Freelance film editor and Edenvale resident Athena Argyrakis is passionate about fashion and is well on her way to becoming an established fashion designer.
Although she is living her dream, Athena said a lack of skilled artisans in South Africa made the journey more difficult.
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Athena recently launched a jewellery brand and also has a workforce of artisans based in an East African country.
She explained that her journey into fashion began nine years ago when she chose to study shoe design in Milan.
She later studied in the UK in 2010 where she learned the practical elements of the trade.
Back in South Africa and on her path to becoming a shoe designer, Athena realised there was lack of cobblers in the country.
Without the cobblers Athena’s designs could not be made.
In addition to the lack of cobblers, a large amount of capital was needed for the machines and the factory.
“I was overwhelmed and I just got stuck,” said Athena.
In 2012 Athena was diagnosed with cervical cancer – this too, put the brakes on her dream.
It took her almost five years to recover fully.
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During those five years all her energy was sapped from her by the chemo and radiation therapy.
“Cancer was the biggest thing to happen to me – it changed me and taught me to be calmer,” said Athena.
To her, cancer was the best and the worst thing to have happened to her because she then looked at life from a new perspective.
During her recovery from cancer Athena returned to work as a film editor – it had always pestered her that she had never been able to fulfill her dream.
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She said her dream was re-ignited while working with Coke Studio in East Africa last year
“I was walking through a market and saw some beautiful jewellery. I asked the man, Steven, if he could make some jewellery if I designed it for him,” said Athena.
The next day Athena had the jewellery to bring back home.
After the jewellery was welcomed in South Africa, Athena decided to return to East Africa to begin production on a larger scale.
Athena told the NEWS that numerous individuals are involved in the production of the jewellery.
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“Now that I am fulfilling my dream I want to help build the lives of other people,” explained Athena.
She said the people making the jewellery all have their own tin building which they use as a factory.
Athena highlighted that each person in the team does something to bring the piece of jewellery together.
Each of the artisans also gets a portion of the proceeds.
Although Athena has accomplished her fashion dream, she still hopes to do more and build up skills in South Africa.
She hopes that one day she will be able to open her own shoe factory to make high-class local shoes.
“One of the instructors I had in the UK told me that if I could get the capital and a factory for the shoes, he would come out and teach skills to the people I employ,” said Athena.
By teaching skills and sharing information Athena believes the number of local artisans will increase.
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