek items, and allows people from around the globe to make their own personal magic cabinet- filled with wonders from Greece.

Insights Greece - Eugenia Chandris' Magic Cabinet Filled With Greek Treasures

How would you describe who you are today, in a nutshell?

I don’t fit into a nutshell but if I have to condense it, I’m an energetic and restless person who is inspired by new projects, I love to work and create and I am a person who is deeply in love with Greece, with its light, its sea, its ancient soul.

What drew you to create the Magic Cabinet?

The desire to fuse a commercial e-shop with an editorial platform, to be able to sell premium Greek items but also to elaborate on the story of their heritage.

If you opened the door of the Magic Cabinet and there was a place behind it, which would it be?

Actually, I have often thought about that. The cabinet would open up onto a delightfully green and lush garden, warm and bathed in the sunshine; where people could fly through the air of their inspiration and be able to live out what they dream of. There would be kindness and positive thinking. It would be a wonderful place.

Tell us about some of the most unique places you have discovered treasures for the Magic Cabinet.

I discovered Verikokos’ marble atelier inside the castle of Naxos, stumbling down a narrow street after I had been running outside in the sunshine. I couldn’t see my way. I discovered Lord Amber, Meli Baba, and Onoiamata in a rather dismal whole food supermarket in Thessaloniki, taken there by a guy who finds producers for me. Nikos Vladikas ambushed me in one of the aisles, thrusting his tsipouro at me saying “This is the finest”. He is right. I made my decisions by meeting producers at fairs, then during Covid, online. Not strange but surely magical.

What do you love most about your work?

It is always fresh and interesting; I get bored easily. With this site I never am.

Describe to us your usual daily routine.

I make sure I sleep for eight hours, as I feel sleep is essential for good skin cell repair and for the soul. I exercise six days a week, again this is important to me. In the office, I brainstorm with my wonderful team, write the texts, look at the business side of what we are doing and spend time in the stock room, studying the mix of what we offer.

Lately, there is a preference for “made in Greece” products. How did that come about? Is the soil “fertile” for that?

Yes, the time has been right for a while now. Greece should be featured so much more than this. A Magic Cabinet is trying to change that.

Tell us about recent changes in your industry.

I also work in the hospitality industry at the hotels my family is involved in –The Athens Marriot, The Met Thessaloniki, and the Chios Chandris. Covid has dramatically changed the way hospitality operates and it’s also affected online shopping, so I would say that event has changed most. Hotels are recovering and online has strengthened.

One thing that doesn’t change, is human contact. Hospitality is all about that and even though we are an e-shop, we are very excited about our pop-up events and our corporate business where we address our clients directly.

If Greece were a feeling, which would it be?

Unadulterated joy, soaring inspiration.

What can we expect from the Magic Cabinet in the near future?

With an emphasis on design, objects for the home, new Greek creators, A Magic Cabinet will always open up to something exciting, and it will always be rare and valuable, in a “soul” sense. Through the Magic Cabinet you can also create your own custom-made hampers, selecting from a range of unique Greek products or pick one of the already mixed hampers like “I feel like mezze in a shot”, “I feel like a sample of Greece”, “I feel like breakfast in bed”, “I feel like veranda cocktails” among others.

amagiccabinet

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2022 Be Good To Me! Best Greek Lucky Charms to Buy

Every year Greece’s top jewellery designers create gouria or lucky ornaments that we can hang from our neck or wear on our wrist as a symbol of hope, dreams coming true and protection for the new year.

With all that the world has been going through, we need now more than ever some beautiful symbolic jewellery to offer us an added sense of strength and grace. Here we have selected the best and most classic brands for you to consider as a gift to yourself or a loved one.

Lalaounis

An inspiration to marine biologists, deep-sea divers and artists alike and a symbol cherished since the Minoan times that represented healing properties, coral has resilience and vulnerability at once that’s reminiscent of the human spirit. And this particular amulet (€290) comes with the added bonus of supporting a worthwhile ecological initiative. Famous jewellers Lalaounis write on their website: “In the depths of the Greek Seas lie the oldest, most complex and productive marine ecosystems: Coralligenous Habitats. They are some of the least protected habitats and their survival today is at great risk. With our 2022 good luck pendant, we wish to support the ARCHIPELAGOS Institute of Marine Conservation in their work to protect the biodiversity of the NE Mediterranean and to halt the ongoing destruction of Coralligenous Habitats.”

