Emmanuelle Silk is a refined Greek brand based in Komotini, Northern Greece.
Each unique piece is created for women who discreetly want to make an elegant difference, by wearing silk accessories designed to add a hint of contemporary sophistication to any outfit.
We recently had a chat with the founder Emmanouella Kouroudi about her designs and the influence her hometown, as well as worldwide travels have on her creations.
Emmanuella, you are a well-travelled woman who has achieved a lot in such a short time, please tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in Komotini and upon completing my studies at the Department of Physics at the University of Crete, I moved back to Komotini where I started working in our family business, the Thrakika Ekkokistiria – Cotton Ginning Mill in Greece. In 2015, I also founded my collection of silk accessories, “Emmanuellesilk”. Job aside, I’m keen on exercising daily and I’m also an avid traveller- I love to explore new places and immerse myself in different cultures.
What does your typical workday look like?
In the morning I head over to the office where I deal with all my work for Thracian Ginning, make appointments with partners and clients, and talk to the whole Emmanuellesilk team that I manage. My collaborations for Emmanuellesilk are based on daily communication with the team, as most of my partners are based in different locations. Some afternoons you will also find me at our store in the centre of Komotini, where we sell our silk accessories.
What was your inspiration for Emmanuelle Silk?
The idea was born in the summer of 2015. It combined my love of fashion with my family’s business experience and the “inheritance” of Metaxourgia Tsiakiri SA, which passed into my hands. All these gave life to my vision, to produce and create fine silk accessories for women who want to make a difference elegantly and discreetly.
How did you feel the first time you held an Emmanuelle Silk creation?
Seeing one of your creations come to life is a matter of great pride – each accessory we make has its own story and is unique.
Tell us about the importance of silk in the area of East Macedonia and Thrace.
During the period of the Ottoman Empire, Soufli was a strong economic, political and cultural centre. Its rapid development is attributed to sericulture, which has been the economic lifeblood of the region for many decades. After the treaties of 1922-23 Eastern Thrace and Romilia came under the ownership of the newly established Turkish state. Thus, Soufli lost most of its acres, which were vast meadows, the exclusive food of the silkworm. In addition, sericulture and the silk trade came under the Greek legal and fiscal regime. This resulted in a gradual decline in production and exports to European countries. The discovery and spread of artificial silk fibre permanently and irreversibly interrupted the course of sericulture.
In 1993, the production of cocoons amounted to 5,000 kg from 800,000 kg in 1908. Despite this, Thrace persists and tries, participating in programs, working groups, and creating partnerships with institutions and the state, so that Greek Thracian silk can once again acquire its place on the world map.
How have your travels influenced your designs and brand aesthetics?
Every trip is a new experience. You get to meet new people, see different cultures and taste new flavours. By doing so, you realise that luxury has more to do with what radiates from within than the money you have.
A silk scarf has always been the ambassador of feminine elegance. With the passage of time and changes in fashion trends, the scarf gained ground and has turned into a timeless accessory for all women, of all ages and styles.
I think the silk scarf reflects the personality of every woman who wears it. There is no correct and elegant way to wear it, as long as it makes you feel good! A turban on the head, a knot around the neck, and a simple throw around the shoulders – it defines different personalities and styles.
Does living in Komotini inspire you in any way?
In Komotini lies my main source of inspiration- my family and my friends.
If a friend from abroad were to visit Komotini, where would you take them?
I believe the best way to get to know a place is through the eyes of a person who lives there. So, when my friends visit, I don’t do anything different from what I do in my everyday life. You start with a nice Greek coffee and brunch in the town square, eat food by the sea of Arogi or Maroneia, take a walk in the city park and go out for a drink at the local hangouts with countless students, ending up with bougatsa in the early hours of the morning. If you are a nature lover, the options are also endless. I also love a beautiful hike in the Rodopi mountains, followed by food and wine in a traditional tavern.
Images Courtesy of Emmanuellesilk
