Venue 5: Benaki Museum / Mentis - Antonopoulos ('ΝΕΜΑ') Passementerie

The Benaki Museum / Mentis-Antonopoulos (“NEMA”) Passementerie is located in the Petralona district of Athens and focuses on the traditional production of ribbons, cords, tassels, and fringes. The Mentis company was founded in Nafplio in 1867 and moved to Athens shortly thereafter, where it primarily supplied the royal court and the palace guard. For many decades, it produced special textiles for fashion, theater, furniture, military uniforms, and ecclesiastical vestments.

In 2011, the company closed, and its machinery and tools were donated to the Benaki Museum. The museum reopened the workshop in 2012 and preserves the old machines, materials, archives, and traditional manufacturing techniques.

Today, NEMA is not only a museum but also an active workshop where traditional techniques continue to be practiced and passed on to new generations. In this way, NEMA contributes to preserving an important piece of Greek craft and textile history and combining it with modern creativity.

https://www.benaki.org/index.php?option=com_buildings&view=building&id=21&lang=en