About the people
BRAINSHOT S.A.F.E. is an evolving entity that embraces various art disciplines and uses them as tools for social discourse and change.
Sustainability, Art, Fashion, and Education: These elements serve as the foundation upon which BrainShot S.A.F.E. builds its operations and strategies. Each element represents a distinct but interconnected facet of the enterprise, indicating BrainShot S.A.F.E.’s multifaceted approach to achieving its mission.
The term indicates that BrainShot S.A.F.E. brings fresh, novel approaches to tackling social issues. As a social enterprise, BrainShot S.A.F.E. employs business strategies that help improve social, environmental, and financial wellbeing, making it a pioneer in integrating commercial approaches with social objectives.
By operating as BrainShotS.A.F.E. expands beyond the typical boundaries of a fashion brand or art studio. It combines physical and digital arenas where various art forms are expressed and interacted with, creating a dynamic, flexible environment that fosters creativity, discussion, and impact.
It’s
THE TEAM
EliSavet Latsiou.
Elisavet Latsiou is the founder and managing director of BRAINSHOT, a creative social organisation that uses clothing, art, and collective creation as tools for social dialogue, inclusion, and contemporary cultural experience.
She studied International and European Studies at the University of Piraeus, as well as Fashion Design & Styling at the Veloudakis Fashion School. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication, Media, and Cultural Management from Panteion University, with a specialisation in the rhetoric of communication and media. Her academic background shapes an interdisciplinary approach that connects fashion with communication, culture, and social practice.
Her work focuses on exploring the relationship between fashion, social experience, and collective participation. Through artistic and educational actions, workshops, festivals, and multimedia interventions, she develops participatory processes that bring together people with and without disabilities, young creators, and diverse social groups. The designs, patterns, and ideas that emerge from these actions form the foundation of BRAINSHOT’s clothing collections, carrying stories, memory, and shared experience into the garments themselves.
Her approach to fashion combines new design, contemporary aesthetics, and sustainable circular fashion practices, including upcycling, garment transformation, and material reuse. Clothing is not treated merely as an aesthetic object, but as a carrier of social and cultural meaning. A portion of the revenue generated through the collections is reinvested in artistic and educational programmes, with a strong focus on inclusion, accessibility, and empowerment.
Alongside her fashion practice, Elisavet Latsiou is actively involved in the conception, curation, and organisation of multidisciplinary and multimedia cultural actions and exhibitions. She designs and delivers festivals and artistic projects — such as ATHENSHOT — that bring together fashion, contemporary art, education, and social practice, employing diverse media ranging from clothing and visual art to the body, language, and digital environments.
Until 2025, she served as Project Manager of the Nevronas Festival, contributing to its strategic development, production, and communication. During this period, the festival was awarded Platinum and Gold distinctions at the 2024 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award for its practices in inclusion and accessibility, and received a European distinction at the 2025 EASPD Innovation Awards for advancing equal participation and accessibility in the arts.
Her work extends across Greece and internationally through participation in and coordination of European programmes that connect fashion, education, sustainability, and social inclusion. These initiatives focus on empowering creators, enhancing accessibility, and supporting the transition of fashion towards more responsible and inclusive practices, within frameworks such as Erasmus+.
Overall, her work operates at the intersection of fashion, curatorial practice, and social engagement, exploring how creative processes can function as acts of care, dialogue, and collective transformation within contemporary culture.
VICKY SIMITOPOULOU.
Vicky Simitopoulou is a design activist and core member of the BRAINSHOT team, contributing to an ecosystem of creativity, collaboration, and social change. She engages in projects that merge art, design and social justice, deploying storytelling, participatory design workshops, as well as upcycled fashion and urban-art events to build inclusive, expressive and socially engaged futures.
She is a Futures Scenarios & Strategies Designer, with a Diploma in Architectural Engineering from the Democritus University of Thrace and a Master in Design for Emergent Futures (MDEF) from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, working at the intersection of design, sociology, psychology, and neuroscience. She specialises in transdisciplinary, future-oriented strategies designed to support vulnerable populations and foster social innovation. Her career is defined by a dual profile as both a practitioner and researcher. She has a significant international research presence and extensive experience managing EU-funded projects centered on inclusivity. Beyond research, Vicky brings a creative edge to media and event management, working on all levels from leading dissemination and outreach efforts, designing campaigns and visual identities, to managing social media and website content.
She also has an extended portfolio of shortlisted and awarded proposals and projects in different scales, all focused on care, inclusion, gender equality, and adaptive futures.
