Jo Katsaras Vintage Collection - Inspiring

Award-winning costume-and-clothes designer Jo Katsaras has put on an inspiring show of vintage clothes and accessories in a chic and welcoming exhibition space near the Limassol seafront.

As I walked through the front door, she warmly greeted me with a cup of rose tea and showed me around two long racks of clothes from the 1950's, 60's and 70's.

"All the 1950's things went right away during the launch on Saturday, people were having a wonderful time trying them on," says Jo.

All the clothes are very well preserved, and have never been used.

"I discovered them in Johannesburg, and they still had their price tags on - nobody has ever worn them," says Jo.

There are also some accessories designed by Jo herself, including rose brooches made by a community of African women; "so we can help them too," says Jo.

I was looking for some dresses for my jazz performances, and Jo showed me an absolutely beautiful and romantic white dress with silver filigree highlights. The dress she had found inspired me to think about the original jazz singers of the 1940's, and I remembered a picture I had seen of Billie Holiday with a white gardenia in her hair, wearing a white satin gown.

As two more women came into the exhibition and started browsing and trying on clothes, we talked about the importance of being inspired. I ventured the thought that - while it is important to feel financially secure and pay your bills - it is equally important to realise that without the artistic side of life, you can fall into a rut. Jo agreed with me, and as this petite, bright-eyed woman with the calm aura looked around at her brightly-coloured and beautifully-designed vintage clothes, I could see that she truly loves what she is doing.

It was a great pleasure and privilege for me when Jo proposed that she start to dress me for my jazz performances!

There are still a few days left of Jo's exhibition before she flies off to design the clothes for another production. Take the second left after the Catholic Church on the seafront road and look for a small pink arrow showing the way to the H.Art Centre.

The show will be on until Saturday the 5th of February from 9am till 5pm (Monday to Friday) and 10am till 7pm on Saturday the 5th of February.

Contact Jo directly on 96446942 or jo@jokatsaras.com