This Mykonos designer crafts sustainable fashion using timeless methods

Dinogo Planet’s People You Meet series showcases individuals who leave a lasting impact on your journey, helping you connect more meaningfully with your destination.

Not one to conform, Mykonos-based designer Faye Chatzi set out to establish her own unique space in the fashion industry. Born in Naples to Greek parents, she returned to Greece for her education while embracing an international perspective, visiting her father across Europe during school breaks.

Her experiences in fashion hubs like Milan and Paris ignited her passion for design. From an early age, she could often be found knitting and sketching.

“I felt unchallenged,” she recalls. “I craved more.” At 22, after spending time on the islands of Paros and Crete, Chatzi arrived in Mykonos, where she began waitressing. The island quickly captured her heart. She later worked as a guard at the remarkable archaeological site of nearby Delos, using her language skills to engage with visitors. This time spent on the ancient island, surrounded by nature, deepened her love for the environment—and she has never looked back.

“While Mykonos is known for its hedonism, I felt a profound natural energy beneath the island's glamorous exterior—something unique to Greece. I chose to stay and connect with this energy, hoping it would inspire my future designs and enhance my skills.”

Launching a sustainable fashion initiative

One drawback of life on a Greek island, even one as famous as Mykonos, was the absence of a design school. The benefit? Chatzi had to learn independently. “Sure, it takes longer—but it’s advantageous because I had no outside influences. I was free to create my designs in my own style.”

She drew inspiration from Greece's Easter celebrations—an occasion filled with joy for many but bittersweet for Chatzi. While her in-laws sheared their sheep in preparation, she couldn't bear to see the wool wasted and vowed to find a way to spin it for her designs. Local elderly women, skilled weavers, were impressed by her innate talent, with one even gifting her an ancient loom.

“Weaving is a tradition that has thrived in Greece for thousands of years, and I take pride in my heritage while keeping it alive through ancient methods,” Chatzi shares. “The moment I first sat at my loom, I didn’t need any instruction; it felt instinctive. I truly found my place.” Today, she creates everything on this traditional tool, completing each piece by hand instead of using an electric sewing machine.

In 2019, to learn about silk production, Chatzi convinced the faculty at Athens University of Agriculture to give her discarded silkworms that would have otherwise been used as fish bait. Since then, she has been producing raw silk for her designs, honoring the life cycle of the worms.

“While most traditional designers immerse the worms in boiling water as they begin pupating, I choose to nurture them until they complete their life cycle and transform into chrysalises/butterflies before harvesting their silk.” Remarkably, a single worm can produce up to 2500 meters (8200 feet) of silk.

What fuels Chatzi’s creativity

“I cherish my time in nature and on the Greek islands. The seaside brings a soothing comfort to my soul, and I take pride in my heritage,” Chatzi explains. “Ancient Greek heroines also motivate me. I incorporate their designs with a contemporary flair into my accessories, like the tagari,” a traditional wool shoulder bag adorned with tassels (€570).

Chatzi dedicated countless hours to spinning lambswool into shawls (€620) before launching a complete collection (t-shirts from €45; shirts and dresses starting at €220). This investment in time has proven worthwhile, but it's not financial success that drives her. She finds contentment on her part of the island, tending to her sheep and worms while immersed in nature, all while helping visitors discover something new.

A visit to her atelier reveals the continuity of ancient traditions and showcases the vibrant life on Mykonos beyond just beach clubs.

Faye Chatzi’s atelier is located across from the Despotika Hotel on a quaint road leading out of Mykonos Town. Explore her collection on Instagram.