IMMA Collaboration with “Friends of the New Waterfront”

The Foundation of the Museum for the Macedonian Struggle and the Modern History of Macedonia (IMMA) was delighted to collaborate with the Association “Friends of the New Waterfront” and to participate as a scientific partner in the event “New Waterfront – New Catwalk 12”, entitled COSMO.POLIS, inspired by Thessaloniki’s multicultural history at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries.

The collaboration began in March 2026, as part of the preparations for the event, with the first of two workshop seminars hosted at IMMA. Their aim was to introduce participants to Thessaloniki in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, highlighting the history, society, and distinctive clothing traditions of the multicultural city.

During the first workshop, participants were welcomed by the Director of IMMA, Ms Athina Pavlidou, and the President of the Association “Friends of the New Waterfront,” Mr Bernard Cuomo. Ms Efthymia Mavridou, a member of the Association’s Board of Directors, presented the historical and social context of the period, shedding light on everyday life, the coexistence of the city’s different ethnic and religious communities, and the cultural interactions that shaped Thessaloniki’s unique identity.

Professor Stavroula Mavrogeni, Vice-Rector of the University of Macedonia and Director of KEMIT, then focused on the history of clothing, presenting dress as an expression of identity, social status, and cultural identity. Through examples from the city’s different communities, she highlighted clothing as a valuable historical and socio-anthropological source, as well as a carrier of memory and cultural heritage. Her presentation offered young designers creative inspiration for approaching tradition through contemporary fashion.

The collaboration continued in May 2026 with the second workshop seminar, which included an exclusive guided tour for the designers of IMMA’s new temporary exhibition, “Thessaloniki in the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries: Social and Cultural Life.” Through a presentation by the exhibition curator, Ms Stavroula Mavrogeni, and with the contribution of IMMA Director Ms Athina Pavlidou, participants had the opportunity to discover authentic documents, photographs, and objects from the period and to explore in greater depth aspects of everyday life, architecture, social organisation, and the clothing traditions of the different communities of cosmopolitan Thessaloniki.

A particularly memorable experience was the opportunity to examine closely and touch authentic historical garments from IMMA’s permanent collection, studying their textures, materials, construction techniques, and details. This direct contact with original objects offered the designers a unique hands-on experience and a valuable source of inspiration for their creative interpretation of the COSMO.POLIS theme, bridging historical knowledge with contemporary design and expression.

We would like to express our warmest thanks to the President of the Association “Friends of the New Waterfront,” Mr Bernard Cuomo, for the trust and shared vision that formed the foundation of this collaboration. We would also like to extend our special thanks to Ms Maria Mavridou, a member of the Association’s Board of Directors, for her excellent coordination and outstanding cooperation in organising the two workshops.

IMMA is very much looking forward to “New Waterfront – New Catwalk 12,” organised by the Municipality of Thessaloniki and the Association “Friends of the New Waterfront” on Sunday, 20 September 2026, at 6:00 p.m. IMMA also looks forward to further developing joint initiatives that highlight the creative connection between history, cultural heritage, and contemporary fashion, promoting Thessaloniki as a city of enduring cultural dialogue and creativity.