An afternoon at the workshop of VinD.gr, the Greek brand known for its one-of-a-kind handmade accessories
It all began with handcrafted cotton yarn necklaces, but today, the brand has expanded into an impressive collection of accessories, including scarves, headpieces, and bags. The star of this year’s summer collection? The resort sandals—crafted from a unique type of yarn found nowhere else in Greece. Behind VinD.gr stands its designer, Dora Vintzilaiou, and this is her story.
- 21/02/2025
Quality. Uniqueness. Sustainability. Three words that perfectly define the 100% handmade creations of VinD.gr, the Greek brand founded by designer Dora Vintzilaiou. Our meeting takes place at her workshop in Pallini. Though its walls are white, the space is bursting with color.
Shades of purple, pink, green, blue, red, and black surround sewing machines, scissors, and measuring tapes. A beautiful chaos of creation unfolds before me, making me eager to learn more about both the brand and Dora herself, who guides me through her world with the enthusiasm of a child.
An afternoon at Dora Vintzilaiou’s Workshop
I take in the scarves, ribbons, bags, and all sorts of accessories that she clearly dedicates great attention to. I learn that her love for fashion started when she was young—she recalls sketching outfits on her school desk. Her career includes experience in creative departments and as a visual merchandiser for brands like Ralph Lauren and Carouzos.
“I loved styling whoever was shopping. I wanted to build their entire outfit—to create a story for them. Because that’s what I believe: when you design a display or an ensemble, you’re crafting a story, and that’s what people buy—not just the clothing itself.”
The accessory as the “Hero Piece” of an outfit
From her experience, she realized that what women truly need are standout accessories. “Accessories are what’s missing most from the market—something fresh, imaginative, different. They make the perfect gift, whether for yourself or a loved one,” she tells me.
I couldn’t agree more. Even when we’re reluctant to buy clothes—perhaps due to insecurities about our bodies—accessories are always there to elevate our look and boost our mood.
That’s why VinD.gr offers a wide range of handmade accessories, including neck warmers (infinity scarves—one of their most popular products, as I learn—pashminas, tied neckpieces, and snood scarves), headpieces (headbands, scrunchies, bows, claw clips, turbans), bags (clutch, croissant, pyramid, and oversized styles), and even bag charms that double as denim accessories—chains are a big trend, after all.
What makes them unique? They are rare pieces you won’t see everywhere. They are 100% handmade yet remain affordable. They are easy to wear but still turn heads. The striking yet harmonious color combinations, the high-quality fabrics and materials—velvet, cotton, technical silk, sequins, lace, feathers, chains—along with playful patterns, make VinD.gr’s products truly irresistible. Dora explains that she selects the materials first—quality is her top priority—before pairing them with colors. “I avoid the obvious. If a piece has a black base, I won’t add more black. I’ll mix in terracotta to create a bold contrast. I follow fashion, but not blindly. I take inspiration from it while adding my own aesthetic.”
Another element that makes these pieces stand out is their exclusively designed prints—animal, jungle, paisley, floral, and more. “The prints are unique to the brand. Either I design them from scratch or modify existing patterns beyond recognition. I can be inspired by anything—a tile, a piece of porcelain—and transform it. A print might originally feature toucans, but I’ll add leopards,” she explains. After being printed on carefully selected fabrics, the final result resembles a work of art—something that doesn’t just complement an outfit but elevates it.
A clothing line that complements the accessories
Because a great accessory deserves a well-matched outfit (and vice versa), VinD.gr also offers exclusive, fashion-inspired, seasonal clothing collections. Their summer line focuses on resort wear, featuring elegant kaftans, kimonos, shorts, and linen-viscose palazzo pants. For winter, the spotlight shifts to lace and velvet—materials that are making waves on fashion runways.
Handmade Crochet Sandals
Among all of VinD.gr’s creations, one product has particularly stood out—the limited-edition handmade crochet “resort” sandals. “It took me an entire year to develop them. I found a craftsman who specializes in creating the custom metal tools needed to cut the soles—there are only a few left in Athens. Then, I sourced the finest cotton-recycled yarns from abroad. This yarn is exceptionally delicate, unlike the ones used for bags,” Dora explains, detailing the meticulous process.
The collection includes four designs: loafers, cross-straps, closed-toe, and single-band styles. Some are adorned with fabric, others with charms or tassels. Holding them in my hands, I can see the detailed craftsmanship—every knot, every stitch, carefully executed.
“When you make something by hand, you give it special attention—from the alignment of the seams to the comfort of the sole. You’re fully invested in it. But it takes time and effort. These sandals are crocheted entirely by hand by women, spending hours on each pair. That’s what handmade means—it’s not mass production, it’s not assembly-line fashion. These are your ‘children,’ pieces you’ve worked hard to create, and thankfully, they haven’t been copied,” Dora shares.
