A new season has the potential of numerous meanings, however in the fashion world a new season only means one thing: emerging designers. As fashion month has gone by, new talent has emerged onto the fashion scene. Countless men and women have been working all year for the opportunity to have their work presented at fashion week. A lucky man by the name of Dimitrios Panagiotopoulus counts himself as one of these people. Read all about the man himself and what he creates in the interview below:
Who are you and how did you become a designer?
I’m 39-years-old, my full name is Dimitrios Panagiotopoulos. I was trained at the well-known ESMOD fashion design school before going on to earn my master’s degree in Fashion Design at the ISTITUTO MARANGONI in Milan. My father is Greek and my mother Italian. I recognised my affinity for fashion already as a child. I’ve been fascinated by it ever since, and I worked for such renowned designers as Jil Sander, Hugo Boss and Vivienne Westwood before starting my own label in 2007. DIMITRI stands for clothes for women with self-confidence; women of all types and personalities – strong and with a clear sense of a personal style.
What was your inspiration for this collection?
Sensuality, timeless elegance and an air of sophistication have always been the essence of my fashion. For my new collection, I took inspiration from disco divas of the 70s and 80s like Bianca Jagger and Debbie Harry.
The DIMITRI Fall/Winter 2016 collection is characterised by confident, powerful looks and figure-hugging silhouettes. The creations are aimed at strong women with a clear sense of individual style.
There is less colour than in previous collections, with a preference for glamorous gold tones and plenty of black. The look: lustrous outfits paired with a futuristic, androgynous aesthetic. Only a few hippie elements are apparent.
The collection expresses my passion for music and its iconography. It is characterised by harmony between precise tailoring, narrow silhouettes and feminine sophistication – for the modern, confident, elegant woman.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
Honestly, I don’t have a fixed plan, but my goal is to show my further collections during Milan Fashion week.
What is fashion to you?
The term fashion applies to a prevailing mode of expression – self-expression. Fashion is my passion! Working in fashion makes my life happier and makes me sometimes forget all those sad things happening right now.
If you could only wear one item for the rest of your life what would it be, and why?
Probably my pants, without them I feel naked.
What is your mission in life?
I didn’t find my mission yet, I’m still searching.
