The winner of the most prestigious talent scouting event, the Who is on Next competition, held by Italian Vogue and Alta Roma, is Greek designer, Angelos Bratis. Previous winners include such names as Nicholas Kirkwood and Tommaso Aquilano.
The award winning collection, entitled ‘Echo loves Narcissus’, was inspired by the greek myth of Echo who fell in love with Narcissus but her love was unrequited as she was unable to declare her feelings for him as her voice reverberated and returned to her.
The designer feels that this is a current theme and true in our digital world where people connect and communicate via the Internet. In this context, the story of Echo and Narcissus feels more contemporary than ever. We live in a narcissistic era where our communication with others is reaching into cyber-space and we receive feedback on our lives in the form of an echo of ourselves, unreal.
The mood of the collection came about as a result of observing randomly positioned images of architecture, art and colours, which were placed on a digital board.
INTERVIEW
Tell us who you are in a few words.
My name is Angelos Bratis and I am a fashion designer of Greek origin. I am 33 years old and currently I live in Rome.
What made you choose this field?
Certainly my mother (which was a seamstress) has been an inspiration but I thing the love for fashion was something that existed always in me. When for the first time someone asked what I want to be when I grow up remember I said “fashion designer”.
At the “Echo loves Narcissus” collection you were inspired by a Greek myth. In general, from where does your inspiration derive?
The inspiration of Echo loves Narcissus was internet and social networks. That lead me to the myth and to the title of the collection. I don't know from where arrives the inspiration, usually it does by it self but I am someone who adores information so I do follow many fashion, design and architecture blogs, love to visit galleries and I travel quiet a lot.
What keeps you going in this demanding industry?
The learning process that never ends, the evolution of my personal style and all these women that wear my clothes.
What have been the best moments of your career so far?
Winning the first prize of Who Is On Next? last July in Rome and meeting all these amazing people like Ms. Sozzani and Suzy Menkes. The gigantic pictures of Michele Mallard with my garments at Musee Galiera in Paris for two years.
Could you share with us some of your “Favourites” ?
Favorite Designer: Madeleine Vionnet
Favorite Fashion Week: Paris
Fashion Icon: Greta Garbo
Favorite Movie: 2046
Favorite Music genre: Disco
What is next for you?
The presentation of my summer collection at Palazzo Morando during Milan Fashion Week inaugurated by Ms, Anna Wintour and the focus on my sales within my showroom in Milan Spazio38.
