about

Stephanie Kontos is an American brand with Greek and Cypriot roots that are drawn from constantly. 

statement

    As a designer, my goal is to create comfortable, quality garments and products that make the wearer feel beautiful, ethereal, strong, or whatever she aspires to be. Design has always been a vital aspect of my life. I value experimentation and problem-solving as well as energy, inspiration, and passion. Design is a way to create solutions beautifully and seamlessly. 

    It is important to me to create things organically, to not force things to be what they aren't, and to find balance. Integrity is very important in anything I do. I believe strongly in the words of Roy T. Bennett that “it is important to do what is right over what is easy.” To me this means creating something in a way that is not harmful to others, eliminating fear in the process, as well as creating something that feels right, instinctual, and organic. There is not one source of inspiration or one sole concept for work or collections that I do - it comes from anywhere. Most of the time, inspiration comes from nature, the body, strength, power, movement, and beauty. In anything I create, I want wearers to find in themselves strength, inspiration, and beauty.

    What gives me strength and inspiration is my family. They have raised me to be who I am and told me stories of their own experiences since I was young. I learned a lot from them and at the same time was very inspired by the daring decisions they took and their pursuit to craft the dreams and visions they had. Often, these decisions came in tough times but it was to protect their family and their fellow person. I aspire to be half the people they were. The stories, spirit, and beauty of Greece and its people is what I intend to capture in irología spring/summer 2018.

-stephanie kontos