LIDOprofile - Maria Stathopoulou
Meet Maria Stathopoulou, mother and brains behind the rapidly rising brand, Olympian Sandals.
We got to find out more about Maria, and how she created her brand, which has been going from strength to strength since inception. An ode to her country and traditional craft, Olympian Sandals has a wonderful story, and so much more to come!
How did you come to do what you do?
It all began when I was pregnant with my first daughter. I so wanted to create something comfy and chic at the same time. My family had been in the shoe making business for two generations so I thought that it was time to do something completely out of the box, like handcrafted luxury sandals, that would pay tribute to our Greek heritage but also be current, contemporary yet comfy and come in many designs so that women would be able to find at least one style that would become a staple in their wardrobe.
What is the most exciting part of your job?
The most exciting part is creating for women! Finding inspiration and putting it in a shoe: I find inspiration in my travels, my daughters, my country, Greece … In a thousand things, people and places every single day. The creative process really fulfils me. One cannot own too many shoes so there you go!
What challenges do you usually encounter?
There are always challenges, but I see them as the ‘salt’ of life. The fashion industry itself is challenging especially when you are a luxury brand based in a tiny country like Greece… That being said, we are so happy for what we have accomplished on an international level and are looking forward to accomplishing more!
What’s your typical day like?
I’m an early bird, as I have to prepare breakfast for my two daughters and take them to school. I then get back home, deal with my emails for a couple of hours, followed by Zoom meetings with my team. Twice a week I also visit our production unit. I have a late lunch break with my head of marketing and later dinner with my husband and kids after 20.00; I love cooking! We always have a date night on Thursdays and we try to go to the beach as much as we can since there is a beautiful tiny beach close to our house.I also love Margheritas and buying shoes, so I make sure I make time for that too!!
What do you like doing in your spare time?
Absolutely nothing at all, at home! I love being at home with my girls, when I travel for work I miss my home so much.
What’s your go to track or album at the moment?
“I Put A Spell On You”, by Nina Simone or Annie Lennox.
Any exciting news that you would like to share with us?
Yes! There are many exciting new things coming next year. I don’t like talking too much about them because I’m Greek and I believe in jinxing new things. We’re launching SS22, which is amazing, and we are also currently designing a special edition luxury sandal in collaboration with a jewellery designer.
Check out the Olympian Sandal website, and follow them on Instagram!
