Anthologist began not with a business plan, but with the innate sensibility of its founder, Andria Mitsakos, whose life has always been shaped by objects that carry stories. Raised by an interior-designer mother and surrounded by beauty shaped by hand, she moved naturally through interiors, handbags, accessories, and eventually furniture and decorative arts. Her first best-selling item was not a commercial product at all, but a belt buckle she designed for herself. Soon afterwards, her sculptural brass pieces — hooks, the Demetra goddess doorknob, and other poetic forms — became synonymous with Anthologist. Produced at a foundry in Athens, they carry a warm patina and a certain lived-in magic, the feeling of something cherished for decades. During the pandemic, when hotel clients could no longer travel or source abroad, these pieces became essential accents, defining the brand’s identity as one rooted in Greek craftsmanship and global resonance.
It was, in fact, the pandemic that shaped the path forward for Andria Mitsakos. Her first major hospitality project — designing a Greek restaurant in Dubai for 25hours Hotel Company — was halted unexpectedly, just as she had begun delving deeply into Greek antiques and heritage craft. While the world shut down, she found herself grounded in Greece, renovating a farmhouse on Paros and continuing her hospitality work remotely. What might have become a moment of pause turned into an awakening. She uncovered extraordinary artisans — glassblowers, ceramicists, textile makers — and realised that without active support, many traditional crafts risked fading away. As a travel publicist and lifelong nomad suddenly learning to stay still, she began translating the values that had anchored her career — sustainability, cultural preservation, and a love of meaningful places and people — into a new creative practice.
From this period, Anthologist was born: not as a retail concept, but as a philosophy. Mitsakos’ guiding belief is that cultural preservation is the new sustainability. She does not begin with a product idea; she begins with the person behind it. “I meet the artisan first,” she explains. “I learn what they love to create, and from there, something unique takes form.” The result is a collection shaped by human connection, not trend — treasures rather than objects.
When thinking of a Greek Christmas, Mitsakos immediately names colour, culture, community and tradition. Greece celebrates through warmth — the glow of candlelight, the generosity of shared meals, the brightness of conversation. Her own festive table is a reflection of this spirit. Anthologist’s blown-glass vases take centre stage, catching the light in shifting hues. They sit beside dot-series ceramics from an Athenian workshop and a mix of antiques that deepen the table’s sense of memory. Flowers are always present, bringing fragrance and softness. Each element is intentional, designed to be brought out year after year.
Her approach to gifting echoes the same philosophy. A meaningful gift, she believes, carries intuition and story — something symbolic, personal, often handmade by an artisan she knows intimately. Her family’s tradition of handwritten clues attached to each Christmas present taught her early on that gifting is an act of storytelling.
For the Anthologist x IRMASWORLD Pop-Up at Rosewood Munich, Mitsakos is bringing an entire world of craft and colour. Highlights include the best-selling Tagari bags — upcycled, one-of-a-kind pieces created from vintage textiles — as well as the complete jewellery collection, such as the Chimera series reimagined in deep Murano blue with recycled silk cord and 18-karat gold touches. The Anthologist Ark, a series of hand-stitched animal figures adored by adults and children alike, will also be presented, alongside brass objects, cushion covers and other handmade treasures.
Among the pieces Mitsakos is most excited to share are the hand-blown glass pomegranates, glowing in crimson and gold. In Greek culture, the pomegranate symbolises abundance, good fortune and renewal, traditionally exchanged at New Year to bring happiness and prosperity. Each Anthologist pomegranate is unique in luminosity and colour play, and they make an exceptional hostess gift.
In Greece, gifts are exchanged on St Basil’s Day, 1 January, rather than Christmas — a celebration marked by the Vasilopita cake with its hidden coin of luck. This sense of ceremony extends to Anthologist’s packaging. At the pop-up, each piece will be wrapped in reusable leather sachets designed to create a moment of anticipation. For Mitsakos, presentation is the first gesture — a small ritual that transforms giving into something tender, thoughtful and beautifully memorable.
IRMA’S CHRISTMAS MARKET AT ROSEWOOD MUNICH
Join us for a festive three-day Christmas Market hosted by IRMASWORLD at Rosewood Munich, set in the elegant Salon Neuhaus Preysing on the 2nd floor. From 5 to 7 December 2025, discover a curated world of gifts, craftsmanship, and seasonal inspiration.
This year’s edition features:
Jewelry & Objects by ANTHOLOGIST by Andria Mitsakos
MELTEMI ART by Carolin Ehret
Vintage by LUXURYDEJAVU by Tina Pahl
Tableware Objects by SALON c/o by Verena Holthaus
The JASMIN KHEZRI COLLECTION
We are delighted to be open on Sunday, celebrating the Second Advent with you.
A warm, festive atmosphere awaits — the perfect start to your holiday season.
When:
5 / 6 / 7 December
Daily from 11:00 – 18:00
(Open Sunday, 2nd Advent)
Where:
Rosewood Munich
Salon Neuhaus Preysing, 2nd Floor