I try them on. They are flexible, soft, incredibly lightweight, and mold to my feet. “Customers say they feel like walking on clouds,” she adds.
It all began with handmade necklaces
But how did it all begin? The first accessory Dora ever created—long before founding her business in 2013—was a handmade cotton yarn necklace. “I started making necklaces at home. It was my hobby, my obsession. There were yarn balls everywhere—the entire bookshelf was filled with them,” she recalls. “I sourced recycled yarns from the UK, hand-knitted them, and brought my ideas to life. I started supplying stores, and they loved them because they hadn’t seen anything like them before.”
Indeed, neither have I. Each piece is unique, with no two necklaces alike. Many are decorated with charms—evil eyes, coins, tassels, pom-poms—depending on the retailer’s aesthetic. “If I collaborate with a 100% sustainable store, I won’t use plexiglass charms; I’ll replace them with bone or wooden elements,” she explains. One thing is certain: every necklace reflects the immense effort and imagination behind it. “It can take me hours to make one. But I want it to be exactly as I envisioned—100% perfect.”
VinD’s first participation in the “Athens Fashion Trade Show”
With these handmade necklaces—resembling scarves in the way they gracefully embrace the neck—VinD.gr made its debut at the Athens Fashion Trade Show in 2017, an event that turned out to be a great success. Many more exhibitions followed. In fact, during the second one, while she was organizing orders at her booth, a well-known Greek brand visited her, thrilled by her work. They selected 20 necklace designs, ordering around 20 to 30 pieces of each! “I couldn’t believe it. I went back home and immediately got to work. I had bought curtain rods, placed them on my bed’s beams, and hung the necklaces on them. There were so many, I had nowhere to store them. Back then, there were no time limits—I worked day and night. But I made it,” she tells me with a smile of satisfaction—not just for that achievement, but for everything that followed. A smile that is hard to hide and even harder to lose, no matter what obstacles arise, planned or unplanned.
The difficulties of the pandemic and the “discovery” of VinD masks
Even when those obstacles came in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Then, lockdown happened. It was total devastation. We had just showcased our summer collection at the trade show, taken orders, had them produced in Turkey (where we sourced high-quality and very expensive fabrics), and everything had arrived at our atelier. At the time, we were also making a collection of Pestemal towels, which were hugely popular. But suddenly, everything shut down. I had a store full of inventory that no one wanted to buy. And I don’t blame them—where would they sell it? I was on the verge of depression.”
At that time, people started wearing masks—not just medical ones but also stylish ones. That’s when her son, Stefanos, had an idea: to take the beautiful Pestemal towel fabrics and turn them into masks. “I almost had a stroke. I told him, ‘Everyone is making masks.’ And he replied, ‘So what? No one is making Pestemal masks.’”
And so, they did. VinD.gr masks became a hit on their e-shop. Soon, matching scrunchies and all sorts of accessories followed. People needed a touch of beauty amidst the ugliness of those times. “The project went extremely well. I had to find external collaborators because we couldn’t keep up with production.”
It’s a family affair
And just like that, one woman’s passion evolved into VinD.gr—a Greek family business that respects both its products and its people. “It’s a team effort. There’s family behind it—my children and my husband. Apostolos, my husband, handles the financial and accounting side. Stefanos manages marketing, while Danae and I work on the designs together. She tells me what’s trendy for her generation—she’s 20. For example, the metallic pencil skirt was a massive hit with girls her age. She also helps me with the entire creative process since she knows how to sew everything.”
Inspiration, motivation and the future
As we talk, two questions cross my mind: what is her greatest motivation to keep doing what she loves, and where does she draw her inspiration from?
“My customers call me after shopping from our e-shop just to tell me how amazing a scarf is and how well-made it is. That is the greatest reward you can get. It’s also incredibly satisfying when wholesale clients tell me, ‘I don’t have to worry about you at all’—meaning that the products sell effortlessly. That honors us as a brand,” she replies.
“My inspiration comes from everything—every image, every conversation, every interaction. Memory brings back combinations imprinted in my mind, even if I’m not consciously aware of them. Right now, as we speak, I might notice how much I love the purple you’ve paired with sequins (she means my coat and shoes) and the playful hint of lime (my sock peeking from my shoe). You might leave, and in the end, I’ll create a necklace with beige and lime threads. And I will! You should come see it at the next exhibition!” she says while pulling out matching threads and placing them on the counter. They sit there, waiting eagerly to “start playing.”
Well, that’s VinD.gr for you—a brand as unique as its founder, Dora Vintzilaiou. If you ever visit her workshop, you’ll see her with scissors and a measuring tape in hand, dancing and creating to the rhythm of EDM. Because without music, she feels incomplete. “For me, the creative process is a challenge, and I love it,” she tells me as I leave. A challenge that, as it turns out, she has conquered.