Mary Katrantzou is one of Greece’s leading fashion designers. After studying briefly in the United States, Katrantzou transferred to London and launched her eponymous brand at London Fashion Week.
The brand has collaborated with household names like Topshop and Longchamp for sell-out collections. Mary Katrantzou has earned the nickname ‘Queen of Prints’ with every collection having its unique print story.
In October 2014, Vogue unveiled the collaboration between Adidas Originals and designer Mary Katrantzou. Drawing inspiration from track shoes worn by medalists in the 1970s and 1980s, Katrantzou reimagined Adidas’s classic designs with bold colors and gold hardware. The collection featured body-hugging zip-up dresses and pullovers made from neoprene and printed mesh, showcasing abstract florals, stripes, and laces.
Greek fashion designer Mary Katrantzou, known as the ‘Queen of Prints,’ captivates with her signature bold and unique print designs (Credit: Gary Mitchell / IPA / INSTARimages)
Katrantzou is famous for her hyper-realistic prints and has recently launched its couture category, creating whimsical designs that embrace elegant femininity.
We’ve spotted everyone from Karolina Kurkova to Kiernan Shipka and Kerry Washington wearing Mary Katrantzou pieces.
Mary Katrantzou’s avant-garde couture pieces showcase intricate craftsmanship, bold prints, and dramatic silhouettes, redefining modern luxury (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
We’re sharing everything you need to know about Mary Katrantzou and answering the most popular questions about the brand.
Who Is Mary Katrantzou and What Is Her Story?
Mary Katrantzou was born into a creative family in Athens. Her mother was an interior designer, while her father was a textile engineer.
She studied architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design before transferring to the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London for her bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
She began with a focus on interior prints before switching to fashion prints. Katrantzou opened the Saint Martins MA Fashion Show at London Fashion Week in 2008, with her collection being nominated for the Harrods and L’Oreal Professional Awards.
Mary Katrantzou exudes timeless elegance in a textured black ensemble paired with statement earrings, a chic clutch, and embellished Mary Jane heels (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
This 2008 collection established her design aesthetic of oversized jewelry and illusion prints. Her debut pret-a-porter collection was shown at London Fashion Week in 2008, with her first ready-to-wear collection coming out for Autumn/Winter 2009.
Mary Katrantzou presented her first couture collection in Athens in 2019 with her Spring/Summer 2020 collection.
She made headlines for presenting the fashion show in the Temple of Poseidon. The show was hosted to celebrate three decades of ELPIDA, a charity that supports children suffering from cancer.
Mary Katrantzou’s 2018 London Fashion Week showcase captivated audiences with its striking display of intricate designs, bold prints, and innovative craftsmanship (Credit: PA Images / INSTARimages)
Katrantzou has styled celebrities from Willow Shields to Saoirse Ronan, Reese Witherspoon, and Kaley Cuoco.
She married in 2021 before welcoming her son, Michael, in 2022. Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece is her son’s godfather, and Katrantzou’s Instagram features photos with the royal couple.
Princess Marie-Chantal wore a bespoke Mary Katrantzou dress to the wedding of Princess Nina to Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark.
Queen Maxima of The Netherlands, actresses Kerry Washington, Cara Delevingne, Elizabeth Banks, and Sarah Jessica Parker, and singers Taylor Swift and Rihanna wearing Mary Katrantzou gowns and dresses (Credit: Patrick van Katwijk / picture-alliance / Cover Images / Bill Davila / Sara De Boer / James Coldrey / Humberto Carreno / Kyle Rover / Javier Mateo / Startraksphoto)
What Makes Mary Katrantzou the ‘Queen of Prints’?
As the Queen of Prints, Mary Katrantzou is known for playing with contrasting aesthetics and mixing artisanship and technology to create opulent designs.
The brand is synonymous with its artistic, bold, feminine, and innovative designs.
Mary Katrantzou’s signature designs combine artistic prints, bold patterns, and feminine silhouettes, making each piece an opulent fashion statement
Mary Katrantzou’s designs are available internationally at prestigious luxury department stores. The brand has partnered with renowned names, including Topshop in 2011 and Longchamp in 2012, for highly sought-after capsule collections. Additionally, its long-term collaboration with Adidas has produced innovative clothing and footwear lines, blending high fashion with athletic wear.
In April 2014, we featured Reese Witherspoon wearing floral pumps from Mary Katrantzou’s collaborative collection with Italian shoe designer Gianvito Rossi.
