* uN NOUvEAU iDEAL by fILEP mOTWARY

Dear iDEALS, I met Maria while I was a first assistant designer at Couture House Loukia in Athens. Maria was in charge of the accessories as a freelance designer and we were meeting only sometime before the show for the needs of the “defile”..Later she introduced me to her son, Kostas with whom we started a very close collaboration for the show soundtracks of Loukia Couture. Naturally we became very close due to my often and long visits to her house. When I realized that I wanted to move to Paris, she was the person who pushed me taking this decision, like a mother who wants the best for child..Paris would have been very hard if Maria wasn’t supporting me in all the ways. When I returned to Greece we started collaboration, we moved her studio in a bigger space and we live and work “happily ever after”…

Filep Motwary: How far are you from the objectives and goals that you had twenty years before? What is your next goal? MariaMastori: I’m not just far; I’m beyond them, really ahead. The times change with such a great speed pushing me to the evolvement of my ambitions. The next thing I want to achieve is a bigger and more important collaboration with Fashion or Art in Paris and Milan. There’s something big “cooking” in Sweden for me now but it’s too early to say what…
fM: Sometimes we don’t make an effort for things or people who are close to us, real parts of our lives..Have you experienced something similar either as the a “victim” or the opposite? mariaMastori: Most people take for granted everything around them and they’re always wanting more. One must lose to appreciate and naturally I have experienced being a victim or “the opposite” as you say..fM: You are responsible for five different collections every season plus one that you only present at your studio. Is there a formula? mariaMastori: Yes, team work. This is something I really believe in and I am happy to have a group of really special people working with me. Together we do research, tests , everything a collection needs to become alive without thinking of the time we spend or the energy. We discuss even the smallest detail and everybody’s opinion is respected
. fM: I get really surprised when I see you dealing with S.O.S matters with so calm and polite way. How do you keep that strong inner balance??Wow!! mariaMastori: My father was a sailor. I remember him saying that “if the ship’s captain loses his temper, the ship sinks; but even then the captain should never abandon it” This is something I remember since I was a little girl, like a motto. fM: Is there a part of your past collections that you want to forget. mariaMastori: Some collections were stronger than others.The strong ones became a trademark at least in Athens but I would say that without the weak you don’t make the strong ones. I remember them all One by One.
fM: Do you like Un nouveau Ideal? mM: I glad that young people like you, Filep, are capturing moments of people lives with such freshness. I am impressed really.fM : Are there any other accessories/ Jewelry designers you admire? mariaMastori: Sure, I love the works of House of Waris and Yazbukey for being so modern in their own way. Also Stephen Jones for being what he is through his work. fM: Yes, Stephen is also a great person..

Maria Mastori is available at 20 Alopekis street, Kolonaki in Athens and www.myspace.com/mariamastori