DGRwear: το μοντέρνο ελληνικό brand που κρατά ζωντανή την παράδοση του πλεξίματος

Η βιωσιμότητα έχει γίνει αναπόσπαστο κομμάτι της εποχής μας, και φυσικά δεν θα μπορούσε να μην αφορά και τη μόδα. Η DGRwear είναι μια εταιρεία χειροποίητων ρούχων και αξεσουάρ που χαράσει το δικό της μονοπάτι προς τη βιωσιμότητα με έναν ιδιαίτερο (και πολύ Ελληνικό) τρόπο.

Τι είναι η DGRwear;

Η DGRwear είναι μια women-owned εταιρεία που ξεκίνησε στη Θεσσαλονίκη από δύο αδερφές, την Ιωάννα Μαντζουρίδου και τη Σόνια Μαντζουρίδου. Δύο κορίτσια με πάθος για τη μόδα και τη δημιουργία. Το μήνυμά του brand τους αποτυπώνεται στον τίτλο και στο λογότυπο της εταιρείας. Τα αρχικά DGR σημαίνουν: Delicate Greek Green wear. Το λογότυπο της εταιρείας αποτελεί η χελώνα, η οποία συμβολίζει το “slow fashion”, γενικότερα τον «αργό ρυθμό» ζωής και κατανάλωσης αλλά και την σταθερή ανάπτυξη. Από εκεί λοιπόν ξεκινά όλη η φιλοσοφία του brand.

Τα σχέδια της DGRwear είναι όλα εμπνευσμένα από τη φύση και κεντρική φιλοσοφία της είναι το ρητό: “buy less, choose well, make it last”. Η εταιρεία δίνει πολύ μεγάλη έμφαση στο κοινωνικό και περιβαλλοντικό της αντίκτυπο. Συνεργάζεται και προσλαμβάνει τεχνίτριες υψηλών δεξιοτήτων, γυναίκες που γνωρίζουν άψογα την παράδοση των χειροποίητων πλεκτών ρούχων. Οι γυναίκες αυτές έχουν μάθει την τέχνη του πλεξίματος από τις μητέρες και τις γιαγιάδες τους. Είναι μια εταιρεία που προσπαθεί να είναι 100% φιλική προς το περιβάλλον, αφού ανακυκλώνει παλιά υλικά, δημιουργεί νέα, και παράγει μόνο προϊόντα made to order. Όλα τα υλικά προμηθεύονται τοπικά από την Ελλάδα, γεγονός που ελαχιστοποιεί τις εκπομπές CO2 λόγω των κοντινών μεταφορών, ενώ ταυτόχρονα στηρίζεται η τοπική οικονομία.

Η φετινή συμμετοχή της DGRwear στο Raise your Voice Festival

Φέτος τον Απρίλη η εταιρεία έλαβε μέρος στο Raise your Voice Festival, το πρώτο φεστιβάλ στην Ελλάδα κατά του human trafficking. Η συμμετοχή της έγινε μέσω ενός πρωτότυπου concept που περνά ένα δυνατό κοινωνικό μήνυμα για την ενδυνάμωση των γυναικών.

Η φωτογράφιση έγινε σε συνεργασία με τον Δημήτρη Γραμματικογιάννη, concept developer και eco-stylist. Για το concept της φωτογράφισης χρησιμοποιήθηκε ένα limited edition χειροποίητο κομμάτι, το “Snowy Owl”, το σχέδιο του οποίου παραπέμπει σε κουκουβάγια. Στο background της φωτογραφίας απεικονίζεται ένα σκοτεινό κλουβί. Αντίθετα, το ρούχο είναι λευκό και φωτεινό. Η κουκουβάγια συμβολίζει τη διαίσθηση, τη μετάβαση, τη σοφία.

