Blending symbolism, elegance, and cultural memory, Vicky Grammenou has carved out a unique space in the fashion world with her brand Melitta, a label that transcends trends to offer timeless pieces infused with Greek identity. Drawing inspiration from mythology, ancient motifs, and the essence of femininity, Grammenou creates wearable art that speaks to the modern woman with soul and story. In this conversation with Business Partners Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Loli, she reflects on her creative journey, the evolution of Melitta, the recognition her work is receiving in Greece, and the deeper role fashion can play in cultural expression and entrepreneurship.
Photography: Yiannis Paraskevas | Location: Melijazz Festival, Leonidio
Your journey into the world of fashion and design seems deeply personal and intentional. Tell us a bit about your background. What drew you to creative expression in the first place, and what life experiences helped shape your artistic and professional identity?
My journey into fashion began not in a studio, but in the classroom, through my studies in linguistics and philosophy. I’ve always been fascinated by symbols, stories, and the way meaning is constructed, whether through language or visual form. That foundation gave me a way of thinking that still shapes my creative process today.
At some point, what started as a personal passion—the love for garments, textures, and silhouettes—evolved into a calling. I pursued studies in fashion design and haute couture in Rome, a city where beauty lives in every corner. From there, I allowed my aesthetic instincts to flourish, guided by both classical discipline and personal intuition.
Travel has also been a profound influence: Exploring Greece’s villages and island traditions, walking through museums and archaeological sites, and engaging with other cultures abroad have all deepened my understanding of identity and style. These experiences have helped shape Melitta into a brand that merges memory, craftsmanship, and a very contemporary sensibility.
Melitta is much more than a fashion brand. It is a story woven with ancient Greek heritage, symbolism, and elegance. What was the vision behind its creation, and how do you ensure that each collection speaks to both timeless cultural narratives and contemporary aesthetics?
When I created Melitta, I knew I didn’t want it to be another luxury brand detached from everyday life. My vision was to design clothes that felt like living artifacts, pieces that tell a story, that carry meaning, and that a modern woman can wear with ease from day to night.
To achieve this, I draw deeply from the vast visual and symbolic language of Greek culture: the geometry of ancient weaving, the embroidery patterns passed down through generations, figures painted on amphorae, ceramic fragments, frescoes, even the lines and curves found in ancient jewelry. But I don’t simply eplicate. I reinterpret.
I distill these references and recompose them into silhouettes and prints that feel fresh and current.
For me, Melitta is a form of cultural ynthesis. A way to bridge the ancestral with the present, heritage with urbanity, myth with movement.
In recent years, Melitta has gained increasing recognition within Greece, both in cultural circles and among fashion-conscious audiences. Can you share some key moments or collaborations that affirmed your work’s impact and visibility? What has the response been like from the Greek public?
The response has been deeply moving. My audience tends to be women who are intellectually curious, culturally engaged, and who see clothing as an extension of identity, women over 30 who love to travel, to explore, to connect with meaning through what they wear.
A recent highlight was our participation in the Melijazz Festival in Leonidio. It was a beautiful convergence of music, tradition, and local storytelling, and the way Melitta was presented—within the framework of intangible cultural heritage—affirmed everything the brand stands for. It wasn’t just a fashion presentation; it was an act of cultural dialogue.
There have also been moments of quiet but powerful ecognition, such as when I’ve participated in charity events organized by the Chios Village, where fashion becomes a bridge between community, creativity, and purpose. These are the kinds of collaborations that sustain my belief in what I do.
As a female entrepreneur in the creative industries, what challenges have you encountered in building your brand and what lessons or insights would you share with other women seeking to turn their artistic vision into a business?
Creating a brand in Greece comes with very real challenges: high production costs, limited access to specialized machinery and textile resources, and a labyrinth of bureaucracy that can drain time and energy. One of the hardest parts is finding the right collaborators, people who understand your vision and can execute it with the right level of care, detail, and professionalism.
It’s also disheartening that most of our fabrics are imported. Greece only produces small quantities of silk and very little cotton. That said, in recent years I’ve witnessed a quiet renaissance: More and more women are entering the industry with strong creative voices and high standards, helping to elevate the profile of Greek fashion both locally and internationally.
My advice to other women is this: Be patient, be precise, and stay faithful to your core vision. The fashion world can be noisy and fast-moving, but your clarity and authenticity are your greatest assets.
In your view, how can fashion serve as a vehicle for cultural storytelling in everyday life? How do you hope people feel or think differently when they wear a Melitta piece?
This is the heart of my work—to create clothing that does more than just dress the body. I want each piece to carry a story, to evoke a sense of place, memory, or cultural resonance.
Too often, when people think of Greek heritage, they think only of antiquity, of minimalism, white garments, and statuesque forms. But the truth is, traditional Greek design is rich, maximalist, and full of life. It’s full of vibrant colors, complex patterns, and deep craftsmanship.
Through Melitta, I hope to uncover and share that overlooked richness. I want people, whether Greek or international, to wear a piece and discover something they didn’t know before, not only intellectually but also emotionally. I want them to feel connected, empowered, inspired.
Fashion can be a kind of living archive, a form of storytelling that moves through the world. That’s the experience I hope to create.
Scene from the Melijazz Festival in Leonidio, where Melitta was presented as part of a living cultural tapestry — surrounded by the colors, music, and people of a place deeply connected to heritage and storytelling.
