Katerina Tsamourtzis and Maria Roiniotis are the founders of Ammos Accessories, a label that promises to make Greek island style a summer staple for Down Under.
Apart from a strong friendship, their love of fashion and obsession with shoes is what binds them together.
Maria is a qualified beautician, and also has extensive experience in importing beauty goods and loves to constantly challenge herself creatively.
Katerina, on the other hand, focuses on social media and is marketing director of Remark Marketing, having previously worked for Westfield and Nintendo.
“Together we are a great combination, bringing a touch of Greece to our shores,” they tell Neos Kosmos.
Their project, Ammos Shoes & Accessories, is a new online store that is bringing the latest shoes and accessories from the Mediterranean to Australia.
“We aim to bring the latest trends, as well as pieces that can’t be purchased in Australia,” Katerina adds.
Inspired by the beauty and the colours of Greek islands and mythology, they present an impressive collection of sandals and accessories, named after inspiring ancient Greek goddesses.
“We love Greece, its amazing past, and its current beauty; the feeling you have when you are there, how amazing you feel when you are there,” Katerina Dassios says.
This year she travelled to Greece and purchased twenty pairs of shoes, along with numerous accessories and handbags.
“Every time I wear these pieces I receive so many compliments,” she enthuses.
“I had been thinking about it for a long time, but now it suddenly seemed like the right time to take the plunge and start bringing these amazing products to Australia. This is how, in a nutshell, Ammos was born.”
Maria and Katerina’s market is every female who loves to wear unique shoes and accessories, and is confident in donning stand-out pieces.
The duo feels that Australia tends to follow America in fashion, and does not keep up with the constantly evolving European scene as much.
“We tend to miss out on some trends, or they come to us a season later,” Katerina explains.
“Australia also lacks the unique pieces and most things are the same, which is part of the reason why we tend to have to pay a fortune for the more ‘different’ pieces.”
The majority (about 80 per cent) of all Ammos products are made in Greece and overall 95 per cent is manufactured in the Mediterranean.
“We are buying locally, from remote parts of Greece, which is satisfying knowing that we can assist in the current Greek crisis,” Katerina adds.
“We hope to be able to bring amazing and distinctive pieces that will make every woman feel like she is on the shores of Greece, and is a Greek goddess.”
For more information, head to www.ammosaccessories.com.au