Winterscapes: Kastoria | Moodboard
The moodboard is a creative synthesis inspired by the city of Kastoria in Western Macedonia, Greece, and its long fur tradition, counting more than 500 years. Surrounded by the high Pindus Mountains, the streets and countless steps cling to the thin stem of a mushroom-shaped peninsula that nearly bisects a large lake, Lake Orestiada which was once teeming with the beavers the area was famous for. In fact, the origin of the name Kastoria is alleged to derive from the Greek word kástoras, meaning beaver.
Winterscapes | Frozen Orestiada Lake in Kastoria, Western Macedonia, Greece.
Kastoria is both a popular travel destination for its natural beauty, byzantine architecture and rich history dating back to prehistoric ages; and an international centre of fur, having taken so the nickname the city of the furriers, where every year the International Fur Fair takes place.
Winterscapes | Kastoria’s typical macedonian architecture mansions overlooking Lake Orestiada.
The region of Kastoria as one of the major global processing centers of production and marketing of fur is one of the most important exportation sectors in Greece’s national economy. Today, the fur branch in the city includes more than 300 small and larger workshops, ensuring the responsible use of a renewable natural source raw materials, so not to infect and not to disturb the ecological system as the raw material comes from farms rigorous standards fully respecting international norms established for ecosystem management.
SHOP ALEXQUISITE Pure Mink Pouch Lavender | Styled with Yves Salomon Intarsia Fox Jacket. Photo credits: Fur Now Campaign, IFF.
SHOP ALEXQUISITE Pure Collection Fur Pouches
Growing up in Kastoria in a family of furriers, Alexandros Kotoulas, designer of Alexquisite reinvents fur and transforms it into high end luxury bags, carefully handcrafted in family owned workshops in Greece.
SHOP ALEXQUISITE Essential Lavender Mink Fur Backpack | Styled with Marni Fur Coat, Manolo Blahnik Fur Shoes, Kopenhagen Fur x Jens Friborg Fur Detail Dress, Xuanxuan Li Justina Intarsia Scarf with Silver and Black Fox. Photo credits: Fur Now Campaign, IFF.
Talented artisans with decades of experience in leather and fur goods have been investing their time and passion into transforming these precious materials into charming pieces. The country still holds a very strong network of craftsmen, with which Alexandros works closely together exchanging ideas and infusing a new way of thinking.
SHOP ALEXQUISITE Essential Black Mink Fur Backpack | Styled with Pologeorgis Black Nutria Men’s Coat. Photo credits: Fur Now Campaign, IFF.
SHOP ALEXQUISITE Essential Collection Fur Backpacks
The core principle of Alexquisite’s design ethos is soft design — a design language that blends together practicality and function with intuitive beauty and a playful involvement of all the senses. The brand supports and participates in the International Campaign Fur Now by the International Fur Federation IFF.
