REPUBLISHED FROM FASHION DAILY

INTERVIEW BY KATERINA VALLOGIANNI
TRANSLATION BY MARY KAVVALOU

Greek customs, memories, ideas are all imprinted in a logo. The Motley Goat weaves Greek elements with humor and conveys them to anyone who wears it. How far can a goat go? Very far, especially if it carries along the Greek culture and lots of creativity. And The Motley Goat comes up to these standards. Having been acquainted with multiple aspects of the Greek fashion eco-system, Michail-Alexander Passos created The Motley Goat brand in 2015 combining elements of the Greek Tradition with a lightweight mood and humor. Today he is talking to Fashion Daily about the birth of his exceptional goat, what inspires it as well as the challenges he faces in his creative path.

Would you like to tell us a few things about the history of The Motley Goat? When was it first created and what were your sources of inspiration? How do you see it evolve and how much of your time do you devote to it?

Having served the world of fashion in various posts for a number of years, I felt the urge to propose a collection of modern Greek designs from my own perspective. This is how The Motley Goat came to existence in 2015 and has recently been relaunched. Now, focusing on accessories, placing premium printed t-shirts at the core of a collection that keeps being enriched, the brand combines elements from the Greek culture with quite a pinch of humor and vitality.
It’s a fact that I devote a lot of hours on a daily basis to both the creative aspect and the business one. But in this way we are able to offer new designs regularly while the collection is often supplemented with new items.

What does The Motley Goat mean to you and how close is it to your own philosophy of life?

First and foremost, it means creativity. I enjoy every single step of the way when completing a design, from the conception of the idea to its first printed sample, and later seeing the design itself displayed in a shop window. Every single design is associated with a personal experience, the “Greekness” I have inside me and as a result, it is in a way the incarnation of my ideas.

How is The Motley Goat connected with Greece and this “Greekness” you endeavour to instill in your brand?

All the items in the collection are inspired by the registered and now recognizable logo, the motley goat, which associates both its Greek roots with a lot of humor and the joy it attempts to convey to anyone who puts it on. The brand name itself, the Motley Goat that is, derives from a common Greek expression in order to embody the multi-collectiveness of the brand. Further than this, The Motley Goat, draws its inspiration from other Greek elements, too, from customs and various characteristics of the Greek consumer to my own “Greek” memories which are humoristically imprinted in its image, its logo. In other words, The Motley Goat is expected to put on something Greek, like a May flower wreath, traditional shoes with pompons or to appear on a sailor’s uniform.

In your opinion, which are the greatest challenges for the Greek fashion nowadays? What are the reasons it fails to develop as much as it deserves?

Under the present circumstances, the two most serious factors are the economic policy and the inadequate production basis in Greece. Not to mention the difficulties that arise when importing materials, while many fabric retailers rely exclusively on their fabric stock from previous years. It is also remarkable that in Greece there is no official Designers Union which would potentially promote the Greek fashion as a whole.

How important do you consider private incentives to be in promoting the Greek fashion?

It’s of vital importance given that Greek governments have yet to acknowledge the role that the Greek fashion could play in the Greek economy. As a result, there are very few incentives, Acts or support on the part of the state.

Despite all this, which are the most important challenges that a young fashion entrepreneur faces?

Undoubtedly the tax policy, the lack of production structure and the lack of cooperation that tend to characterize the Greek fashion industry.

What are your goals for your brand and how would you like to see it within the next three years?

The main goal is that it will continue its dynamic development and will start being displayed in upscale stores and hotel boutiques. Of course, at the same time, we intend to enrich the range of the products on offer. In three years’ time wa also aim at striking up collaborations with stores abroad. But above all, we wish to envisage the brand not only as a financial success but also as synonymous to high quality Greek design.

Is there a key to success, after all? And if so, which are the three elements that compose it?

There is no “secret recipe”, I guess. I believe in commitment and hard work. However, the right timing together with the impeccable relation of quality to its price as well as luck are also determining factors.