Kastellorizo’s merchant maritime economy saw the establishment and expansion of long distance trade routes which brought wealth and prosperity, subsequently publicly displayed through the lavish fabrics, and gold and silver jewellery the women would wear. As the centuries and decades passed, the availability of these luxuries fluctuated with shifting fortunes and political tides. 

 

Kastellorizo: 100 Years Adorned explored the history and enduring cultural significance of the iconic apparel of Kastellorizian women, for both the island and its diaspora communities, through a selection of clothing and jewellery generously loaned from members of the Kastellorizian community of Melbourne.