Shopping in Athens is a real adventure. Every item you buy tells a story. Make yours a sustainable one with some conscious shopping! Here are my tips for ethical and local shopping:
While wandering around Athens, the colourful shops at the Monastiraki flea market and the abundance of shops in the Plaka make it almost impossible not to do some shopping. As I always try to be eco-friendly, I usually avoid the mass-produced products and am always on the lookout for something special, local and handmade.
Best Herbs and Spices to Buy in Athens
I love to use spices from the places I have visited. Every time I sprinkle them on my food, they remind me of my vacation and instantly cheer me up. I use them creatively, as I do not always have time to recreate the original dish that I bought the spices for.
This time I was on the hunt for capers. Usually, I get them from Syros Island. There, they sell bottles of dry capers that are surprisingly soft and delicious. In Athens I was not able to find the same thing; however, I did manage to buy a small jar of very similar buds in brine at the Ergon House market. This little jar of capers will help enrich the salad that I like to have in my lunchbox.
I like Ergon House a lot, as they have small bottles of olive oil, unique snacks and spirits that will easily fit in my suitcase (even in the hand luggage, as they are 100 ml or under). Their wine rack is also well worth a look.
Plaka’s Adrianou Street is also a good place to look for spices and local products. The “Greek Shop” supermarket looks like a very “touristy” shop, but they sell a lot of great-quality, local products too.
Handmade Souvenirs in Athens: Authentic Greek Crafts
I tend to browse a bit even in the big “touristy” shops at the Plaka. Occasionally, I find little treasures in between the shelves of mass-produced products. Last year I found a handmade crochet purse that wasn’t made in a factory but by the elderly lady who helped in the shop part-time. I will cherish not just the purse but our conversation as well. She was delighted that I liked her work.
This year I found a shop with individual and contemporary designs. Their bags were all so colourful and stylish, made from natural materials (cotton, leather, rugs and burlap). Some of them were on sale, so I had to go back and take another look. Unsurprisingly, I ended up buying one; I was drawn to the colours, the size and the quality of the bag. I’m sure I will get a lot of use out of it! It was made in Electra’s workshop. I had to look it up on the internet, and this is what I have found:
“Everyone knows the name Electra from ancient Greece and through the ancient tragedies, but what not many people know is the origin of the name. The name “Electra” means “bright, bright”, comes from ἤλεκτρον, meaning “amber”, and from “lector”, which means “brilliant, bright”. So, the name of our company is not simply the “Workshop of Electra”, but the “Workshop of the Shining Woman”, as this is also our main goal: with our products, to make every woman feel unique and radiant, hence our symbol, the sun!”
The next day, I put my Greek notes in my new bag and danced my way to the metro station in the morning sun.
https://www.instagram.com/elektras_workshop/
Where to Buy High-Quality Greek T-shirts in Athens
As in every major city, one can buy a printed T-shirt at almost every corner in Athens. Instead of the stereotypical ones, I wanted one that is more subtly Greek but still reminds me of the place I got it from. On Adrianou Street – at the Plaka – I found the right place, called Gegone. All their T-shirts are made of good-quality cotton in Greece, and the print stays on even after several washes, whilst the designs are modern and fun.
https://www.instagram.com/o.gegone.gegone/
Korres or Apivita – eco-friendly skincare
There are plenty of cosmetics in Plaka’s shops. Some are great quality from small, family-run businesses, though others are not as good. Simply stating the words “olive oil”, “natural” and “organic” does not necessarily mean that they don’t contain harmful chemicals or are high quality. It’s best to check the ingredients before buying them.
On an island, I tend to browse for the local products, but in Athens, I go for the well-known ones. Korres is a brand based on homoeopathy that I will always choose. Not all their products are 100% chemical-free, but it is clearly stated what is in them, and they are always great quality. I especially like their lip balms (they have very cute designs), their mascaras and their sun and hair care products.
The other company I’ve been a loyal customer to is Apivita. Their hair and face masks are fantastic.
They can both be found in pharmacies (peculiarly enough, in Greece pharmacies are a fantastic place to shop for cosmetics) and in Hondos Centers (like Boots in the UK and DM in Germany).
Greek Sock Brand in Athens: Love Your Socks Company
I am a sock maniac. While my granny collected small decorative spoons from each place she travelled to, I like to buy fun, colourful socks from my travel destinations – preferably cotton and locally produced. As a result, in Athens I opt for the “Love your socks” brand, partly because I know the owner, who is a hard-working lady who makes her products with lots of love and care. The designs are simple but fun, made from great-quality material and last for a long time. My children adore the sport socks, while my husband prefers the darker colours, and I just can’t get enough of the olive design – cliché as it is, there really is something for everyone!
Luckily, I only stayed in Athens for 10 days this time, so my shopping list won’t continue for another page. This is a topic I adore, though, so I will gladly answer any questions or queries!
