Mentis Textile Centre [Museum Profile]

 

Where: Athens (6 Polifimou St, Petralona)

In a few words:
The Mentis centre for the preservation of traditional textile techniques includes all the merchandise and equipment of the Mentis fibre manufactory, one of the oldest commercial fibre processing plants and producers of passementerie in Greece.
 

 

Why:
For over one-and-a-half century, the products of Mentis Ltd decorated Greek traditional costumes, theatrical costumes, clerical vestments, military uniforms, as well as the creations of well-known couturiers in Greece and abroad. When the Mentis family closed their business in 2011, the Benaki Museum accepted the generous donation of the Mentis family, in order to create a space that will be a living workshop/museum.

 

 

What you will see:
The centre’s goal is to offer visitors an opportunity to learn how a historical workshop functioned by following every step involved in silk processing and the crafting of masterpieces out of thread, for which the company was renowned.
At the same time, this new space aims to become a centre for the conservation of traditional crafts related to thread/filament processing, weaving and embroidery. Beyond monitoring the living process of production, the Benaki Museum’s educational programme department is collaborating with highly-skilled workers to arrange a programme of classes for adults about these traditional arts.
At the same time, the Benaki Museum shop, in its ongoing efforts to connect old know-how with a contemporary look, invites young artists to be inspired by the products of the Mentis workshop. Their work, objects with a contemporary aesthetic which use traditional materials, will be put on display for sale at the Benaki Museum Pireos 138 Annexe shop.

 

 

Opening hours:
Monday: closed
Tuesday: 10am – 3pm
Wednesday: 10am – 3pm
Thursday: 10am – 3pm
Friday: 10am – 3pm
Saturday: 10am – 3pm
Sunday: closed

The Museum remains closed on the below public holidays:
March 25th, May 1st, August 15th, October 28th, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, Epiphany, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Clean Monday, Holy Spirit Day.

Ticket prices (2017):
Free admission

Directions:
By metro: Take Metro line 3, get off at Keramikos station and walk for 10 mins
By train: Get off at Petralona Station and walk for 10 mins

Official website:
Mentis — Benaki Museum website