Anthologist founder Andria Mitsakos shares her favourite spots to shop

An Athens-based collector of slow décor, Andria Mitsakos seeks out the world's best markets and unique designers wherever she travels.

“With an interior designer as a mother, I grew up in a household that was constantly evolving, and that’s the ethos of slow décor to me,” says Andria Mitsakos, the Greek-American founder of interior concept brand Anthologist.

The Athens-based collector now travels all over the world in search of handcrafted and antique items with a story and provenance.

“Cultural preservation is what inspires me to travel; it leads me to the makers, the artisans and the people behind a craft.”

As for the process, she explains: “I usually make a list of markets, and start there. Then I ask various vendors or makers for their top picks.”

Here, she shares her favourite shopping destinations around the world.

Andria Mitsakos in Paros, Greece.

Mexico City, Mexico

On Saturday mornings in Mexico City, I always go to Antiques Centre Plaza del Angel. I shop mostly for antique ceramics. I have these wonderful animals that are ceramic whistles: camels and donkeys. On Sundays, I go to La Lagunilla, which is one of the largest markets in all of Latin America. It’s a hectic, kinetic place and there is one section that is solely antiques.

Paris, France

In Paris, I always start at Marché aux Puces de Paris. While it has become quite commercial over the years, this is your base for educating yourself on the value of goods, and to see a range. My mother and I used to go here super-early in the morning and then go to museums in the afternoon. We’d often say: “We just saw that this morning.” That’s how the education starts a lot of the time with antiques.

Paris flea market Marche Aux Puces.

Paros, Greece

I love that antiques represent an elegant way of reusing and recycling; they are an eco-conscious way of stylishly reusing items that already exist, plus help reduce furniture that goes to landfill. Petros and Lydia, owners of The Antique Store in Paros, Greece, are a delight. They stock beautiful furniture, folk art, pottery, ceramics and textiles.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

PR by Annika Fernando in Colombo carries a range of emerging Sri Lankan designers. Annika also has her own line of clothing, Maus, made of various fabrics. I particularly love her loungewear line made of cottons dyed with Sri Lankan teas. I always go there and stock up on loads of fabulous things for myself. It’s simple, chic, sophisticated and effortless.

PR by Annika Fernando in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

HIGHS AND LOWS

No reservation

Arriving in Stone Town, Zanzibar, with no hotel reservation was an experience I’ll never forget. I found myself wandering the maze-like streets of the old town as evening fell, lugging my suitcase over cobblestones while locals gave me quizzical looks.

Summer loving

In the summer of 2012, I planned on visiting Greece for a long weekend. Three days turned into three months. It was the summer of a lifetime, and my first Greek summer. Six months later, Greece became home.

Originally published as Anthologist founder Andria Mitsakos shares her favourite spots to shop