Το συγκεκριμένο ρούχο χρησιμοποιήθηκε συμβολικά για να αναδείξει το πώς μπορεί μια γυναίκα να ξεφύγει από μια κατάσταση που την καταπιέζει (σωματικά ή ψυχολογικά). Κάθε γυναίκα πρέπει να βρει το κουράγιο, μέσω της δύναμης και της σοφίας μιας κουκουβάγιας, να απελευθερώσει τον εαυτό της (“set herself free”) και έτσι να αποτελέσει παράδειγμα και για άλλες γυναίκες να κάνουν το ίδιο. Το μοντέλο της φωτογραφίας δεν φορά καθόλου μακιγιάζ, αλλά εμφανίζεται στη πιο φυσική και αγνή μορφή του. Αυτό δεν συνέβη τυχαία, καθώς η σύνδεση με τη φύση είναι ένα ακόμα στοιχείο που χαρακτηρίζει την εταιρεία DGRwear.

---

Διαβάστε όλη την συνέντευξη εδώ:

DGRwear: το μοντέρνο ελληνικό brand που κρατά ζωντανή την παράδοση του πλεξίματος

Meet Joanne & Sonia | Two Sisters Revolutionising Fashion with their Brand

DGRwear sets the paradigm of how a slow fashion modern brand should navigate the industry. Based in Greece, it’s a company that produces 100% handmade clothes and accessories with high quality materials and techniques. Introducing Joanne and Sonia, two sisters aiming to revolutionise fashion via their fresh brand vision.

Please tell CEMELI followers a bit more about yourself and how the brand came about?

We are two sisters born and raised in Greece. Joanne has a background on psychology, communications and strategic management and Sonia on mechanical engineering, product and project management. Our passions combined are: the sustainability mindset, mindfulness, yoga, meditation, ethical fashion, nature and music. When we were young we made handmade jewellery for our friends and ourselves. Fast forward, we are now designing handmade jackets, coats, scarfs and bags. All DGRwear products are made in Greece from the USA where we are studying and working.

Please tells us about how your designs came to represent something extremely bold and hopeful amid these uncertain times (pandemic etc..)?

Hope dies last. Our colourful designs and cozy textures allow our customers to feel warm and stylish, while being patient and hopeful for the future. Through our social media, we try to raise awareness on the importance of sustainable fashion and the increased knowledge on the issue during these last months. Customers are getting more familiar and companies are incorporating sustainable practices, so we are hopeful for a more sustainable world and want our designs to manifest this at every stage.

 What was the inspiration and vision behind your designs?

Nature. We get inspired by plants and animals. From our “Owl” coat, “Hedgehog” Handbag to our “Leopard” bracelet and “Turtle” logo, we believe that nature can teach us incredible lessons and provide us with endless creativity and inspiration. Our passion for creating something authentic, made with love, and by hand is found behind any DGR creation. Our turtle logo represents the slow but steady growth.

Sustainability and responsible sourcing are a strong priority for CEMELI and also for the world nowadays. What steps do you think the fashion industry needs to take to become more sustainable?

The industry has to become more accessible to new designers that may not have the typical “fashion school” knowledge, but have passion and a strong sense of ethical responsibility towards people and the planet. Governments have to play a crucial role in creating laws and regulations that support a sustainable fashion industry.

How are your designs favouring sustainability?

DGRwear encourages customers to “buy less, choose well, make it last” as the famous designer, Vivienne Westwood has said. DGRwear products are carefully made with love. Our products guarantee longevity. DGR believes in slow fashion and normalises the repetition of the same outfits. We design products with classic and endless style. We also offer the option of customisation and provide alterations and repairs that vary from a loose sleeve or fixing a hole, to a more substantial change of the jacket’s old sleeves or the bag’s strap (in the same or different colour). We don’t believe in using machinery that can be harmful for the environment. We want to keep the Greek tradition of knitting alive. Our knitters have learnt the craft of knitting from their mothers and grandmothers. As our knowledge around sustainable practices increases, so does our vision for DGRwear.

What has been the most surprising thing that you have learnt about running your own business during such challenging times?

We would say that we do not regret investing on physical retail stores worldwide. Retail will never go back to the way it was and now new brands have to learn to establish themselves solely with an online presence.

If you could describe your brand in five words – what would they be?

Authentic, Handmade, Ethical, Biomimicry, Longevity  

How do you envision your ideal customer?

