By The Beach

- Kimberley Dyer

Your background is in the publishing world. How did you make that transition from editor to designer?

I feel like I was born a designer but I went into the publishing world because it just happened. Although I studied fashion at Esmod, I became a stylist first then progressed to editor then publisher. I have worked on the first European edition of Marie Claire, then Greek Vogue and Elle – of which I am still the publisher. But I became disappointed in myself when I felt my dream was slipping from me. And with the economic crisis affecting the publishing industry, I decided to start Elena Makri three years ago.

Your designs are vibrantly Mediterranean. What colours are you most drawn to?