Aristos Constantinou – Άριστος Κωνσταντίνου (7 June 1944 – 1 January 1985) was the founder of the Ariella fashion label. The Ariella label came to prominence during the British fashion revolution, and was known for its cocktail, evening, and occasionwear and casino uniforms. Aristos opened a workshop upstairs at 45 Carnaby Street in 1966, and used the label ‘designed by Aristos’. In 1971, he was joined by his brother Achilleas, who runs the company to this day. Together, they expanded the business to Duke Street, Oxford Street, Newburgh Street and more on Carnaby Street. They grew rapidly and began to supply their clothes wholesale to larger retailers such as Jane Norman, DH Evans, and John Lewis. By 1974, they had a headquarters in Marylebone, a showroom in Great Portland Street and nine retail shops including branches in Chicago and Lausanne, Switzerland. They eventually moved to larger headquarters in Wood Green, but the retail side of the business was being overtaken in importance by the wholesale operations. Aristos had his home in

The Bishops Avenue The Bishops Avenue, London N2, connects the north side of Hampstead Heath at Kenwood (Hampstead Lane), Hampstead to East Finchley and lies near or, at the south end, on the boundary between the London Boroughs of Barnet and Haringey. It is co ...

, Hampstead, London, known as Billionaire's Row. Aristos' house in The Bishops Avenue stands in 2.5 acres has seven bedrooms, numerous reception rooms and bathrooms, the grounds included stables and separate apartment quarters for staff.

Life

Constantinou was the son of a Greek Cypriot master tailor, the family emigrated to the UK in the early 1960s. His son Anthony was gaoled in 2016 for sexually assaulting two women, and in June 2023 he was found to have defrauded over £64 million from investors in a massive ponzi scheme. As at June 2025 he was still on the run.

Death

Aristos Constantinou was murdered in the early hours of

New Year's Day In the Gregorian calendar, New Year's Day is the first day of the calendar year, January 1, 1 January. Most solar calendars, such as the Gregorian and Julian calendars, begin the year regularly at or near the December solstice, northern winter ...

1985 at his home in The Bishops Avenue,

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, England, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, located mainly in the London Borough of Camden, with a small part in the London Borough of Barnet. It borders Highgate and Golders Green to the north, Belsiz ...

, London. He was shot several times after returning with his wife Elena from a New Year's party. He was aged 40. The death was reported initially to be the result of a burglary."Burglary theory after wealthy businessman is shot dead." Stewart Tendler, ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...

'', 2 January 1985, p. 3. The account of the death given by Elena has since been challenged by other members of Constantinou's family. Aristos was survived by his wife Elena and three children: Aristos, Nicholas and Anthony.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Constantinou, Aristos 1940s births 1985 deaths 1985 murders in the United Kingdom Businesspeople from the London Borough of Enfield Cypriot emigrants to England English people of Greek Cypriot descent People from Southgate, London People murdered in London Deaths by firearm in London 20th-century English businesspeople 1980s murders in London 1985 in London