Aristos Constantinou, founder of Ariella, graduated from the London College of Fashion in 1965 and worked for Mattli the Couturier in Mayfair before venturing out to start his own business. His father was a master tailor at 45 Carnaby Street, W1, gave him two rooms on the first floor and Aristos quickly converted the front room into a shop and the rear room was his workshop where he designed, cut and made his first garments. His young brother Achilleas, was the salesman and the company's opening stock of 12 dresses were all sold on the first day. Such was the popularity of his designs.

Aristos was a gifted designer whose remarkable talent shone at the heart of the British fashion revolution of the sixties. He soon opened his second shop called Blooshp at 45 Newburgh Street, W1, and shortly after his brother Achilleas graduated and joined him full time as buyers of other retailers were approaching the brothers to buy the original designs. The company was then renamed Ariella in 1971 and continued to open a third shop at 31 Carnaby Street, W1, and then further expansion continued.

The secret of the success was always the originality and excellence of feminine trend-setting designs. His first design was a coat made of ruffia paper which promptly featured on a full page in the Daily Express. By 1985, when Aristos tragically died, the company had 11 retail outlets and over 300 wholesale accounts across the world. His designs still live on today in the Ariella archive collections and are now being re-marketed as part of the current vintage fashion revival.