When Geoffrey Conaghan’s grandmother migrated from Kastellorizo to Australia in 1925 she came with her Greek Ottoman wardrobe of about 80 clothing items that have remained in a single collection to this day.

Amirisa (Hatziagapitou) Askitis’ collection of silks, velvets, furs, brocades and crepe de chine came from Cyprus, France, Italy, India and Turkey and they are a reflection of Kastellorizo’s levantine location and its mercantile economy.

With his experience in trade and tourism Mr Conaghan researched the origin of the fabrics from his great grandmother’s collection to research and build up the story of Kastellorizo. Greece’s easternmost island.

Detail of the rich fabric that adorned one of the costumes drawn from Amirisa (Hatziagapitou) Askitis’ collection of clothes that she brought with her to Australia in 1925. Photo: Supplied

His research forms the basis of his lecture entitled: Entwined: Trade, politics and geography, the textiles of Kastellorizo’s unique women’s costume which will be held at the Greek Centre on the evening of 5 May and is the latest in the Greek History and Culture Seminars series hosted by the Greek Community of Melbourne’ (GCM). The talk will also be presented online through the GCM’s Facebook and Youtube channels.

Mr Conaghan’s research took him to the textile museums of Gujarat in India and to the silk makers of Lyons in France.

For the past 15 years he has been a member of the Melbourne Airport’s executive team. He has served as Victoria’s Commissioner to India and as Victorian Agent General to London. He has also served as a board member of Tourism Victoria. He is a former chair of New Art St Kilda and has been the ambassador for its donor network Linden Contemporaries since 2018. He now advises on airport business development and holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Anthropology form the Australian National University.

* Entwined: Trade, politics and geography, the textiles of Kastellorizo’s unique women’s costume will be held at the Greek Centre (Mezzanine) 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne.

Online: The talk will also be available via the GCM’s Facebook and Youtube channels.

When: 7pm Thursday, 5 May.