Greece is in the European Union after all, with its expanded borders, fewer trade restrictions and greater European variety supplanting the older Greek brands or imports. This is the good side. That it all costs more is the bad side. Everything including food and clothing costs more in Greece with the advent of the "euro". The only thing that hasn't gone up is peoples salaries. If you have dollars to spend the poor exchange rate makes it worse, However in August its sales time in Athens and one can often find unique items at prices you'd call "bargain" even by outlet mall standards.
Already some smaller merchants I know have been put out of business by the European chains. One close friend had a ladies boutique
on Pindarou (Pindar) St. in the Kolonaki area of Athens for over ten years and when the Spanish clothing giant Zara, recently opened near by, he lost
so much business he had to close. Fortunately his boutique on Mykonos 'Jony Boy' is doing fine. You can take advantage of this changing retail
environment offering a wider variety of European brands and concentrated in a small area of Athens in an afternoon or less! Made in Greece cotton
knits (Plaka Athens left) prove that Greeks are the original preppies. Will this Greek industry survive the yellow onslaught?
But the European chains aren't what have Greek Merchants in an up-roar. The Chinese have flooded the market with goods all over Europe and also have opened many stores here in Athens. These stores are cheap! I used to work in retail myself and know that these Chinese fashions are only going to improve in styling as time goes on. Imported Chinese textiles are going to put many local textile people out of business and already have caused textile industries to close in Greece. These particular Chinese are mostly copiers of western fashions so far, but quick studies with huge production capacity. Greece flagged ships carry 80% of Chinese goods by the way so expect more
If, as a Greek would, you take advantage of the 4 week sales period every August, in the 'real Greece' section of Athens (i.e. where the tourists don't normally go). You could save hundreds of dollars on beach and resort outfits, sandals, shoes or an Italian power suit by a famous designer. Men too! Nino Cerruiti, Ted Lapidus, Karl Lagerfeld and even more ubiquitous brands like Georgio Armani and his clones like Artisti Italian and many more.
Buying the right items upon arrival here in Athens, Greece will let you pack fewer outfits initially. If you spend wisely you'll enjoy immediate use and your girlfriends back home will be impressed. Because of the sales, there are good deals in both casual and more formal items like shoes and career wear to be found. Ermou Street near Syntagma Sq. and Pattision St near Omonia are also good bets!
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