ATHENS: Athens Xclusive Designers Week, the only fashion industry event to survive the seven-year economic crisis in Greece, has celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Athens Fashion Week, running from October 21 to 24, aimed to shake off the recession blues with a rich programme of catwalks and parallel shows, promoting creativity as a force to move forward, organisers told reporters. More than 30 Greek and foreign designers, veterans and newcomers participated in the 20th edition of the event which takes place twice a year under the auspices of the Federation of Greek Retail Stores. They presented their 2017 collections, setting the trends for the season to come and showing that talent and imagination need not be affected by economic difficulties. Approximately 20,000 people from all over Greece and many parts of the world attend the event each time. Among the Greek designers who took part in the event this year was Vassilis Zoulias, who presented classy creations inspired by stars of the 60s. Silk dresses with floral prints, romantic laces and impressive accessories won the applause of the crowd. With an experience of four decades in the Greek fashion industry, Zoulias expressed optimism that Greece would soon exit the gloomy days of the crisis, and local fashion industry would flourish.