Insights Greece - 2022 Be Good To Me! Best Greek Lucky Charms to Buy

Antonia Karra

Antonia Karra’s macrame bracelet (€39) is her good luck design for 2022, depicting an engraved compass to lead you on the right path and always help you find your way in the new year. On a more esoteric level, the design is also a reminder to always follow your inner guidance.

Acropolis Museum

Designer Kostas Dimpoulos has chosen a classic Greek symbol of good fortune, prosperity, abundance and fertility that can arrive with new beginnings. His gold-plated brass pendant (€32) sold at the Acropolis Museum is an engraved pomegranate with a red tassel hung just above it. The pomegranate, the star component of the Greek New Year tradition that involves smashing the fruit into the ground in one’s front entrance, makes for a very hopeful gift.

Katerina Psoma

Be A Poem cuff €138 playfully combines rock chic with art deco glamour, this gold-plated cuff with the ‘Be a Poem’ affirmation written on is a reminder to live your life as if you are a work of lyrical art. Psoma’s All Fine pendant (€155) is a hopeful reassurance after trying times and ahead of more uncertain days ahead that everything’s going to be just fine. Gold-plated and decorated with colourful zircon stones, it can be just the right amount of sparkle to wear on a dreary day.

Zolotas

Cosmos is a collection of charms based on the celestial bodies and their orbits, which includes pendants and bracelets decorated with precious stones. The famous jewellery house says that the use of stones was very symbolic, “reflecting the four elements of the world: Emerald and Opal for Water, Tiger’s Eye and Malachite for Earth, Sapphire, Lapis lazuli and Amethyst for Air, Ruby and Agate for Fire.” The Cosmos pendants (€35) are designed to light our new year up, bringing to 2022 fullness and harmony, balance and peace.

Cycladic Art Museum

This autumn/winter hosting the ‘Ancient Kallos’ exhibition dedicated to beauty in antiquity, the Cycladic Art Museum has chosen a mirrored pendant (€75) as its good luck charm for 2022. The handheld mini mirror is meant to represent self-reflection as well as self-love in the coming year and beyond.

Marina Vernicos

With a nudge to biker bravura, angelic blessings, love and freedom of the heart, designer Marina Vernicos’ stand-out necklace (€38) depicts the number 22 in the shape of a heart with wings.

Benaki

Designer Niki Orfanou made her amulet (€30) inspired by a painting by Nikos Hatzikiriakos Gikas depicting a Hydra landscape, created this handmade good luck charm out of brass and silk. The charm is reminiscent of ‘fylakto charms made in folk tradition around Greece out of threads and beads and is sold at the Benaki Museum shop. Also at the Benaki is the ‘Angel’ charm for 2022 (€60) designed by Savvas Dimou and inspired by the sculptural artwork by acclaimed artist Yiannis Tsarouchis.

Zeus + Dione

Zeus+Dione’s lucky charm, for the new year, depicts the power number ‘22’, which is said by numerologists to double the power of anything. The design is inspired by retro mailing stamps which feature waves under the number; in this case, the waves are meant to amplify the power of the number and augur good luck, change and determination to head forward confidently toward change.

9 Leading Greek Jewellery Designers You Need to Know

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5 Greek Skincare Brands You Should Know About

During the last few years, our attention has shifted to natural skincare products -made in Greece- using the purest elements that mother earth has to offer.

Whether you live in Greece or you visit the country for a holiday, embracing the “shop local” philosophy is the perfect reason to clean up your top shelf and make room for these under-the-radar Greek eco-friendly skincare brands.

Euthalia

Yiayia Euthalia learned from a very young age how to use the beneficial herbs of her island, Skopelos, and to include them in her daily routine. She created her own recipes for soap and waxes, which gave inspiration to her granddaughter (who also inherited her name) to launch Euthalia Natural Cosmetic Values in 2012. Τhe Greek word “euthalia” describes a state of flourishing or thriving.

