For Locals Insider, Demis shares how a childhood game with a needle and thread became My Leather Studio in Thessaloniki. He was born and raised in the city. He makes corsets, bags and fetish pieces for men, and he also has a darkwear line.
He talks about his calf-leather ethics, his plans for home accessories and pet accessories, and a city in Greece that he says gives him room to work. He also names the museums, independent designers, cafés and tavernas he loves.
Leatherwork in Thessaloniki: From a Childhood Game to a Studio of My Own
I have been involved in sewing since I was seven years old. What began as a childhood game gradually became an art form and an essential part of my adult life.
As I grew older and began discovering my identity and sexuality, I also discovered the world of leather fetishism. Something about leather resonated with me on a deeply personal level. It felt like finding a material that truly reflected who I was. Working with leather made me feel 100% myself, as if I had found a voice through which I could express my identity and create works of art.
Working with leather made me feel 100% myself, as if I had found a voice through which I could express my identity and create works of art.
Demis
I had always dreamed of having my own space where I could create and sell my art. Building my own business was always my ultimate goal. So, as a leather artist, creating a studio where leather could take shape, transform, and become something meaningful was a natural step in my journey.
My Leather Studio is the realization of that dream: a place where my craftsmanship, creativity, and personal identity come together.
Corsets, Bags and Fetish Pieces: What I Love Making Most
I love creating for people who trust me and allow my artistic vision to take the lead. In truth, I love every piece I make. When I have leather in my hands, the creative process becomes an almost orgasmic experience. It is a feeling of pure pleasure and freedom that inspires me to create something unique every time.
As a fashion designer, I have a particular love for corsets and bags. However, what truly excites me is creating fetish pieces for men. I have always been fascinated by the male body, and I love exploring its shapes, proportions, and sensuality through leather.
For me, every creation is more than an object. It is a personal expression of my artistic vision, my passion for craftsmanship, and the connection I share with the person who will wear it.
Clientele Across Greece, Germany and Sweden
My customers come from both Greece and other countries, including Germany and Sweden.
I see myself as an artist whose work is still being discovered by a wider audience. Every new customer is an opportunity to build a connection and introduce someone new to my creative world.
For me, building a clientele is a process that takes time, trust, and consistency. I want to welcome people who appreciate my work and are willing to trust my creativity. Every relationship I build with a customer is an important part of my journey as an independent artist.
My goal is not simply to sell my creations, but to create a community of people who connect with my artistic vision and appreciate the individuality of each handmade piece.
Calf Leather and Ethics: Why I Won’t Replace the Material
I am against the use of fur. It is a material I have no desire to work with, as it simply does not resonate with my artistic vision.
Leather, on the other hand, is something deeply personal to me. It is more than just a material; it is an emotional and intellectual process that creates an inner excitement and restlessness that drives me to create. I cannot imagine replacing it with something else, as my relationship with leather is an essential part of my artistic identity.
Regarding the ethical aspect, I choose to work exclusively with calf leather. My perspective is that the animal is not slaughtered solely for the production of a luxury material, but primarily for food, with the hide becoming a material that can be used rather than discarded.
I understand that this perspective may sound harsh to some people, but I believe in being honest about my choices and the materials I use. For me, craftsmanship also means understanding and acknowledging the origins of the materials that become part of my work.
Darkwear and Beyond: New Pieces I Want to Make
Yes, Darkwear is a line I would love to develop further, expanding it with new and exciting pieces.
Beyond that, I am also interested in exploring leather home accessories and accessories for animals, particularly cats and dogs. I want to continue expanding my creative world beyond the pieces I currently make.
And that is the magic of leather for me. With the same material, I can create a whip, a set of coasters for a dining table, a corset, or a wallet. It allows me to move between completely different worlds, from fashion and fetish to everyday objects and interior design.
With the same material, I can create a whip, a set of coasters for a dining table, a corset, or a wallet.
Demis
I love the idea that my work can exist in so many different aspects of people’s lives. For me, the possibilities of leather are endless, and I feel that I am only just beginning to explore them.
Creative Inspiration Without a Single Source
I find inspiration in everything around me. I don’t believe inspiration can be confined to a single source or placed into a box.
As I have mentioned, I don’t want to create for just one purpose or within a single category. I feel that limiting myself in that way would eventually suffocate my creativity.
