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Mitos: The Thread of Greece

Michael Pappas

Through his lens, Michael Pappas interlaces the thread of history with the fabric of contemporary Greek culture. Mitos: The Thread of Greece is an ongoing ethnographic project, begun in 2019, that explores traditional women’s costumes across the country. More than an archive of garments, it is an inquiry into how clothing embodies identity, memory, and continuity within Greek society.

The project reveals the coexistence of simplicity and splendour, placing each costume within its natural and cultural landscape while linking it to the social, historical, and economic realities of the community it represents. Architecture, terrain, and scenes of daily life frame the portraits, yet the true protagonists are always the individuals themselves.

Pappas shows how garments preserved as heirlooms continue to be worn during festivals and customary events, presenting tradition not as something fixed, but as a living practice passed from one generation to the next.

By weaving folk heritage together with contemporary visual expression, "Mitos" presents costume as far more than attire. It is a connective thread that binds people to their origins, their communities, and their collective histories, while celebrating the enduring beauty and resilience of Greek popular culture.