Handmade Greek Sandals Made by a Famous Poet

Updates June 2020

It All Began with Georgios Melissinos in 1920

The story of the “Poet Sandal Maker” began when Gheorgios Melissinos opened a small shoe factory in 1920. He started producing handmade Greek sandals. In 1954, he passed away and his son Stavros took over the struggling business. Slowly Athens became a tourist destination and famous people started to come specially to visit Stavros. The genuine handmade Greek sandals became a sought-after item.

Celebs Get Melissinos Handmade Greek Sandals in Athens

Over the years famous names such as Barbara Streisand, Maria Callas, Jeremy Irons, Sophia Loren, Jackie O, and the Beatles have bought their handmade Greek sandals here. You can still see the chairs where the Beatles sat in the store. Greek sandals are a genuine and practical souvenir to bring back from Greece. So why not get yours from this world-renowned store in the heart of historic Athens.

Stavros Milistinos, the Poet

This store is not only famous for its handmade Greek sandals but also for the store’s 3 generations of sandal makers. Stavros served in the Greek army, studied film and electrical engineering. But his first love was literature. Although he took on the family business of sandal-making he never stopped writing. He became a world-renowned poet and has had 10 books published and translated. His most famous work is Rubayat, a poem celebrating wine, which has become a Greek classic. The book is studied in several major universities around the world.

Today’s Greek Sandal Maker – Pantelis Milissinos

Today the handmade Greek sandal business is run by Stavos’ son, Pantelis. Pantelis is a celebrated artist and poet in his own right. Graduate of the Parson School of Design in New York, Pantelis has worked extensively in theatre and the arts. Thankfully this business has managed to survive the test of time.

RECENTLY RELOCATIONS TO: 16 Tzireon St & Athanasiou Diakou – Acropolis – 11742, Athens

Tel: 2103219247

Web site:Milissinos Poet 

New website: Milissinos Sandals

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