This week, Paulatrendsets.com pays tribute to fashion designer Michalis Aslanis.
One of the biggest names in Greek fashion and design for almost four decades, Aslanis passed away suddenly last Wednesday at the age of 62, at a time when he was preparing with his partners a big event for the celebration of his 40 years in fashion on the 18th October.
Born in the Greek town of Chalkida in 1951, Michalis Aslanis and his family originated from Smyrna in Asia Minor. After school, he moved to Athens to study Decoration, Graphic Arts, History Of Art and Theatre, at the VAKALO School Of Design and he made his first steps in the world of fashion with his first creations in 1974. His great talent in fashion design, his hard work but also his low profile, modest and down-to-earth character soon made Michalis Aslanis everyone’s favorite. The Greek media absolutely adored him in the ’80s and ’90s, as he was the first Greek fashion designer to showcase his collections abroad and receive a number of important awards worldwide as well as complimentary comments from international press. The French newsparer “LIBERATION” had once written about Aslanis and his fashion creations; “Greece is more than ancient columns”.
Paris, Monaco, Moscow and New York are among many cities where Michalis Aslanis held fashion shows and presentations. His fashion show in Dusseldorf was broadcast by the CNN; Frankfurt had invited him to showcase his work as a guest of honor of the mayor of the city, while Princess Caroline of Monaco, had invited him to showcase his creations at a Red Cross Gala. During his trip in Italy, Aslanis was awarded the key of the city of Bari while his show was being forecast live from RAI. Also a guest of the Turkish Ambassador, he participated in two respective fashion shows in Istanbul and Ankara.
Aslanis had been the favorite designer of most Greek celeb TV hosts and singers and often appeared on TV shows to showcase his collections and talk about women’s fashion. Although he started from women’s haute couture, he gradually launched additional lines for menswear, underwear and home decoration. He has also designed the uniforms for the Athens Metro and Eleftherios Venizelos Airport staff.
The following pictures are from Paulatrendsets’ archive from the Aslanis bridal fashion show at Athens Exclusive Designers’ Week October 2012 and from another show of his during Athens Fashion Week in 2010.
Michalis Aslanis will be greatly missed.
R.I.P.
