This year the Basil Papantoniou Foundation celebrates fifty years of operation. Together with the Benaki Museum, it is co-organizing a major event as a tribute to its activities and to its founder, the soul of the Foundation, the set designer Ioanna Papantoniou.

Wedding Dress from Kymi of Evia, 18th century

Throughout its years of operation, the institution has been anything but static. On the contrary. It is constantly evolving, enriching its collections, broadening its themes and seeking to respond to the demands and questions of each era.

Of course, the core of the Collection was the traditional costumes. However, the Foundation’s interest gradually turned to a broader presentation of fashion and clothing habits, highlighting its cultural, social, economic and practical dimensions.

The cycle of life-love

Of the approximately 50,000 objects in the collection, around 150 have been selected to showcase exactly the logic of the Foundation, which in this milestone of half a century of operation, on the one hand is firmly rooted in its heritage and history and on the other hand is playing a leading role in the establishment of a future Fashion Museum.

Η έκθεση διαρθρώνεται σε δύο μεγάλες ενότητες:

The first part/chapter “The artful fabric of the Basil Papantoniou Foundation” tells the story of the Foundation, the fruit of the life and work of costume and set designer Ioanna Papantoniou, and invites visitors to get to know aspects of its activities.

Greek Fashion

The second part/chapter “Thoughts and ideas for tomorrow’s Fashion Museum...” highlights aspects of the web of processes, relationships, ideas that are perpetually woven around the importance of clothing in human societies and is structured in six sections, presenting everything that fits into Ioanna Papantoniou’s vision for tomorrow’s Fashion Museum of Greece.

“Arta and Giannina.” Created by Dimitris Dasios, inspired by the costume “Amalia”.