About Lilly’s Papillon
Marilou Prokopiou is a Greek designer and jeweller. She was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, where she currently resides and runs her jewelry atelier: LILLY’S PAPILLON.
Marilou Prokopiou is a Greek designer and jeweller. She was born in Thessaloniki, Greece, where she currently resides and runs her jewelry atelier: LILLY’S PAPILLON.
Marilou studied Graphic Arts at Liverpool John Moores University and took a Master’s Degree in Publishing Production at the London College of Communication. She worked for several years as a Project Art Editor at the Dorling Kindersley Publishing House in the UK but she has been interested in jewellery from a young age. She started by creating small “artless” things from everyday materials such as cards, wire and beads. Later, she attended classes at the Central Saint Μartin’s College of Art in London, and had also the opportunity to study under renowed artists.
As the brand name suggests, Marilou’s main source of inspiration comes from butterflies and nature in all its manifestations.
The butterflies however, are the brand’s most iconic creations, hand-painted in striking colours and detailed symmetrical patterns. The effect is so striking, you are often left with the impression they can flutter their wings.
Insects, twigs and crustaceans take form in either bronze, silver or gold, decorated (or not) with semi-precious stones. All her jewels are unique, be it wall ornaments or objets d’art; each piece is one of a kind, it cannot be replicated, it is designed and created exclusively by herself, because authenticity for her is a way of connecting with the wearer and transmitting them the pleasure she feels in the moment of artistic creation.
Marilou’s creations are exhibited at The Museum of Cycladic Art, the Museum of Greek Folk Art, the B&M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts & Music, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, MOMus (Museum of Modern Art), IANOS bookstores and numerous art galleries across Greece. The entire range of Lilly’s Papillon can also be found for sale online and in select shops in northern Greece, Athens, Spetses, Hydra, Kefalonia, Crete, Patmos, Paros, Lemnos, Mykonos and Paxi islands.
Each jewel is made from start to finish in our own independent atelier in central Thessaloniki. Based in the city’s historic jewellery district we are happy to welcome visitors by appointment to try on our treasures, discuss bespoke commissions and experience a behind the scenes look at where the jewels are created.
Our appointments must be booked in advance between 9am and 5pm. We also welcome Zoom/FaceTime appointments for those who are based too far afield to visit the atelier.
We always aim to have a full selection of our jewels from our current collections available to see and try on – if there is something in particular you’d like to see at your appointment, let us know so we can be sure to accommodate you. Customers are welcome to select their jewels from the collections we have available at the appointment, or are invited to explore bespoke opportunities to commission jewels that are tailored to incorporate particular details they’d like to include. Some of our pieces need as long as 10-12 weeks to create, so please do plan ahead.
All Lilly’s Papillon main collections are handcrafted in Sterling Silver (silver 925) with the option of a 22ct gold-plated finish. Our precious Fine Jewellery range is made in solid 14ct or 18ct white/ yellow gold. We are proud to have a longterm commitment to local manufacturing and ethical practises. We work with long standing partners based in Greece for the casting and plating of our jewellery, and source all stones from trusted and ethical suppliers.
Marilou’s creations are exhibited at The Museum of Cycladic Art, the Museum of Greek Folk Art, the B&M Theocharakis Foundation for the Fine Arts & Music, Stavros Niarchos Foundation, MOMus (Museum of Modern Art), IANOS bookstores and numerous art galleries across Greece. The entire range of Lilly’s Papillon can also be found for sale online and in select shops in northern Greece, Athens, Spetses, Hydra, Kefalonia, Crete, Patmos, Paros, Lemnos, Mykonos and Paxi islands.