I want to remain open to everything that catches my eye, every feeling, every encounter, and every new idea. For me, inspiration is an ongoing process of discovery, and I never want to stop exploring the possibilities of what I can create.
I believe that freedom is essential to my artistic expression. The moment I stop allowing myself to explore, I stop evolving as an artist.
Artist Life in Thessaloniki: Calm, Charming and Not Always Easy
I was born and raised in Thessaloniki, although I have also lived in Athens. For some reason, Thessaloniki has always given me the space and opportunity to create and exist as an artist. So, for now, this is where I belong.
Thessaloniki is a beautiful and relatively calm city. It doesn’t have the intensity and madness of Athens, but it is far from boring. It has its own rhythm, character, and charm.
Of course, it can also be challenging, especially as an artist and business owner, because its audience is more specific and sometimes less open to unconventional ideas. But I believe that this is also part of what makes the city interesting. You have to find your own place within it, and that is something I am still doing.
Independent Designers and Artists Worth Discovering
It’s difficult for me to choose five design shops, because I feel that Thessaloniki’s creative identity is expressed just as much through its independent artists and designers as it is through its stores.
I would love to mention Sofia Michailidou, an artist who creates wooden sculptures and whose work truly deserves to be discovered by a wider audience.
I would also like to mention Christos Paraskevopoulos, a young designer creating fantastic wedding dresses, and K.and, whose jewellery designs are truly unique.
For me, the creative spirit of Thessaloniki lives in these independent creators — people who bring their own vision, individuality, and craftsmanship to the city.
Museums and Live Music: The City’s Layers
I have a deep love for art and history, so some of my favourite places in Thessaloniki are its museums. I love the Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as the National Gallery, and of course the new museum dedicated to the archaeological discoveries made during the construction of the Thessaloniki Metro.
I find it fascinating how these places bring together different layers of the city — its contemporary artistic expression, its cultural heritage, and its ancient history. They remind me that Thessaloniki is a city with so much depth, and that there is always something new to discover beneath its surface.
I also love going to venues with live music and discovering emerging artists. There is something special about experiencing music up close and supporting people who are just beginning to share their work with an audience.
Café-Bars and Tavernas: Where I Eat, Drink and Watch the City
One of my favourite café-bars is Elephant. Sometimes I like to sit there, enjoy my coffee, and simply watch the people passing by. It’s one of those little everyday pleasures that I really appreciate.
Right across from Elephant is Life, a traditional tavern serving delicious home-cooked food. I also love SEFAGA MADAMO, run by my friend Olga, who is truly an artist in the kitchen. Whenever I go there, I know I’m going to have a great meal.
They are not just places to eat or have a drink, but places where you can enjoy the city’s atmosphere and feel connected to its people.
Demis
For me, these places are part of what makes Thessaloniki special. They are not just places to eat or have a drink, but places where you can enjoy the city’s atmosphere and feel connected to its people.
Locals Insider · Thessaloniki · 4 places
Thessaloniki Guide by Demis: Café-Bars, Street Food and Museums
Leather artist Demis, born and raised in the city, names the places he returns to.
1Café-bar · Diikitirio, city center
Elephantas Cafe Bar
A small corner café-bar at the junction of Syggrou and Filippou streets, open since 2006. It serves coffee by day and cocktails later, and it is known among locals for its retro look and plants.
Sometimes I like to sit there, enjoy my coffee, and simply watch the people passing by.Demis, in the article
- Syggrou & Filippou 2, ThessalonikiMap
- @cafe_bar_elephantas
- 2
Restaurant · Olympou, Roman Agora area
Sefaga MadamO
A casual restaurant on Olympou street run by Olga Daratzi. It describes its food as classic Greek street food with Mediterranean flavors.
Whenever I go there, I know I’m going to have a great meal.Demis, in the article
- Olympou 84, ThessalonikiMap
- 3
Museum · Egnatia, Helexpo grounds
MOMus – Museum of Contemporary Art
The museum is the former Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, which was the first museum of contemporary art in Greece. It is now part of MOMus, the Thessaloniki museum organization, and sits inside the Thessaloniki International Fair (Helexpo) grounds.
I have a deep love for art and history, so some of my favourite places in Thessaloniki are its museums.Demis, in the article