Who Is Elena Votsi
Elena Votsi is the international renown jewellery designer who, in addition to making pieces of jewellery that are coveted worldwide, is further immortalised by her designs for the Athens 2004 Olympic medals and more recently with the medals for the Brazilian Games (2016). In fact, Elena's design will be used for the front side of the Olympic medals for ALL future Olympic Games: She considers this is the biggest honour of her career. Not only was she born on Hydra, but still, in spite of her wide-spread fame, she lives and works amongst us on the island and has kept the first shop she ever opened on Hydra's waterfront.
On first meeting Elena, she is strikingly warm, genuine, gentle and unassuming. A personality seemingly at odds with the lady who designs the bold, extrovert, extravagant statement jewellery, which is how her vast creative skill takes centre stage.
Elena was born and raised on Hydra and takes an active role in the community. In 2015, she designed and produced the trophies and medals for the Hydra Trails Event. And she has a range of jewellery, ceramics and textiles sold exclusively in her Hydra shop that are more affordable so her island fans can enjoy wearing and using a 'Votsi Design' if they can't quite manage one of her Fabergé-like creations!
Hydriot's and Hydra residents alike are justifiably proud of her. Elena's achievements are used by many-a-parent on the island as an example to their children, extolling them to apply themselves to the same excellence. She is truly an inspiration.
Elena is the most down-to-earth, honestly-humble Superstar you are ever likely to encounter. She has a charm that is hard to define. She shuns the limelight, preferring to let her dazzling pieces take centre stage, Hydriots find her awesome and love the privilege of her returning their "Kalimera's" when passing in the street.
Because Elena travels a lot these days, it is an extra special treat if you visit her shop in Hydra when she is 'at home'. Just because the shop is tiny, you won't feel deprived; you will find samples of all her international ranges along with Hydra specific pieces that are more affordable and exclusive to the island. Elena's pieces are available in mayor fashion cities like Paris, New York, Los Angeles, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Texas, and worldwide through major online stores. But locals or visitors can first see all the new collections or the one-of-a-kind pieces in Elena's Hydra shop before they 'travel' to other stores abroad every autumn after the summer season.
Rather excitingly, in many ways Elena is an ambassador for Hydra because her superbly-crafted, desirable jewellery appeals to people from all kinds of backgrounds. So it is understandable that VIP's and the 'famous' regularly call at the Hydra shop when they are on the island to preview her latest collections. The 'celebrities' who treasure her pieces are, among others, Lady Gaga, Rosamund Pike, Katharine Zeta Jones, Lupita Nyong'o, Claire Danes, Oprah Winfrey, Kelly Osbourne, Princesses from the royal families of Monaco and Spain as well as fashion icon designers VALENTINO and Jean-Paul Gaultier. All are huge fans of her work.
Her first ever 'Pebble' collection, started over thirty years ago and made with Hydra beach pebbles set in silver, is continued today but only for sale exclusively on Hydra. Similarly her 'Big Ears' range of ceramics decorated with the silhouette of a donkey are also exclusive to Hydra and make wonderful, highly desirable yet affordable gifts and souvenirs.
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Official Biography
Elena Votsi’s birthplace, the small Greek island of Hydra, continues to be an unending source of inspiration for the acclaimed Greek jewelry designer. Elena’s studies, which include a degree from the Athens School of Fine Arts and a Master’s degree in jewelry design from the Royal College of Art in London have given her the opportunity to gain considerable experience working for influential figures in field of jewelry design, both in Greece and abroad.
Since the opening of her first store in Hydra, Elena has collaborated with significant Greek cultural institutions, such as, the Acropolis Museum, the Museum of Cycladic Art and the Benakis Museum, while other collaborations include high fashion brands GUCCI and Ralph Lauren. Elena’s work has been showcased also in exhibitions and projects alongside other artists, in Europe as well as in the US. These include the Bienale in Valencia, where Elena presented her “Rattles” collection, the Business Design Centre in London which housed her “Hearts” collection and the Lacoste Project, of the eponymous French brand, where she showcased her “Postcards” collection. Elena also had the honor to be asked to design the “Key of Hydra town”, as well as the Commemorative Gift for the European Union Head of State Conference in Corfu.
Elena considers the highlight of her career – taking into account her Greek heritage - to be the redesign of the Olympic medals for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games held in Athens. She is also greatly honored by the fact that her signature will remain on the front façade of the medals for all following Olympic Games, in this way incorporating her work into an important part of modern history.
Elena’s jewelry collections are housed in the world’s most famous fashion capitals and her contribution to the Greek art scene has also been acknowledged by the Greek president and the mayor of Hydra. In addition, Elena has been awarded two prizes at the annual Couture Show in Las Vegas.
Benaki Museum Collaboration
For 2016, and to help promote the excellence of Greece, Elena collaborated with the Benaki Museum (Athens) and the Museum of Cycladic Art, to create a stunning collection of reproductions of historically significant Greek antiques.
The limited edition pieces are on sale in the Elena Votsi Shop on Hydra and at both of the museums.
(Image) Necklace "Axe" Bronze piece of jewel inspired by an ancient axe (2500 – 2400 BC) Designed by Elena Votsi for the Museum of Cycladic Art.
Greece's Olympic Artist
You have some truly unique rings! Where do you get your inspiration from when designing them?
I love wearing jewelry myself and they are my go to choice after earnings. There is something about decorating your hand which moves and communicates. I feel like by wearing rings you are decorating your whole self. Inspiration it is always something I welcome in my life. It comes in unexpected moments like when I’m sitting in a taxi looking out of the window, walking on a pebbled road in Hydra or while I’m watching the waves, or when I’m observing the shapes created when a shadow reflects on a whitewashed wall.
Does your shop on the beautiful and special island of Hydra differ from you Kolonaki shop? does it have more of an island feel?
The shop in Kolonaki (Athens) has the same philosophy as the shop in Hydra. On Hydra it is simply a little smaller and more humble and suited to for the needs of a town that has a enjoys simple designs and a warm friendly space. The store in Kolonaki often transforms into my office. It is a place where we have meetings, where we see our friends who have been following us over the years, a place I go to relax, and also where we discuss new designs and new business ventures.
I prefer this space more than my home office because I can be with my colleagues and make future plans.
Considering that the store in Hydra has a view of the ocean gives you an idea about what sort of emotions I feel when being in that particular space. A child once wrote in my visitors book “I’m happy this store exists in Hydra because I know where I can always find my mom…” I think this says it all!
The Hydra shop is our small summer piece of paradise. It's our shelter getaway for all of our friends, famous or non famous people looking for a break and a trip to a world filled with what we enjoy. And I genuinely thank everyone for their love and trust that they have shown to us over all of these years giving us the strength to carry on.
Olympic Medals Designer
Hydra Trails Award Design