She has been actively involved in academia and research since 2014, contributing to the broader discourse on urban futures, care, and transdisciplinary design, with her research and design work widely disseminated through international conferences, exhibitions, and academic platforms, where she explored themes of care, mediation, othering, urban resilience, speculative futures, and social inclusion.
In parallel with her academic engagement, Vicky has built extensive experience in EU-funded project development and implementation, focusing on programs addressed to vulnerable populations, mostly individuals with neurodevelopmental and/or intellectual challenges. She has been responsible for drafting proposals, managerial and research work, coordinating with international partners, stakeholders, and funding bodies. She has also led dissemination and outreach efforts by designing campaigns and visual identities, managing social media and website content, preparing newsletters and press releases, organising and presented workshops and public-facing events.
Vicky maintains a strong presence in the creative field as a Multimodal Architect and Transdisciplinary Designer, while contributing long-term to Urban Transcripts as a Social Media Manager and Digital Content Editor. Her experience is further enriched through her involvement with the FabLab and IAAC communities, including her internship at FabLab Barcelona and her active role as an IAAC Alumni Ambassador, reinforcing her engagement with digital fabrication, media, and knowledge-sharing networks.
She is driven by the belief that “the future(s) belong to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
THE brainshot universe
Julia
Boot.
Julia Boot is a freelance illustrator and digital artist based in Athens, working across illustration, graphic design and visual storytelling. Her practice spans editorial illustration, publishing, branding and advertising, collaborating with musicians, magazines, publishers and creative organisations.
She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture, Decorative Arts and Design from the University of West Attica and has additional training in web design and front-end development from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Throughout her career she has worked with design studios and creative agencies in Athens, contributing to graphic design, illustration, poster design, conceptual design and visual communication projects.
Her work is characterised by a strong visual identity, attention to detail and a flexible creative approach that adapts to diverse artistic and communication needs.
At BRAINSHOT, she developed the organisation’s brand identity and visual language, designing the logo and shaping the overall visual communication style used across the organisation’s projects, platforms and cultural initiatives.
Her work explores the intersection of illustration, design and storytelling, aiming to create visual narratives that support artistic expression and contemporary cultural communication.
Sotiria Karasiotou.
Sotiria Karasiotou is a fashion maker, sewing instructor and creative practitioner whose work connects garment making, sustainability and socially engaged creative practices.
She studied Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens, where she completed a master’s degree in Urban Studies, specialising in gender perspectives of the symbolic economy. Following her interest in hands-on creative work, she later pursued professional training in Fashion Design and Pattern Making at AKTO College.
She is a skilled freelance maker of custom garments and theatrical costumes, with extensive expertise in sewing, pattern-making, and construction. She has shared these practical skills as an adult instructor at an Athens fashion design school, bridging the gap between professional craftsmanship and education. Her commitment to social empowerment is further demonstrated through her volunteer work in a specialized sewing lab, where she used textile practices to support and develop new skills for women transitioning after imprisonment.
Within BRAINSHOT’s creative and educational activities, she facilitates workshops focused on sewing, upcycling, and creative textile practices, where she empowers participants to view fashion through the lens of sustainability. Her work seamlessly integrates traditional craft with therapeutic creativity and inclusive learning, using making as a powerful tool for community engagement. By teaching practical skills, she encourages others to explore textile arts as a pathway to both personal empowerment and environmental consciousness.
Chryssanthi Papacharisi.
Chryssanthi Papacharisi is a special educator and project support professional with a background in education, cultural event organisation and communication. She holds a Master’s degree in Special Education from Frederick University of Cyprus and a Bachelor’s degree in Primary Education from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Her professional experience includes teaching in public primary education, providing specialised learning support to students with diverse educational needs, and working in personalised educational guidance and university preparation. Through these roles, she has developed strong skills in communication, student mentoring and inclusive learning strategies.
In parallel with her educational work, she has been actively involved in the organisation of artistic and cultural events in Greece and the United Kingdom, contributing to event planning, promotion, budgeting and creative direction in collaboration with cultural collectives and production teams.
Chryssanthi has also volunteered in educational and social initiatives supporting refugee education and inclusive community activities. Her work reflects a strong commitment to accessibility, inclusive education and cross-cultural collaboration. Her interests include arts and culture, neuroscience and learning, creative event planning and community-driven initiatives.
Antonis Exarhopoulos.