Other collaborations include capsule ranges with Victoria’s Secret and Moncler. Katrantzou has also designed for the Paris Opera and the Greek National Opera. The brand has hosted two solo exhibitions on its signature designs. Katrantzou’s latest collaboration is with the UK high-street brand Lipsy.
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Mary Katrantzou celebrated the brand’s 10th anniversary with a special showcase at London Fashion Week, focusing on the brand’s synonymous vivid prints. Katrantzou won the Swiss Textiles Award in 2010, the year after Alexander Wang won.
She was also awarded the British Fashion Award for Emerging Talent in womenswear and the Young Designer of the Year at the Elle Style Awards in 2011 and 2012, respectively.
Katrantzou was also awarded the 2015 BFA/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund Award and the 2015 British Fashion Award for New Establishment. She was also named Vogue India’s Designer of the Decade for the ‘00s in 2019.
Mary Katrantzou stuns in an intricately patterned dress paired with embellished black heels, holding her well-deserved Glamour award with a radiant smile (Credit: Ian West / PA Images / Startraksphoto)
Who Owns Mary Katrantzou, and How Has It Grown?
Mary Katrantzou sold a minority stake in the brand in 2017 to Yu Capital, the Hong Kong-based Yu Holdings investment division. The investment group aims to treat the brand as a bridge between Western brands and Chinese consumers.
This investment has enabled Mary Katrantzou to expand into China and develop its couture collection. Wendy Yu, the daughter of Chinese billionaire Jingyuan Yu, led the purchase.
She had previously invested in ASAP54, now known as ‘Fashion Concierge,’ and Bottletop before purchasing a minority stake in Katrantzou’s brand.
Mary Katrantzou exudes elegance in a chic black A-line dress, paired with classic Mary Jane shoes and a bold clutch at the V&A Harrods event (Credit: Nils Jorgensen / Startraksphoto)
Katrantzou continues to be the brand’s lead designer and has built her public profile with over 830,000 followers on Instagram. She’s now one of Greece’s most notable contemporary fashion designers.
Where Can You Buy Mary Katrantzou?
Mary Katrantzou is available in over 200 stores worldwide, including many luxury department stores. The brand is in almost 50 countries and is available through luxury e-commerce stores.
The brand offers an innovative ‘try at home’ service for customers in London, allowing you to have pieces delivered to try on in the comfort of your own home before purchasing. Mary Katrantzou does not currently have a flagship store. You can explore the brand’s range of authorized stockists on its official website.
How Do You Pronounce Mary Katrantzou?
Mary Katrantzou is pronounced as “Mary Cat-RANT-zoo.”
Where Are Mary Katrantzou Products Manufactured?
Mary Katrantzou products are primarily made in Europe, with some products carrying a ‘Made in Italy’ label, while earlier pieces were made in the UK.
The brand does not list the manufacturing location of its productions on its official website.
What Is the Price Range of Mary Katrantzou Fashion?
Mary Katrantzou is a mid-tier luxury fashion brand with dresses from its newest collection ranging from $900 to $3,500. You can expect to pay several thousand dollars over this price for its couture collection.
Mary Katrantzou is available on sale at the end of each season, making it an ideal way to grab a luxury piece at a more affordable price. Look out for Mary Katrantzou’s sales on luxury e-commerce websites like Farfetch and Mytheresa.
Mary Katrantzou offers mid-tier luxury fashion with dresses priced between $900 and $3,500, celebrated for their vibrant prints and meticulous craftsmanship
Wear your heart on your sleeve by exploring Mary Katrantzou’s kaleidoscopic prints and couture collections. It’s a brand you want to know as it becomes a Royal favorite and a red-carpet regular.
Explore More Mary Katrantzou Celebrity Moments
Mary Katrantzou’s distinctive designs have graced many celebrity wardrobes, leaving a lasting impression with her bold prints and innovative silhouettes. For example, Camilla Luddington turned heads in a vibrant Mary Katrantzou skirt during a summer appearance on ‘Extra,’ effortlessly blending elegance with playful summer vibes.
Bel Powley made a statement at the 2016 Film Independent Spirit Awards, pairing a pink studded Mary Katrantzou dress with bold platform sandals.
Chloe Lukasiak embraced Katrantzou’s signature floral style at the 2016 BeautyCon Festival, showcasing a flared skirt that captured the designer’s whimsical aesthetic. Meanwhile, Lizzo dazzled in a custom geometric Mary Katrantzou dress at the 51st NAACP Image Awards, solidifying her status as a style icon.
These moments highlight the versatility and widespread appeal of Mary Katrantzou’s designs among A-list celebrities.