Meet Afroditi Michailidi

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Afroditi Michailidi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Afroditi, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

For a long time, I thought “finding purpose” meant chasing one big, singular calling: something unmistakably “meant to be.” For me, that was music. I trained as a classical cellist, performed in orchestras and chamber groups, and later taught music in Greece. Teaching gave me a deep sense of meaning, and for a while, I was sure I’d found what I was meant to do.

I pivoted almost by accident. While waiting for my school placement, I signed up for fashion school with the modest goal of learning to make my own, strange clothes. There were no hobby classes available, only the full professional program. I thought I’d attend for a few weeks, learn as much as I could and then drop out once my placement came through. But it never did: no cello teachers were hired that year. So I stayed.

After graduating, I joined the wave of many young Greeks leaving during the recession, moving to London to further pursue fashion, but I later returned home to Greece to prioritize my mental health and found a new way to work.
Today, I work as a freelancer creating tech packs-a seemingly unfancy but essential job that translates garments into production specs. And I love it!

I like to say I’ve been lucky enough to follow my dream twice. Music taught me focus, patience, and precision: how to translate creativity through detail work: skills I still use daily to bring designs to life.

I didn’t find my purpose in a lightning bolt. I found it in the tension between what drained me and what energized me, between letting go of what didn’t work and embracing what did. I stopped chasing a “big calling.” It wasn’t about choosing one dream over another, but letting them both shape me.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I work as a fashion technician, specializing in tech packs and product development support for independent and emerging brands. My role is all about translating creative ideas into precise, production-ready documentation (things like measurements, construction details, and material specs). It might sound deeply technical (and it is!), but it’s also incredibly creative in its own way. Not to mention satisfying! I help bring garments to life by making sure every element is intentional, clear, and achievable.

What excites me most is being the quiet problem-solver behind the scenes. I’ve always been drawn to detail, structure, and process and my background in classical music has shaped how I approach my work: with focus, precision, and care.

Freelancing has given me the freedom to collaborate with clients all over the world while continuing to live in Greece. Over the years, I’ve built a strong reputation on Upwork, where I’m proud to be a Top Rated Plus freelancer (a distinction awarded to professionals with a consistent track record of excellence on long-term, high-value projects). I primarily work on lounge, sleep, and streetwear, and I especially love supporting emerging designers and start-up brands, those who are just beginning to bridge creativity with manufacturing.

What I’d like people to know is that technical work is not the opposite of creativity. It’s what allows creative ideas to actually become something real.

Right now, I’m in an exciting phase of refining my systems so I can offer more mentoring and guidance, helping small brands feel more confident, supported, and independent. I’m also starting to step out from behind the scenes. After years of thriving quietly in the background, I’m learning to make myself a little more visible so the people who need this kind of support can find it.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

1. Precision and attention to detail
My background in classical music trained me to be detail-oriented and methodical, and that’s been invaluable in fashion tech, where accuracy matters. But precision isn’t just about being correct. It’s also about caring. That mindset is something anyone can build by slowing down, asking questions and staying engaged in the process.

2. Curiosity and a deep love for life-long learning
I came into fashion from a completely different field, so being open and hungry to learn was essential. I’ve found that staying curious about tools, methods, people, and ideas makes the work not just better, but more meaningful. A commitment to continuous learning remains one of my greatest, personal investments.

3. Emotional self-awareness
This one’s not technical, but it’s vital, especially in freelance or creative work. Understanding how I work best (and when I don’t) has helped me build a career that’s sustainable. If something drains your energy, pay attention. If something sparks something in you, make room for it. The earlier you notice those patterns, the easier it becomes to shape a path that truly suits you.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

My parents made everything possible for me, but more importantly, they shaped my mindset in a way that still guides me today. From a young age, they encouraged me to make my own choices, always asking what I wanted, what I liked, and what I needed. And then they supported those choices with everything they had, even to this day.

One of the most impactful things they did, especially during times when I struggled with anxiety or felt pressure to push through no matter what (that familiar “hero complex” we often admire in stories of perseverance), was giving me permission to let go, instead of urging me to endure at all costs. They’ve always said, “If you want to quit, quit. Find what you really want to do, and we’ll support you.”

But those words didn’t make me a quitter. They helped me let go of things that truly didn’t work for me. For example, I quit music at one point, and that was okay because it wasn’t the right path anymore. In many other cases, though, they reminded me that the path I was on was my choice, not something I was forced to follow. Knowing I could turn back anytime gave me clarity and renewed determination to keep going because I wanted to, not because I had to.

Contact Info:

• Instagram:@afroditi_michailidi
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/afroditi-michailidi
• Other: Upwork: https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/afroditimi
  Behance: https://www.behance.net/afroditmichail