Well-known in Greece, designer Sia Demetriades has an exhibition of unique ponchos
SO, Miuccia Prada isn’t from Cyprus and Gucci’s man, Tom Ford, isn’t nearby either but I met upcoming Cypriot/Scottish designer Sia Demetriades for a coffee and some fashion chit chat. She is cool, sophisticated, gorgeous and apparently very big in Athens. And you can tell a lot about a person from their shoes and taste in clothes.
Sia Demetriades has made Cyprus proud. At the age of 24, she is designing her own clothes, been featured in Cosmopolitan and had her own fashion show in Athens. “It probably all started when I used to make clothes for my Barbie dolls,” Sia said, “and the fact that I made my first dress when I was 14 and wore it to a party.” You could tell she wasn’t going to be an ordinary designer because the dress was not pink. “It was a black satin baby doll dress,” she said smiling.
After finishing school, Sia went to England, where she worked at a boutique in London as a manager for two years. “I haven’t studied fashion design or anything equivalent but then again neither did Versace,” she said. I had always considered clothes designers to be very lucky people because apart from the fact that they get to mess around with clothes all day, the only thing they need to succeed is talent. She certainly has plenty of that.
Although her clothes have not, until now, been in the Cyprus market, Sia said there are plans to do so, but for now, it is only Athens that has been taken by storm. Last October she presented her clothes at Moda Athena fashion week, with other designers. “There are selected boutiques in Mykonos and Kolonaki that sell my clothes,” she said, “and I’m hoping to get further.”
Here in Cyprus we are about to get a taste of what we are missing out on with Sia’s collection of ponchos, which will be exhibited (and for sale) from Wednesday to Saturday. 20 individual ponchos will be on show and we are talking unique and fun.
“I’ve used ribbons, rosettes, heart-shaped rhinestones and fluffy material for these in particular,” Sia explained. The ponchos are unlike anything you have seen before; delicious and bright. “No black,” she said, “black is too boring.” I agree.
l Sia’s poncho collection. 7, Achilleos Street, flat 102, Old Nicosia. On sale until Saturday, December 11 from 18:00-21:00. [email protected]
SEVEN QUESTIONS
What car do you drive?
I don’t drive a car. I drive a red and white Vespa 1972, Primavera.
Describe your perfect weekend.
Relaxing and having fun with my boyfriend.
Assuming you believe in reincarnation, who or what would you come back as?
I don’t believe in reincarnation, so I haven’t really thought about it but if I could come back as something it would be a gorgeous piece of clothing.
What is your greatest fear?
Deadlines.
What is your earliest memory?
My mum made me a dress when I was four or five and I hated it so much, I cut it up so I wouldn’t have to wear it. I still feel bad about that.
What did you have for breakfast?
Coffee and a bowl of cornflakes.
What was the last item of clothing that you bought?
A pair of rounded-toed shoes, very 40s.
