Zeus + Dione

The clothing brand that was born from a passion to revive and redefine Greek classical history and folk culture with a minimalistic twist

Discovery

Zeus + Dione commenced as a clothing brand but always had a more cultural, even philosophical, reach. The brainchild of Dimitra Kolotoura and Mareva Grabowski, it was created in 2012.

I first met Mareva in the chilly winter of 1996 while wedged between her and a portly friend in a London taxi. I was myself not exactly svelte being six months pregnant with triplets.

At the core of Zeus + Dione lie Greek classical history and folk culture with a minimalistic twist

Her kindness, intelligence and humour led us to develop a friendship demonstrated by her willingness to help me up and down some narrow steps in a restaurant in St. James which otherwise would have been impossible to navigate.

Shortly after this prandial adventure, the triplets were delivered by an emergency Caesarian and owing to her rigorous early morning work schedule, Mareva was actually the first person to see the triplets before any of my family were awake or able to fly into London.

Mareva was actually the first person to see the triplets before any of my family were awake or able to fly into London

Zeus and Dione took its name from the parents of goddess of love and beauty, Aphrodite.

At the core of Zeus + Dione lie Greek classical history and folk culture with a minimalistic twist. The creators experiment with raw materials and unique textiles sourced from Greek rural areas, make their own silk in the town of Soufli and use local women to embroider their clothes, retaining techniques handed down through the ages.

The clothes and accessories are totally handmade or fashioned by trained craftspeople before going to production. This soulful approach is what distinguishes them.

Memory

Dimitra initially wanted to study architecture but decided instead to study marketing in London and then to work for a major advertising firm. Afterwards she founded her own communications company and worked with BBC World News and Conde Nast in Eastern Europe. After 12 years, she decided to move forward with her friend Mareva and create Zeus+Dione. Their vision was to contribute to the renaissance of Greek culture through fashion.

Mareva and Dimitra are two hard working, focused women. Mareva, apart from being an entrepreneur, also has a strong social conscience and is one of the founders of Endeavor Greece. They appreciate high quality above all else and that’s why their products are loved around the world, defined with the letter Δ symbolizing creativity and harmony.

Mareva and Dimitra appreciate high quality above all else and that’s why their products are loved around the world, defined with the letter Δ symbolizing creativity and harmony

Narration