Founding director of Lilit Fashion House, painter/designer Lilit Margaryan will showcase her clothes at an exhibition to be held on April 7^th. On this occasion, Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with Lilit Margaryan.

Hayern Aysor: Lilit, what made you become a painter/designer? Did you inherit the talent?

Lilit Margaryan: I’ve been painting since I was 5. I have attended the Hrachya Gabuzyan Painting Studio. I had always dreamed of becoming a painter. When was in the 10^th grade, I learned about fashion design and decided to become a fashion designer, but there was no specialized university in Yerevan. I asked around and found out that there was a specialized university, the Kosigin Textile Academy in Moscow. I applied. It was very hard because there were 27 applications for one spot. I’m thankful to my mother, who is a a teacher and instilled in me courage and confidence and told me that I could do it and would definitely get accepted. Now, let me get to the second part of your question on whether I inherited my talent, and I must say that factor does exist. My grandfather from my father’s side, Grigor Margaryan, has sculpted the décors on the buildings at Republic Square in Yerevan. My uncle, Eduard Margaryan has worked on those décors. My grandmother from my mother’s side was a famous, professional dressmaker. I have been told that she had many customers. My grandmother would sew beautiful, unique and very tasteful dresses for men and women. The gene was transferred to not only me, but has also been transferred to my 5-year-old daughter. She has been painting since she was 3.5 years old.

Hayern Aysor: Can you recall your first painting or paintings? What was the topic?

L. M.: I can’t remember the first one, but I do remember some paintings. They were fantastic. My mother has kept my paintings from the 5^th, 6^th and 7^th grades. I have painted

Hayern Aysor: When did you hold your first exhibition?

L. M.: I was only seven years old when my teacher Hrachya Gabuzyan helped me open my first, large personal exhibition at the Home of Art Workers. Moscow’s First TV Channel provided coverage of the event. I think the program was called “With the Wings of Friendship”, which presented talented children from different republics. During the exhibition, one of the painters speaking at the podium talked about my work with amazement and admiration, saying that the rooftop and the carpet patterns of a man’s hat were exactly the same and that one had to have at least an academic education to have that kind of an approach…I don’t remember all this…My other told me. That was my first and last exhibition. My teacher felt that that was the right thing to do because he believed that a child could boast and never move forward.

On April 7^th, I will hold an exhibition showcasing my clothes and my daughter’s paintings at Meridian Expo Center. I’ll try to be guided by what my teacher used to say, and that will be my daughter’s first and last exhibition until she grows up and becomes a professional.

Hayern Aysor: Did you immediately start working when you returned to Yerevan after studying in Moscow?

L. M.: No, I didn’t. I was unemployed for two years. I started getting my life back on track slowly after 1993. I took a lot of sketches and started looking for a job. I was introduced to well-known singer Nadezhda Sargsyan, and during our very first meeting, she trusted me and ordered clothes for the performers of “Haier” Ensemble. The ensemble was going to give a concert in Moscow with the title “Black and White”, and they needed to wear black and white clothes. I worked on the sketches and prepared the clothes with dressmakers at home. It was my first job, and it was a success. After that, I created my first collection, made a video and created my second collection. Of course, they were small collections. In 1999, I showcased nearly 80 items, including sportswear, classic style clothing and evening gowns at the Dramatic Theater.

Hayern Aysor: Lilit, could you set aside the most impressive and most memorable exhibition of the clothes that you have designed?

L. M.: The most impressive and the most important exhibition for me was the exhibition held at the Chamber Music Hall in Yerevan in 2000. It was broadcast on FashionTV, and the subtitle read Armenia, Lilit Margaryan. I felt very proud of myself. I felt like I had succeeded since my country’s name was shown and announced on television. I also took pride in the fact that we had met the requirements of that high-class television station. I was the first Armenian participant to have represented Armenia at the Russian “Siluet” international youth competition. Before leaving for Moscow, I passed a pre-selection stage in Tbilisi and won the grand prize, that is, OPT television would broadcast a commercial several times, showing how painters and designers from different republics would be participating in the competition to be held in Moscow, and the word “Armenia” was heard again and again…Words can’t describe how I felt. My models were shown on the title of the show. My collection was entitled “New Armenia”, and the exhibition was held to the sounds of the music by Ara Gevorgyan.

Hayern Aysor: When did Lilit Fashion House open? Who helped you?

L. M.: Before the opening. I had worked for different studios. In 2000, my husband helped me open the fashion house. We are three workers, and we always have clients and orders.

Hayern Aysor: What is the symbol of the April 7 exibition?

L. M.: I am dedicating it to the month-long celebration of women and the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. I must say that the supporters are the RA First Lady and RA Minister of Diaspora Hranush Hakobyan. This exhibition will serve as a tribute and gratitude to the dignified Armenian women who survived the Armenian Genocide, maintain moral values and brought up generations of wonderful people. There are 10 Armenian painters who are my inspiration. Through their works, I present the history of Armenian women. The exhibition starts with the images of Armenian women in Hovnatanyan’s paintings, followed by the paintings of Gevorg Grigoryan, Hakob Hakobyan, Vahram Gafesjian, Surenyants, Arshile Gorky, Aslamazyan, Minas Avetisyan and Sargis Muradyan. After that, I make the transition to showing Armenian women before and after the Armenian Genocide and how they look in peace. I end with Saryan’s paintings and his bright colors. The clothes that Armenian women used to wear in all times and the colors of those clothes portrayed in all paintings say a lot about Armenian women. The exhibition that my daughter, 5-year-old Anna Nazaryan will be opening shows the continuation of Armenian women is within the future generations, and the colors will be brighter in the future. I’ll also be showcasing the paintings by my student, 14-year-old Greta Khachatryan. I have great expectations from that id. Greta has health problems. I have offered to help her until the end of her life. The girl is talented and paints wonderfully, and I’ve decided to help her receive a higher education in the future.

Hayern Aysor: What do you dream about for your job?

L. M.: To travel around the world with my collection, starting today.

Hayern Aysor: There are many diplomas on the wall in your office. Which is the most precious for you?

L. M.: It is the diploma that I received from Vyacheslav Zaytsev for my exhibition at the National Clothes-2000 Expo.

Hayern Aysor: Who are your clients?

L. M.: My clients are celebrities, average citizens, individuals, choirs and dance ensembles, the children representing Armenia at Junior Eurovision, the Little Singers of Armenia and Arevik Ensemble…It’s a great pleasure for me to make clothes for children.

Hayern Aysor: What does the Homeland mean to Lilit Margaryan, who is doing a patriotic deed?

L. M.: As I already said, I want to travel with my collection, but live only in my Homeland. Armenia is my home and the home of all Armenians.

Hayern Aysor: Which of the world famous painter-designers is your most favorite?

L. M.: Coco Chanel. He is a large figure in the sphere, and for me, he’s one of a kind.

Karine Avagyan