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Syndesi Collection

@syndesicollection

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σύνδεση ['syn-thĕs-sē]: connection
an ode to our roots | storytelling, art & healing
a tree planted with every purchase

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Hi 👋 it’s been a while, so allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Eleni & I’m the founder of Syndesi. I’m an entrepreneur, Reiki Master, Sound Healer, photographer, & writer. I grew up in LA, but my parents are Greek. I’ve always felt pulled between two worlds & asked the question of where is home? I felt too Greek for Americans & too American for Greeks. I sought home moving around from Paris, London & New York. I now see my perspective as a gift—the immigrant, third-culture story that is shared by many. I’ve realized I don’t have to call one place home. Home is not a destination, but a state of being. A place within me that I always have access to.

Before I started Syndesi, I was on a linear path. I studied at USC & London Business School. I worked in fashion for companies like Ferragamo & Hermès—my absolute dream. I thought when I achieved my goals I would finally be happy. But I wasn’t. I was struggling with depression & anxiety for years & it only got worse. I was seeking validation from the external world to feel worthy. I completely neglected myself in the process. I knew there had to be more to life than this.

The turning point came in 2020. I left my dream job in London to move back home with my family in LA. I started going to therapy. I worked with psychedelic medicine that changed my life & mental health. I was led to Reiki, which opened up so much for me. I started to come home to myself. I started to feel safe to be me. My deeply sensitive, emotional, intuitive self. That it wasn’t a weakness, but a strength. I started to cultivate it. Now, I’m bridging these parts of me together. I don’t have to choose who to be. Just like I don’t have to choose my home. I am the business school grad & I am the creative, intuitive energy healer. I am Greek & I am American. As I continue to share the art that inspires me & grow my business, I will also offer Reiki & sound healing sessions.

I am grateful for my family who sacrificed so much just so I could be here. So I could even have the opportunity to do this work.

All info is on my site. Thank you for being here & supporting me on this journey. I look forward to walking alongside you in yours. by @syndesicollection

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I created Syndesi to write my story. To heal my past & ancestry. To rewrite our story. One that I want to pass on to future generations. To remember where we come from & relate to it with love & connection. My grandmother was my initial inspiration & muse for this project. To keep her legacy alive. I had hoped to bring it to life while she was still here to witness it, but she continues to be a guiding force for me. When she passed almost 4 years ago, I wrote her eulogy & spoke at her funeral. I also did so for my grandfather 10 years ago. There were so many stories & memories of their lives & our family’s history to share that had never been told. It was a beautiful honor to be a part of this rite & transition.

The impact that this storytelling had in just the small circle of my family made me realize how many stories are lost when we don’t tell them. How important it is to pass them down so we remember who we are. To feel connected to our roots. Even when we tell our difficult stories, it gives them the opportunity to be seen & alchemized. Remembering my grandmother’s stories connects me back to love.

And so, I want to spread this wider than my family. I want to tell our stories so we remember who we are, in our humanity & greater souls. To see the beauty in our journeys. So we move forward grounded & connected to ourselves & each other.

As I evolve, Syndesi continues to evolve with me. It is an artistic expression. It is healing. It is community. Every offering here comes back to this intention.

@syndesicollection by @syndesicollection

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Note from our founder |

Wearing my grandfather’s suit jacket in my grandmother’s chair, you can already tell I’m sentimental. I keep heirlooms close. Notes of the past infuse my present. Like a warm hug, they support me. That was the inspiration for starting Syndesi. We may spring up in different places, but our roots are all the same. This is an ode to those roots. It’s my belief that storytelling brings healing and paves a new way forward. It’s a joy to rediscover my roots through the eyes of local artists that I meet and get to share with you. Thanks for coming along this journey with me.

With love,
Eleni by @syndesicollection

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3 years ago

The sparkling, crystal blue water at Tsigkrado Beach in Milos, Greece 🧜‍♀️ by @syndesicollection

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Always in at Syndesi 🤍 by @syndesicollection

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22 days ago

For the things we hold sacred 🕯️🌹

One of our favorite ways to live with lace: draped over a personal altar, creating a soft foundation for the objects and rituals that hold meaning.

