Cathreen Mal SS2011 at FWA

Cathreen Mal, one of last year's New Generation show winners (the other one was our beloved Evangelos Kavathas) presented her spring-summer 2011 collection last Friday, October 15th in Fashion Week Athens.

A very simple collection of just white looks, obviously influenced by ancient Greece.

The only embellishments were in the form of metallic rope in gold, silver and pewter.

A simple and to-the-point collection.

Let me say here that I know Cathreen Mal personally back from when we participated in the FWA FOODWEAR Fashion and Architecture Workshop together two years ago. That is why it is so hard for me to say I expected more from her.

Granted, she was right to move past the more structured winter pieces she presented last spring (which were widely applauded back then) but in her urge to make everything more light and airy for summer, I'm afraid she took it a little bit too far and oversimplified everything. Many dresses looked like they were just fabric draped around the body and secured with ties and ropes. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying draping is a bad thing. What I'm saying - and I guess others are thinking too - is that we need to see more craftsmanship in a designer piece in order to justify investing in it.

Other than that, I still believe in Cathreen Mal's talent and given the fact she is just out of her teens, I'm sure we'll see a lot more from her in the years to come.

Keep doing what you love Cathreen!



More views on Cathreen Mal SS2011 over at Life Full of Fashion, Shopping Therapy and Fashion Algorithms.

Johanna Daniil, Lukas, Cathreen Mal

Famous designers are without doubt the big guns behind every fashion week, but I have to admit, my favourite part has always been discovering the up-and-coming newbies.

New Generation in this year's Fashion Week Athens wasn't a contest, but more of a chance for three of last year's contestants to each showcase a more complete collection.

Johanna Daniil showed a collection with very interesting cuts and lots of volume, with little use of boring/safe black - always a plus in my book. I think many will agree with me when I say that this little red dress above stole everyone's hearts.


Lukas is a name that might ring a bell to many of you hardcore Greek Next Top Models fans out there. He was the designer who put Maria in that *fierce* red floor-length gown last season. For AW2010/11 he remained true to his Oscar night glamour aesthetics, by showing a collection of evening wear that would make Marilyn Monroe go weak on her knees. Not everyone's cup of tea and most definitely not clothes you'd wear any given day, but you have to give it to him, the man stays true to his style!


Cathreen Mal has a soft spot in my heart, as I know her personally from the fashion week workshops we participated in together three seasons ago. Along with Evangelos Kavathas, she was one of the two winners of last year's New Generation show. Cathreen reinterpreted 60's fashion by showing a collection of dresses (plus a coat and a skirt) based on the combination of bold colour and black. My favourites were the navy asymmetrical coat with the oversized black buttons (I just love black and navy) and the royal blue one-shoulder dress with the red waist detail, worn with red shoes.



Congrats to all three for doing their first proper catwalk show, and remember kiddos, we're anxiously waiting to see more!

All pictures in this post were shot by me.
Do not use without permission.

Fashion Week Athens - New Generation

[photo by jgk - edited by me]

The New Generation show, featuring 22 rookie fashion designers, was the one that on Sunday night, closed Fashion Week Athens Spring-Summer 2010.

We all fell in love with that mustard jacket that won newcomer Evangelos Kavathas a trip to the Inditex headquarters in Spain.
(concerning that, please, read the UPDATE in the end of the post)

QueenB, Hari K and I were so jealous when we heard that! It's like going into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, people. Without the freaky incidents and the Ooompa Loompas, of course.

[photo by jgk - edited by me]

The big award however, went to Cathreen Mal and her black-and-white futuristic dress. She will be flying to India, to participate in an international competition searching for new talent in fashion.
(again, go to the UPDATE in the end of this post)

Seeing Cathreen's name on the screen rang a bell.

I k*n*o*w that name, I said to myself.

Turns out...

...we both participated in last year's Fashion Week Workshops!

[Cathreen-Lopi-Penelope-Sappho]

For those who weren't reading Fashion Architect back then (post is here for anyone interested) the workshop was a fusion of architecture and fashion, inspired by the construction of food, and was quite appropriately titled FOODWEAR. Our team of four ended up producing two dresses. Cathreen was working hard as a stylist back then, but despite her heavy schedule and many responsibilities, she was always a total sweetheart and really fun to collaborate with.

She must be thrilled now! I'm really happy and excited for her, she totally deserves every success!

[photo by jgk - edited by me]

UPDATE: Oooops! Looks like I made a mistake! The awards were the other way round, meaning Evangelos Kavathas will compete in India and Cathreen Mal will get to visit the Inditex headquarters. Many thanks to reader FashionVictim who noticed it and kindly informed me in a comment. Sorry!