Nikolas Minoglou and Christina Martini are the co-founders of the independent footwear brand, Ancient Greek Sandals.
The pair met in 2007 when Martini was working as a footwear designer for Louis Vuitton in Paris, connecting over their love of Hellenic art and culture.
What transpired was the creation of the footwear brand, whose basic concept involved elevating the basic and cheap make of Greece’s tourist-market sandals and creating something using premium materials and superior manufacturing.
In the early years, Minoglou and Martini produced high-quality leather which the locals criticised.
“They didn’t take the brand seriously and thought the sandals were overpriced, without considering the level of work and craftsmanship involved,” Minoglou said in an interview with The Australian.
Nevertheless, the sandals were welcomed by international consumers, being immediately snapped up by Net-a-Porter, Harvey Nichols and Matches Fashion.
“Greeks appreciate things from abroad, so once we had international recognition the market here responded well,” Minoglou said.
The cofounders both work remotely, with Martini being based in Corfu and Minoglou based in Athens.
While Martini heads up the creative side of the business, Minoglou, who has a degree in mechanical engineering and an MBA in entrepreneurship, oversees the numbers.
However, Minoglou isn’t a stranger to the industry. Following the second world war, his grandfather produced the first rubber boots for farmers, later expanding to include wholesaling affordable sports shoes.
This year, the brand celebrated its 10th birthday and is debuting two new categories: bags and, inspired by a year at home, homewares such as cappings for ouzo carafes and bread baskets.
SOURCE: The Australian