Made by hand, rooted in tradition, and made your own at home. by @syndesicollection

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a month ago

How August feels. by @syndesicollection

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2 months ago

15th of August, a national holiday in Greece: the feast day of Mother Mary, commemorating her “falling asleep” and ascension to Heaven.🪽♥️

The Panagia Evangelistria Church on the island of Tinos is said to be a site of miracles. Thousands of people make the pilgrimage here every year, not just on this holiday, to make their prayers to the coined “Lady of Tinos.”

There’s something incredibly special about this place. The first time I stepped through the archway of that entrance, I was overcome with tears. It’s happened to me every time I’ve returned. I feel her presence so deeply here. It’s kept me coming back to Tinos ever since, just to be able to pay a visit to this sacred place.

Throughout my life, both of my grandmothers would gift me icons of Mother Mary to place next to my bed. Unbeknownst to me at the time, I ended up with an altar of all these saints in my childhood bedroom. I can’t help but think of my grandmothers when I think of Mother Mary. It’s this pure, unconditional love that I felt (and still feel) from them, the same feeling I get at this church, and whenever I turn to her for guidance. It just washes over me in a way that I can’t explain. The love of the Divine Mother is expressed in many forms.

Happy 15th of August / Δεκαπενταύγουστος 🤍🌹

Some photos I’ve taken at the church over the years. 🎞️

With love, Eleni by @syndesicollection

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2 months ago

Woven on a traditional loom by master weaver Aristea Xilouris, this tablecloth carries the quiet beauty of Crete’s artisan legacy. Here are some of my favorite ways to style this heirloom piece in modern spaces. 🏹 by @syndesicollection

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The story and inspiration behind our film photography collection by our founder, Eleni. Amongst the artisans she works with, this is her own small offering. Sourcing antique frames, each photo becomes a special and unique piece, made with love. 🤍

Aside from the collection, most of the photos you see at Syndesi — of the pieces, artisans, and places — are taken by her. by @syndesicollection

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2 months ago

8/8/23 🤍 Syndesi turns 3 🎈Thank you to everyone who has supported us in any way, shape, or form. We love you!

Some behind the scenes moments over the years. Starting from DIY photoshoots in my parents’ backyard to get the site up and running, to pop-ups, events, meeting the inspiring artisans I get to work with, sourcing their gorgeous pieces, and so, so much more.

Today, I feel it’s important to come back to that initial why, that spark of excitement of creating. From the heart. I wanted to do things differently. To show that a business can be heart-centered and successful. And I’m still on that journey, but it’s something I wholeheartedly believe in. That you can do things your way. Without compromising on integrity. Making a positive impact. Prioritizing quality over quantity. Respecting the process and time it takes to bring things to fruition. Everything is done with intention.

I go and meet with every artist before I work with them. I learn their stories and craft, see and feel the pieces, and really try to immerse myself in their world. It’s about highlighting them and their work. When I share a new collection, it’s not just the products. It’s doing justice to the artist behind them, and giving them the recognition they deserve, to the best of my ability.

I take all the product and artist photos, write the stories, ship the orders – I’m involved in every step of the process. Each step is a process in itself, and I feel a little rebellious to be honest, to not rush it, and go against the grain of what I’ve been told about how a business should be run. I’m trusting and trying my own way of doing things. And it feels important to not lose sight of this. Being this involved is what keeps it heart-centered for me. I get to be reminded of what I’m doing and why, and put love into every part of it. So, I really hope you do see and feel that.

Special shoutout to my ancestors, family, lineage, and all the people and places I’ve connected with through Syndesi! This is my fuel. The thread woven through everything. My true why ♥️

P.S. we’re running a birthday sale site-wide this weekend to celebrate 🎉

Xo, Eleni by @syndesicollection

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