Danai Athanasopoulou & Giorgos Mpouses

What is your story and the story of the brand?

We are Danai Athanasopoulou and Giorgos Mpouses, architects and creators of the CONTIVO design brand. Our story begins in 2014, when we returned to our hometown, Chios island. Shortly after, in 2015, at a truly volatile time for young professionals, we decided to remain steadfastly creative and optimistic. Thus, the CONTIVO design brand was born, a series of embossed objects and jewelry made of cement, which were initially made in the kitchenette of our first office. We combined our love for the process of synthesis and experimentation with construction materials, drawing inspiration, first and foremost from the geometric patterns of the traditional architecture of Chios and mostly from the unique “scratched surfaces”. Along the way, the inspiration broadened, and as a result our collections have different, sometimes unexpected themes, such as Fibonacci fractals, Norwegian knitting patterns or even patterns from the video game Tetris! How do all of the above fit together? It remains to be discovered! However, our perennial goal is for our products to bring the memory of tradition, with a minimal approach of the design. Soon, our first collaboration with the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP) came and our coasters were offered as a gift for the opening of the Chios Mastic Museum, and since then they have had a continuous presence in all the shops of the PIOP Museum network.

How is the present for the brand?

We are happy to continue to create. This year we also started working with fabric, with our first collection of silk scarves, produced in Soufli, made from 100% natural Greek silk. We have created a beautiful team, a pleasant workplace, our products are available in partner stores all over Greece. We regularly participate in the Greek Brand New design exhibition and we participate dynamically in the field of corporate events and other projects.

What are your plans and dreams for the future?

To expand the range of our products, maintaining our basic principles of synthesis and purity of the lines, to grow together with the brand, remaining young.

images

Photos 1-2: Dimitris Lazos
Photos 3-11: Yorgos Tzortzis, Styling: Anna Mandreka, Model: Elli Tsitsipa

contact info

Adress: Rodokanaki 10, Chios, 82100
tel: (+30) 22710-24200
mobile.: (+30) 6942640650
e-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]
facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/ARCHstudioCHIOS , https://www.facebook.com/contivodesign/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/contivo_design/
website: http://www.arch-studio.gr/