Elina Kakourou was planning to join her family's business after pursuing a master's degree in economics in London. But upon returning to her hometown of Laconia, she soon realized she had a different dream—and she needed to follow it. Instead, she opened the Kakuru jewelry boutique, using natural materials from the area to create exceptional, handmade pieces inspired by nature and with heart.

"I draw inspiration from everything around us. It has a lot to do with my own inner need to express myself. Because it never stops and you cannot find it and keep it steady, it motivates me," Kakourou explains.

"Nature plays an important role for me. In Sparta, I lived in a house outside the city, so I had contact with the sky, the mountain, the soil, the plants. Since I grew up in the countryside, these images are always with me."

Kakourou meticulously creates each necklace, bracelet, ring, brooch, and set of earrings with a mastery of both elegance and simplicity, evoking different emotions. "At Kakuru, we use natural materials from Greece," she shares. "In that way, we support local suppliers, and we also create something unique that you cannot find anywhere else."

The Kakuru boutique has become a fixture in its Athens community, creating strong bonds with customers and suppliers alike. "The relationship with the people of the neighborhood is like a family," she says. "We coexist and love each other; we need to be together."

Kakourou's shop aims to be as welcoming as possible for locals, even if they aren't interested in making a purchase. Aside from browsing jewelry, visitors to the shop can admire the local bronze, green marble, and olive wood that infuse the boutique's jewelry with Greek heritage and ancient beauty.

Kakourou has also connected with other small businesses in the area, and she's all about supporting her fellow entrepreneurs. "Small businesses are priceless because they usually involve a small group of people behind them who really do everything to make this business work. They are the seller, the manufacturer, the designer, the marketing director, the PR manager," she says.

Although COVID-19 forced Kakuru's physical shop to close its doors for an extended period, the online store helped the business sustain itself. "Thankfully, the e-shop was operating well," Kakourou says. "It was very surprising and exciting at the same time that customers who used to visit the store kept visiting and supporting us through our e-shop."

Ultimately, Kakourou hopes to keep working with local vendors to help expand her brand even further beyond its Laconia roots.

"Human relationships are something that consume my everyday thoughts, so it is inevitable that these issues affect me in my work, as well. My goal is to grow this business not only with the products I create, but also with the human relationships that are formed through the years."

Shop Kakuru jewelry online, or visit the Athens boutique at 24 Petraki Street near Syntagma Square, to see the current collections and learn more about how you can support this one-of-a-kind small business.

Small neighborhood businesses have been writing their own stories for years. These businesses play an important role in the local economy and add character to each neighborhood with every priceless human relationship that's formed between them and their customers, every day. Read more about our other Greek small business partners Pentelikon Grocery and Paul's Barbershop.