In a world increasingly driven by mass production and logo-driven luxury, some brands refuse to sacrifice craftsmanship for convenience. Brand Athena A is one such brand. Led by Creative Director, Athena Argyrakis, the accessories brand is a refreshing voice advocating for the adventure and artistry that often gets lost in modern design, focusing instead on handmade creations and transparent, sustainable practices.
With Design Week Johannesburg - an event still in its pivotal second year of activation - rapidly approaching, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Athena to discuss everything from the global festival that first inspired her, to her surprising source of creative fuel and the why behind the detail poured into every single piece.
Interviewer: Hi Athena. Nice to chat with you. Tell us about when you first came upon Design Week?
Athena: I first came upon Design Week when I was studying shoe design in Milan, Italy. The city would shut down for the whole week and everyone would participate – the big brands, the small brands and every brand in between. People came from all over the world to see elaborate installations and pop-ups that created such an imaginative atmosphere all over the city.
We are so glad that this initiative has now come to Joburg so that design enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the talent and craftmanship that can be uniquely found in my city.
How will Athena A be participating in Design Week Johannesburg?
We are inviting all of our Goddesses and Titans to our studio to experience how all of your favourite pieces are made.
Meet the artisans behind the hands that create your jewellery and experience how a sheet of metal is sculpted into the art you wear... and sip some champagne with the Athena A Team.
Who are your biggest design inspirations?
I draw my inspiration from multiple people, one of them being Rick Owens. I just love how he doesn’t box himself as just a clothing designer. He does Menswear, Womenswear, Shoes… but then he also designs furniture. And I just think that you shouldn’t be limited to what you do in design. I am also inspired by Daniel Roseberry, the Creative Director for Maison Schiaparelli, who is pushing boundaries in the fashion space. I haven’t seen a designer doing something completely unique for a long time. I just absolutely love seeing his design process, where he’s got his music playing, he’s just sketching and he takes us on a journey through his whole process. So I am hoping through Design Week Johannesburg, you will get a taste of what the process behind our designs are.
Where do you draw your design inspiration from?
I get a lot of my design inspiration from furniture design. Our newest necklace which doesn’t have a name yet, was inspired by a table leg.
Your pieces stand out due to their unique design. What personal or creative drive compels you to consistently challenge yourself with the designs you keep putting out?
All the buzz in the fashion world, is that we’ve gotten lost in these high-end brands who are basically selling us a plain t-shirts with the brand’s logo on them. I think we’ve lost that design is a fundamental part of the human experience - and we should all be challenging ourselves to think outside of the box and create something unique - something memorable.
Once a spark of inspiration—like the leg of a beautiful table—forms a raw concept in your mind, what happens next?
I’ll give my initial design inspiration to Vincent, our in-studio jewellery maker and he will then take it to the next level adding a different flavour to it. Each part of this creative process is touched by another creative mind and moulded to better the initial concept or idea.
And it seems that your dedication to unique, exceptional design is getting the attention of fashion influencers and trendsetters.
We are incredibly proud that our Brand Ambassador, Teddy Geldart, just won the GQ South Africa's Best Dressed Award. He is our perfect Titan as he is not afraid to experiment and rewrite the rules of fashion.
Lastly, what does your creative process look like?
I am actually quite an introvert so my favourite kind of Saturday is waking up, easing into the day, making myself a cup of coffee and grabbing all my favourite design books. I just go through them and let my imagination run wild. Especially when I know I’m looking to design something new... sometimes I don’t even know that I want to create something.
I’ll be paging through the books and I’ll see the legs of a beautifully designed table and the idea will come… The idea came and we ran with it! Inspired by a beautiful table leg, we're giving you an exclusive first look at our brand new untitled neckpiece.
LEARN MORE ABOUT DESIGN WEEK HERE.