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  • ELVIRA

  • The Designer


    Elvira Panagiotopoulou

  • a.k.a. Elvira di Gaia

    Founder & Creative Director

    Growing up breathing an endless air of creativity has fostered
    her strong sense of aesthetics and her pure love for craftsmanship.

    Born in Athens and raised in Paris, Elvira grew up surrounded by the Greek natural and the French urban environments, becoming sensitive to the elements of both cultures. Her childhood was populated with dynamic, elegant and creative women who stimulated her with their strength and sophistication.

    Her love for fashion and craftsmanship was sealed, at an early age, by the creation of a jewellery and footwear line while studying Marketing and Communication in Athens. The creative process was so exciting, she decided to hone her skills with a Footwear Design course at the London College of Fashion. With an excited spirit she decided to move to Italy, in 2007, to study Footwear Design at Cercal, Sergio Rossi’s School, at San Mauro Pascoli and later on to achieve an MA in Fashion Accessories at Istituto Marangoni.

    Upon completing her studies, she started working in Paris and Milan with some of the most prestigious luxury footwear and fashion brands, such as Bruno Frisoni, Diego Dolcini, Narciso Rodriguez, Madeleine Vionnet, Dolce & Gabbana and Balmain.

  • In 2015, she decided to take the leap and launch her own luxury footwear brand, DI GAΪA.
    In February 2018, she won the contest “The Future Footwear Generation” 
    held by Vogue Talents and Rene Caovilla.

    “Learn the ‘rules’ from the best.
    Then break them & do your best.”

    Elvira

Awards

  • laurelleaf Di Gaia Shoes

  • Elvira is the winner of the contest "The Future Footwear Generation"

    held by Vogue Talents and Rene Caovilla.