Bespoke trend gains traction in central Athens

Unlike so many others who left Greece amid the brain drain during the country's 10-year crisis crisis, photographer Yannis (John) Pitsakis and his architect sister Garyfalia came back home after working respectively in London and Rotterdam for several years and decided to start their own business. The siblings are both vegetarians and share a love of cats, dogs, cycling and bags. The latter was to become the cornerstone of their business, 3Quarters.

Yannis and Garyfalia upcycle used materials to make bags and backpacks by hand. In order to imbue their products with a sense of the feel and look of Athens, they use old balcony awnings or scraps purchased from manufacturers which would otherwise end up in the trash.

"Throwing away a regular awning, which is made of polyester, is tantamount to binning around 500 plastic bottles," says Yannis.

Where did the brand's...