Cypriot textile designer Michalis Pantelidis recently led a creative workshop titled “Paint Your Own Scarf”, inviting young children to explore art, imagination, and self-expression through color and textiles.
The workshop took place at the pre-primary school “Gelasti Politia”, where Pantelidis was invited to work with approximately 70 children aged between 3 and 5 years old. The students were divided into three groups, and each group collaborated on painting a large scarf using textile paints and textile markers.
The idea behind the workshop was simple yet powerful: there are no rules in creativity.
Children were encouraged to experiment freely with shapes, colors, and lines, discovering that every mark they make has value and meaning.
“No rules — every line matters.”
For Pantelidis, the experience carries a deeper personal message.
“I want to become the adult I needed when I was a child — someone who encourages creativity, celebrates imagination, and reminds young people that their ideas matter.”
As the children painted together, the scarves slowly transformed into vibrant artworks filled with playful drawings, spontaneous patterns, and joyful energy. More than an artistic activity, the workshop created a space where children could express themselves freely, build confidence, and experience the power of collective creativity.
The initiative reflects Pantelidis’ broader philosophy that beauty exists everywhere, often appearing when people are simply given the freedom to create.
Through activities like “Paint Your Own Scarf,” he hopes to inspire younger generations to trust their imagination and embrace creativity without fear or limitation.
Michalis Pantelidis is a Cypriot textile designer and fashion lecturer at Alexander College in Larnaka.
Working between fashion, art, and cultural storytelling. His practice focuses on silk accessories that translate heritage, memory, and everyday observations into wearable objects.
Founded in 2021, the studio began as a personal exploration of photography and textiles, evolving into a body of work rooted in craftsmanship, materiality, and narrative.
His silk scarves are crafted in Soufli, Greece, a historic centre of silk production.
Working with locally produced silk and small-scale manufacturing, each piece reflects a commitment to craftsmanship, material integrity, and thoughtful making.
According to Pantelidis, his creations are designed as pieces to be worn, kept, and lived with.
Pantelidis is currently planning an exciting collaboration with the New York City-based Greek America Foundation which will bring his children’s workshops to the New York City metropolitan area for a series of workshops designed especially for children of the Greek American diaspora.
Sharing the story of silk, and how it’s made, as well as allowing children to unleash their inner creativity, the experience is design to not only teach children about traditional crafts, like silk production, but also to help them expand their creativity.
If you have a school or church group comprised of children and are interested in scheduling a workshop with Michalis Pantelidis in the Fall of 2026, please email Gregory Pappas by clicking here.
