#INTERVIEW: Olga Karaververis | Modern Grace

Recognised as one of Greece’s most distinctive couture designers, Olga Karaververis has built her reputation on precision, balance, and a deep respect for form and movement. Drawing inspiration from her Greek heritage, she designs with an intuitive sense of proportion and restraint, creating clothes that express both strength and sensitivity. Her work celebrates simplicity, elegance, and the quiet confidence of women who value comfort without compromising on sophistication.

Ahead of presenting her new collection at the 37th Athens Fashion Week, which will take place from November 10th to 17th, 2025, Karaververis reflects on her creative path, the ideas that shape her aesthetic, and the subtle dialogue between art and life that runs through her designs.

Tanja Beljanski: Femininity, minimalism, comfort, sophistication and class play a prominent role in your clothes. How did you discover your style?
Olga Karaververis: My personal style is the reflection of my own life. It did not come by chance but through experiences, explorations, and conscious choices. My Greek roots taught me to respect simplicity and harmony, while my journey in fashion showed me that true elegance never requires exaggeration. Minimalism, comfort, and femininity became my natural vocabulary.

How do you design? What form do your earliest ideas for a collection take?
Everything begins with a feeling, a sensation, an image in the street, or a brief exchange with a stranger I meet during my travels. Inspiration can be born from the light of a city, a painting, or a movement. I design freely, as if I am capturing the journey of a woman preparing to go to a restaurant, a theatre, a gala. The first ideas are like cinematic scenes that gradually transform into clothes.

Who do you design your collections for?
I create for women who want to feel powerful without ever losing their femininity. For those who love comfort but always demand elegance. The woman who wears my designs knows who she is, what she wants from life, and chooses clothes that follow her in every step. For me, fashion is a dialogue with her.

What does Athens represent for you creatively and personally?
Athens is my starting point and my foundation. It is a city of contrasts — ancient and modern, dynamic yet poetic. Creatively, it inspires me because out of its contradictions new ideas are born. Personally, it is the place where I balance my roots with my dreams. As I often say, “Elegance is the most silent form of strength.”

Are there fabrics you particularly enjoy working with?
I love fabrics that carry flow and character — silks, satins, structured duchesse, fine cottons, and linen. Materials that speak through touch and movement, embracing the body with natural ease while highlighting the silhouette without pretension. Each fabric has its own personality, and I let it guide the evolution of a design.

How do you balance good business decisions with your creative mission?
Fashion is a delicate balance between art and business. My art, my passion, my love, and my energy are the soul of the brand; without them, there is no identity. At the same time, business decisions allow this soul to keep expressing itself and to reach more people. The essence is to remain true to your vision while being open to opportunities.

If you could dress anyone in the world, who would it be?
I would love to dress women who embody both strength and elegance — iconic figures such as Cate Blanchett, but also contemporary personalities who inspire change and redefine femininity. For me, it is not about the fame, but about the energy a woman brings into the world. I would love to dress women who embody both strength and elegance — from iconic figures like Cate Blanchett to contemporary personalities inspiring change and redefining femininity. Every woman who wears my creations carries with her a story of strength.

What are you most passionate about, besides fashion?
I am passionate about life itself: traveling, collecting experiences, meeting people who leave an imprint, discovering new images, sounds, and flavours. Fashion is my medium, but living fully is my true inspiration.

@olgakaraververis  | athensfashionweek.gr