The key ingredient of Euthalia is the extra virgin olive oil combined with essential oils and extracts of aromatic and medicinal plants- creating beneficial compositions for the body and soul. 100% natural, Euthalia cosmetics, pay tribute to the eternal power of nature and to the traditional values and virtues of Greek culture.

Insights Greece - 5 Greek Skincare Brands You Should Know About

MIELĒV

Marialena Baklatzi spent her childhood in the colourful, enchanting rose garden kept by her family. While the women of the house produced rose water extracts for personal use, Marialena observed, recorded, and slowly developed her love for nature and the treasures it has to offer.

She began to produce creams for her personal use and after three years of extensive research and development, in cooperation with an excellent team of internationally renowned scientists and dermatologists, MIELĒV from dream became a reality in 2020, launching her company in Athens. MIELĒV is derived from the French verb “Je m ‘élève” which means “to elevate me”. A range of natural and organic skincare lines, with ingredients that heal the skin, satisfy the senses, and offer immediate, visible results.

Tzimas Cosmetics

In 1957, a family of chemists-cosmetologists, John, George and Lila Tzimas dedicated time to the research and production of Greek skincare, beauty and wellness products, that cover the needs of face, body, and hair. “Every skin is different and has unique needs”. With this belief, the company began producing personalized products and services.

The treatment line offers solutions for hydration, cleansing, freshening, anti-aging, regeneration, firming and sun protection for all skin types. The composition of Tzimas cosmetics consists of ingredients of natural origin, herbal extracts, mainly from the Mediterranean flora, Greek extra virgin oil and other vegetable oils, amino acids and bioactive peptides, algae extracts and other elements of marine origin, vitamins and essential oils.

Nemertes

The production of Greek cosmetic company Nemertes, is based on pure, virgin olive oil of superior quality and blends of precious oils, herbs and healing materials from the Greek land, creating personal care and wellbeing products respecting people and the environment.

Nemertes is a mythological figure mentioned in the Iliad. Daughter of Nereus and Oceanida Dorida, granddaughter of the Ocean, nymph of the sea and one of the fifty Nereids. She represents philanthropy and people who follow and achieve their goals. They combine the precious legacy of Greek tradition with the most modern scientific methods and high aesthetics- passionately creating what a contemporary person needs today; physical health, mental euphoria and a positive attitude to life! Their products are produced in small quantities to ensure excellent quality and full control capability.

Bee Naturalles

After completing their studies in science, environment, and art, George and Chara decided to leave the city and settle in Evia. They set up their workshop there in order to combine tradition with nature. They managed to “enclose nature” into their products. Bee Naturalles was founded in 2013 and their products’ 100% natural composition encloses the beneficial and healing power of nature.

Bee Naturalles products are mixtures of natural raw materials, such as organic bee products, herbal extracts and essential oils, with only natural preservatives. Their production is “dictated” by nature, according to its own rhythms and seasonal alternations.

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Swaplanet: A Sustainable & Inexpensive Kids Clothes Exchange

As all parents know, children’s clothing is both costly and short-lived, as especially in the younger years they grow out of clothes very fast.

Some parents are lucky enough to get well-maintained hand-me-downs from close family and friends, others reuse clothes from an older child; but many have to keep spending on year-round wardrobes filled with items that sometimes are worn no more than three times.

Enter Swaplanet, a brand-new initiative Made in Greece by Egyptian Sherif Barakat in collaboration with English-Lebanese, Greek-raised Jimmy Nicolaides and Greek Helena Stamou that launched in June 2021. The business is an online platform swaplanet that works in the following way: after signing up, the member receives one or two bags by courier that they then fill with used children’s clothing they’re interested in swapping.

Insights Greece - Swaplanet: A Sustainable & Inexpensive Kids Clothes Exchange

The clothing has to be in good to perfect condition and washed. Then a Swaplanet courier will pick it up and the member is nominated a certain number of planets, or points (each planet is worth one euro), depending on how many of the clothes items sent are selected for swapping on the platform.