An alert human being, a conscious consumer. A bold, agent of change that wants to make a statement by shopping responsibly.

How do you feel about being featured at the online CEMELI boutique?

We are very grateful to be part of a community of Greek female entrepreneurs that never want to give up. We believe in the mission of CEMELI and are honoured to be featured at the online boutique.

---

Διαβάστε όλη τη συνέντευξη –

https://www.cemeli.com/blogs/cemeli-blog/two-sisters-one-small-fashion-revolution

Zip-lining for three hours straight requires a lot of courage and focus – so does being an entrepreneur, moving across the world for a graduate degree, and starting a student club on campus. Joanne has done all of these things and even more, proving that she is a go-getter. As an international student from Thessaloniki, Greece, she has taken full advantage of various Lubin-oriented opportunities and services, including our Graduate Assistantship program, guest speaker events, and the Entrepreneurship Lab. 

You got your BA in psychology and communications. Why did you decide to enroll in business school and why did you choose Pace University for your master’s degree?
I realized that I needed some more business skills and exposure to business concepts to understand my professional path after college better. I find that Pace’s location is ideal for me since it is close to the headquarters of some of the best companies in the country. Pace also has a great alumni network, which I am looking forward to joining once I graduate! 

You have a passion for entrepreneurship and sustainability. Tell us about where that journey started and the business that you’ve created by combining the two.
While I was attending high school in Greece, I spent my summers in the USA. I got to participate in multiple summer programs on sustainability and entrepreneurship. I was fascinated by the complexity of businesses and the importance of sustainable practices at an early age. Inspired by my love for fashion, I started a company called DGRwear in 2017 with my sister. We are now using the company’s social media platforms to educate more and more people on sustainable fashion. Our company focuses on creating 100% handmade clothes and accessories made in Greece. 

This journey has allowed me to meet amazing people worldwide that use fashion as a platform to make a change. I am also Head of Strategy for Fashion Revolution Greece, a local chapter of a global organization that works towards making the fashion industry more sustainable. Additionally, I am working on building the first sustainable fashion school back home in Thessaloniki, projected to be up and running by the summer of 2022.

Tell us about your experience at Lubin; what resources have you been taking advantage of here?
Although I started my first semester virtually, I managed to gain plenty of experience at Lubin. First, I became a graduate assistant and had the honor of working with Professor Tarique, a professional I admire very much and from whom I have learned a lot. I have attended various online events with great speakers and alumni hosted by Lubin or student organizations. The Entrepreneurship Lab is always putting together amazing events, too! Last, for me, the alumni connections have been a great highlight this past semester. Through the Pace Mentoring Program and reaching out to alumni directly by utilizing LinkedIn or being referred to them by Pace’s staff, I have met inspiring and motivating alumni who want to give back. 

What has it been like to start a brand-new graduate student organization on campus and what are the club’s goals?
I like creating community wherever I go; connecting with like-minded individuals always motivates me and helps my vision grow. I had started a club at my high school too called NGSW (New Generation Sustainable World), and that experience gave me the confidence to create something at Pace. With the encouragement and help of Professor Tarique, I founded the Strategy and International Business Club (SIB). I am very grateful to the executive board we have formed for this organization. We have bonded very well and are continuing strong this semester! The club’s goals are to provide a safe space for students to interact, debate, and discuss current topics on a global scale, from the pandemic and globalization to sustainability and the legalization of marijuana. This semester we have planned more networking events, and we are very excited to welcome more people to join us. 

What are your future goals for your career?
Eventually, I want to work in international business, give back to my country and to people in need, and always strive for a more equal world. 

What does #LubinLife mean to you? 
#LubinLife is the New York City experience, a multicultural adventure filled with high energy and vibrations. 

---

Δείτε ολόκληρη την συνέντευξη –

https://www.pace.edu/lubin/content/lubinlife-qa-joanne-mantzouridou-onasi-22

Knitting is a technique of making fabric with yarn on two or more needles. The word “knitting” comes from the word “knot”. Knitting is made of wool, silk, and other fibers. The first pieces of clothing made in a technique similar to knitting were socks. These socks were made with Nålebinding, which is a technique that uses single needle and thread. There are beliefs that knitting began in Middle East, then it came to Europe through Mediterranean trade routes and then to the Americas.