Antonis Exarhopoulos is a 31-year-old artist with high-functioning autism. He completed his primary and secondary education and briefly attended the Technological Educational Institute of Larissa. He pursued studies in Athens in the field of networking and multimedia. Antonis is proficient in the English language.
For 13 years, he has been an avid canoe-kayak athlete, participating in numerous competitions across Greece and achieving many gold medals. He has also participated in three Special Olympics.
He has been involved in capoeira for six years, a sport that combines dance and martial arts. Through capoeira, he exercises both his body and mind, as it requires intense concentration.
Antonis is a member of the Band-O-Kafeneio music group, where he plays the keyboard and sings. Despite lacking formal music education, he is self-taught.
Moreover, he is a skilled artist in 3D papercutting and quilling, having presented his work in two exhibitions for 3D papercutting and three exhibitions for quilling.
Dimitra Kontodima.
Dimitra Kontodima is a member of the BRAINSHOT youth team, where she supports creative and cultural activities focused on community collaboration. Her diverse academic background includes Early Childhood Care and Emergency Medical Response, providing her with a unique foundation in both developmental support and crisis management.
In her professional career, Dimitra has transitioned seamlessly between creative and educational roles. She gained significant experience as a graphic design assistant for a local newspaper, mastering layout and photo editing. She also has a strong background in public primary education, where she specialized in inclusive learning strategies and providing tailored support for students with diverse needs.
Her expertise extends into international event management, having organized artistic and cultural projects in both Greece and the UK. These roles involved managing budgets, promotion, and creative direction. Deeply committed to social equity, she has also volunteered for initiatives supporting refugee education and community accessibility. In her free time, Dimitra stays active through dance and cycling, fueled by a deep interest in neuroscience, the arts, and community-driven initiatives.
Fotini Kontodima.
Foteini Kontodima is a member of the founding team of BRAINSHOT and part of the organisation’s statutory board. She holds a diploma in Administration from the Economics and Administration sector.
Her role focuses on supporting the organisational structure and the collective vision of BRAINSHOT, which brings together art, sustainability, education and social innovation.
Kalliopi Apostolakou.
Kalliopi Apostolakou is a member of the BRAINSHOT youth team and participates as a volunteer in the organisation’s creative and cultural activities.
She is a graduate of the 2nd Vocational High School of Peristeri, specialising in Aesthetics. Her interests focus on beauty, personal care and wellness.
Through her experience in customer service and collaborative work environments, she has developed strong communication skills, attention to detail and the ability to work effectively as part of a team.
At BRAINSHOT, she supports events and creative initiatives, contributing to a dynamic community that encourages youth participation, creativity and collaboration.
THE network
BRAINSHOT operates within a growing ecosystem of cultural organisations, educational institutions, creative professionals and social initiatives across Greece and Europe.
Through collaborations, joint projects, public events and community initiatives, the organisation connects art, sustainable fashion, accessibility and youth participation.
This network brings together cultural spaces, accessibility experts, educational institutions, community organisations and international actors who contribute to the development of inclusive creative initiatives and collaborative projects.
Cultural & Creative Ecosystem.
These cultural spaces and creative platforms host exhibitions, workshops, festivals and public activities, supporting artistic exchange and community engagement.
- Technopolis City of Athens
- Municipal Market of Kypseli
- Cheapart
- SOLACE
Accessibility & Inclusion.
These organisations contribute expertise on accessibility, disability inclusion and inclusive participation, supporting the design of accessible cultural activities and community engagement practices.
- Nevronas
- AccessLab
- WHEN
- HandsUp
Institutions & Public Stakeholders
- Municipality of Athens
- Association of Industries of Thessaly & Central Greece
Youth & Community Organisations
These organisations contribute to youth engagement, community participation and socially driven cultural initiatives.
- We Are Community
- Refugee Week Greece
- PEPSAEE
- Cyprus Organisation of Education Through the Arts (OETA)
European Network
- Confindustria Toscana Servizi (Italy)
- Artifesto (Brussels)
IED – Istituto Europeo di Design (Italy) - ESMOD (France)
Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave – IPCA (Portugal) - Institute of Entrepreneurship Development – iED (Greece)
- Dnipro University of Technology (Ukraine)
- Associação Portuguesa de Startups – APSU (Portugal)
- TMG Tecidos (Portugal)
Verson Vlies & Courcier – VVC (France) - 3D Friends (Latvia)
- Rugi Agency (Lithuania)
- Recycling Performance Factory International Theatre Company (Spain)