Using these planets, the member can go through the platform’s clothes selection and choose whatever items they like, ordering them using their planets and extra money. The selected clothes are couriered to the member at lightning speed (the following day!) and are in ready-to-wear condition. “The clothes are washed and each item is carefully looked at for any kind of faults (tears, stains, etc) so that when you receive it you can put it on your child straight away,” says Swaplanet CEO Bakarat.

“This idea came about from a direct need that my wife and I felt we had,” says Barakat, who moved here with his Greek wife and two children. Upon moving here, he forged an immediate connection in October 2020 with like-minded Stamou and Nicolaides, all with very different backgrounds yet sharing the same objective of wanting to create a business project that gives back to and provides for society.

“My wife and I had a daughter and she was pregnant with our son, and were thinking about all the things we need to buy! We thought there must be a better way, maybe a way that we could swap all those clothes we have from our daughter for clothes we can use for our son. We were thinking of the problematic nature of fast fashion, which is even worst for kids clothes because they have an even briefer use. So, we thought of the Swaplanet idea, which instantly ticked all the boxes, and even included the idea that whatever clothes would be sent in for swapping that were not acceptable could be given to children’s charities and NGOs or recycled and upcycled. So really, reaching a zero-waste solution.”

After conducting several surveys to establish people’s ideas and needs regarding their idea, they came up with a complete plan both for their company and for its services. “We have launched in Greece and our plan is to start expanding to two countries per year. Swaplanet has already become a great success, as a process of clothes exchange that has existed between friends and family has now become a wider process of making use of clothing that would otherwise end up in the back of a wardrobe or worse, discarded. The convenience of the service, together with the way it offers to socially disadvantaged Greek and migrant children while also having a positive environmental impact, makes it widely appealing.”

Swaplanet has ambitious expansion plans; they will soon be adding children’s shoes to the site, and next will add toys and books. Eventually, they intend to add adult clothing and accessories as well, and all the while to keep expanding their project globally. Meanwhile, they are already collaborating with NGOs and environmental organisations in Greece and soon abroad, to promote social and environmental initiatives.

Recently the Swaplanet team made physical contact with their existing and new customers by participating in the Meet Market event hosted by the City of Athens’ Technopolis cultural complex, on 16-17 October. “Our aim was first to meet our customers in person, to enhance their trust in our brand, and secondly to create brand awareness to more people, to showcase the high quality and variety of our second-hand clothing and of course to give them the opportunity to swap their clothes and buy new sets on the spot,” says Stamou. “One of our visitors couldn’t believe that the clothing we were exhibiting was second-hand! Another one came from Agios Stefanos to downtown Athens, just to meet with the Swaplanet team and to use her credit on the spot by choosing the next set of clothing for her children. We were both honoured and moved by this gesture, validating the positive impact to a large community of parents sharing our vision for sustainability.”

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Bring Greek Summer Into Your Life in a Few Easy Steps!

Like Greek sunshine, Greek-style makes life brighter. There’s nothing like the elegance and summery joyousness of designs inspired by traditional and classical Greek symbols, colours, shapes, and textures to enrich your home and personal style.

Here, IN+SIGHTS GREECE has made an expert selection of the best accessories, items, and homewares that spell Greek Summer like nothing else and can be bought online with one click.

Home Décor

The use of ceramics for practical and decorative purposes dates back to antiquity, and a trip to the Archaeological Museum will travel your mind to designs regaling elaborate stories or featuring incredible creative designs. Kerameio.gr presents a wonderful variety of ceramics to use, decorate and even wear.

Insights Greece - Bring Greek Summer Into Your Life in a Few Easy Steps!

The Cycladic Art Museum shop features numerous ceramic objects that can be used for serving food or decoration. For ceramics, we especially like the bold Greek blue and white summer colours of designs by Paola Navone.