The oldest knitted items have been found in Egypt and are dated between the 11th and 14th centuries AD. Spanish Christian royal families employed Muslim knitters and their work is the earliest known knitted work in Europe. They were very skillful and made many different items like cushion covers and gloves. Archeological findings from the many cities of Europe show that knitting spread throughout Europe in the 14th century. During 16th century, knitting spread through Britain. On the Scottish Isles, during the 17th and 18th centuries, knitting became many people’s preoccupation. There were cases of whole families who knitted as a form of a job and it became an important source of income. Also, sweaters were one of the major items that were knitted because they proved useful to the local fishermen of these islands. In time, many elaborate designs were developed.

Before the Industrial revolution, there were mechanical ideas for faster knitting but they didn’t spread too far. When the revolution started, machines appeared that did wool spinning, cloth manufacturing and even did knitting lace. During the 1920s, White Russians that lost the Civil War fled to China and showed the craft of knitting to Chinese caravan men, who used camel hair as a material for knitting. The history of knitting is still going….

source:
http://www.historyofclothing.com/making-clothing/history-of-knitting/

photo by:
https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/a41172/chunky-knit-blanket-tutorials/

We make the change fashion. Instead of buzzing you with our philosophical ideas, we decided to simple present to you an article on fashion, written by Elena Baltzoglou. An article that certainly represents our organizational spirit of consciousness applied in ….clothes….:

FASHION THE CHANGE: We Can Do Better Than This

How many of us follow designers, fashion brands, celebrities and models on Instagram? How many of us dreamed of becoming fashion insiders, recognized members of the glamorous mise-en-scène? How many times have we replicated the styles featured on the editorials of Vogue, or visited the stores of the advertised fast-fashion labels to buy this season’s ‘must-haves’? How many times have we opened our closet and said to ourselves, “What am I going to wear today?” Then, we pace back and forth and complain about how we have nothing to wear as we stare at a closet filled with hangers, each accompanied by a piece of garment. Now, how many of us actually know what we are dressing ourselves in when we put on these clothes? And how many of us think to ask or find out how the shirt in our hand was made, or what products were used to make it? And what becomes of the clothing that doesn’t sell, or when it goes out of style? All are common questions that typically don’t come to our mind, when we constantly look for the next pair of shoes or for a new identity to try on.

The diffusion of information through glossy magazines, blogs, social networks and tabloids are pushing fashion at the speed of light enabling designers, stylists, trendsetting celebrities, and fashion bloggers influence visually the fashion world, challenging us to keep up with the latest trends nonstop. Under the intensification of the image culture, the capacity to connect at speed and the desire to experience the man-made fantasy, we are placed in an immediate gratification of continually evolving temporary identities, and therefore in a never-ending contest to purchase more, without minding the consequences.
Yet clothes aren’t going to change the world.

We – the “fast fashion generation” – will. It’s time to use our voice and our power to transform the fashion industry into a force for good.

We – designers and theorists, makers and thinkers ­– have a great responsibility and great opportunity to make huge changes in the world.

Not just for the planet, but also for the people. Either by weaving with natural fibers or by spreading the word through manifestos and fashion praxis; either by customizing shirts and jackets for everyday people or by using political messages on designs and collections, all reflect fashion for change.

Let’s stop being silent about things that matter to us and become part of a new system of production and consumption. Let’s create a new type of industry that values people, the environment, creativity and profit in equal measure. Let’s share our knowledge, information, and honesty to build a sustainable world and an ethical society. Let’s find a way to continue to operate in a globalized world that people and planet remain essential to this growth. Let’s break the seasonal cycle, detox our wardrobe spread, our fashion for change and join the fashion revolution.

So, Heads, Tails or Action? It’s your call.

Written by:

ELENI BALTZOGLOU
MBA BUSINESS OF FASHION

NY, USA