From “Thread to Sculpture”: Denise Eleftheriou reimagines garment at the Benaki Museum

Discover “Threads into Garment” at the Benaki Museum, a contemporary fashion exhibition blending Greek tradition with sculptural haute couture.

The Benaki Museum presents the exhibition “Threads into Garment” by fashion designer Denise Eleftheriou, hosted at the spaces of the historic Mendis–Antonopoulos Thread Mill (NIMA).
Opening on Monday, January 26 at 7:00 pm, the exhibition will run until March 28, 2026, offering a contemporary, avant-garde exploration of clothing through the medium of thread.

At NIMA, the creative possibilities are virtually endless from the crafting of intricate cords and woven trimmings to traditional passementerie techniques and rare dyeing processes that are scarcely used in today’s industrial production.

Having immersed herself deeply in this rich and multilayered universe, Denise Eleftheriou places at the heart of her work materials traditionally used as decorative elements, from Greek folk costume to modern fashion. These elements are transformed into raw creative matter, forming surfaces and volumes that come together as sculptural garments of striking contemporary expression.

Greek tradition, with its depth and poetic richness, remains a constant source of inspiration for the designer, not as a nostalgic reference to the past, but as a tool for shaping the future. Moving deliberately beyond stereotypical interpretations of heritage, Eleftheriou proposes a bold, modern and avant-garde perspective. Through experimentation with lines, proportions and volumes, her work draws from haute couture, a field increasingly aligned with sculptural form across the global fashion landscape.

The Designer

Denise Eleftheriou is a bespoke fashion and bridal designer, renowned for the refined haute couture techniques that define her creations. She is a graduate of Istituto Marangoni in Milan, one of the world’s leading fashion schools, whose alumni include iconic names such as Dolce & Gabbana and Moschino.

Following her studies, she worked alongside designers in Italy, deepening her expertise in fine tailoring and timeless Italian design with notable experience at the fashion houses of Giorgio Armani and Trussardi. Later, as artistic director of a Greek luxury ready-to-wear company, she identified a gap in the bridal fashion market and chose to pursue an independent creative path.

In 1997, she opened her first atelier in Thessaloniki, quickly earning wide recognition and a loyal following. Her work is distinguished by its minimalist elegance, innovative fashion presentations, and a deep commitment to highlighting each woman’s individuality and personal style.

A member of the Hellenic Fashion Designers Association, she has been based in Athens since 2024, where she has relocated her atelier. Recently, she was honoured by the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry with an award for Women’s Entrepreneurship, recognising her contribution to female-led business initiatives.

About NIMA

The Mendis–Antonopoulos Thread Mill (NIMA) continues the legacy of the historic textile workshops “Mendis” and “Antonopoulos,” preserved through an innovative initiative by the Benaki Museum. Located at 6 and 10 Polyfymou Street in Petralona, the site has evolved into a living hub dedicated to the preservation of traditional techniques related to thread processing, weaving and embroidery.

Today, NIMA serves as a bridge between heritage craftsmanship and contemporary fashion creation. Through its traditional expertise, the dreams of modern designers are given form, emotion and lasting value.