At the Benaki Museum shop you’ll find elegant candle holders inspired by ancient Athenian columns created by WAKS, ceramic sous verre by Eleni Kanellopoulou and several items celebrating the Bicentennary of the Greek War of Independence of 1821 by Elena Votsi, who designed the Olympic medals in 2004, including ceramic plates, cups and other items. Also by Elena Votsi are cushions with the Greek flags and the evil eye.

Accessories

Maybe dressing Greek-style from head to toe is a little extreme but adding playful and stylish Greek accessories for the beach can be fun.

We Design have used the fishmonger’s paper, traditionally for wrapping fish, to make an apron, bag and pareo. They have also made several Greek-themed items that one can construct, like the 3D Olive Tree.

Postfolk have taken a traditional ‘kendima’ design and turned it into an original beach towel named Eudaimonia through digital embroidery and hand-finished stitching.

Ancient Kallos have designed a one-piece and a bikini swimsuit featuring the traditional Akrokeramo design.

Cyclades have designed several beautiful cashmere and silk-blend scarves that can be worn day or night, featuring Greek-style colours and designs.

At Musitsa you’ll find a range of straw bags, including ones to ward away the evil eye.

Footwear:

Greek sandals have always been a la mode – from ancient times to the 60s when they had a fashion renaissance the likes of Aristotle Onassis, The Beatles and Elizabeth Taylor wore them to today, when designers like Pantelis Melissinos, whose father Stavros immortalized them with his craftsmanship, continues today to hand-craft a grand variety of styles. We like both the classic designs and his playful and artsy ones.

Vibi Venezia For Aigion’s shoes made with vintage material designed by Yiannis Tsarouchis can be found at the Cycladic Art Museum shop.

Ancient Greek Sandals offer an incredible selection, but we can’t go to the beach without their Ikaria design in Jelly.

Ergon Mykonos’ espadrilles are a VIP favourite, and we can’t choose which design we like the most! Espadrilles and more espadrilles that are 100% cotton, hand-crafted, and uniquely Greek.

Jewellery

TWY – Contemporary Sculptural Jewelry is wearable art that is hand-crafted 99.9% silver and guarantees you’ll shine in the sun with modern, Greek-themed necklaces, rings, and bracelets.

These handmade bracelets by B612 at the Benaki Museum are completely unique, combining hand-woven fabrics with silver and gold.

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During the last few years, our attention has shifted to natural skincare products -made in Greece- using the purest elements that mother earth has to offer.

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As all parents know, children’s clothing is both costly and short-lived, as especially in the younger years they grow out of clothes very fast.

Bring Greek Summer Into Your Life in a Few Easy Steps!

Like Greek sunshine, Greek-style makes life brighter. There’s nothing like the elegance and summery joyousness of designs inspired by traditional and classical Greek symbols, colours, shapes, and textures to enrich your home and personal style.

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Bring a touch of Greek charm to your loved ones this Christmas with our hand-picked selection of gifts.

Sandals are a summer wardrobe essential and Greek designers are leaders in creating these sensible yet stylish shoes that can effortlessly be worn from day to night!

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Kyma Sandals

Ancient Greek Sandals

Valia Gabriel

Olympian Sandals

Sandalaki

Melissinos

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Handmade ceramics have never been more popular and it’s easy to see why. Organic materials and perfectly imperfect finishes are at the forefront of décor and interior design- as people seek to reconnect with nature and themselves.

With a love for her homeland, Eugenia Chandris, an executive in the hospitality industry, writer and co-founder of Huffington Greece, has created an innovative platform experience “A Magic Cabinet”, featuring a world of contemporary Greek treasures.

Every year Greece’s top jewellery designers create gouria or lucky ornaments that we can hang from our neck or wear on our wrist as a symbol of hope, dreams coming true and protection for the new year.

During the last few years, our attention has shifted to natural skincare products -made in Greece- using the purest elements that mother earth has to offer.

As all parents know, children’s clothing is both costly and short-lived, as especially in the younger years they grow out of clothes very fast.

Like Greek sunshine, Greek-style makes life brighter. There’s nothing like the elegance and summery joyousness of designs inspired by traditional and classical Greek symbols, colours, shapes, and textures to enrich your home and personal style.

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