FROM MARTAKERT TO SEVAN: NEW COMMENCEMENT

As an adult, I began attending university classes, but my true passion was tailoring. My family members were telling me that I shouldn’t become a tailor, but that was my dream, and I pursued it. I rented a tailor’s shop and started my own work. A perfect start to an ideal life.

I’m from Martakert, the largest city in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), and the city where my beloved tailoring shop was located. Historically, the city holds great significance, as Armenians in Martakert have fought for centuries to defend their right to live there. This is reflected in the etymology of ‘Martakert,’ which translates to ‘forged in battles’ from Armenian.

Back to our happy days, let’s say before 2020, we lived a humble life as Artsakh citizens, but looking back, I realize it wasn’t just normal—it was a life in paradise. The beautiful story ended in 2020. We didn’t even have time to blink an eye and became displaced, forced to leave our beloved land.

The path of displacement was truly hellish. I was pregnant, in a difficult condition, and on top of that, the Azerbaijanis were mocking us on the road, pointing weapons at us, and driving vehicles towards us. But now, from some distance, already holding my one-year-old son in my arms, I realized how much strength and willpower I had to survive that difficult and brutal journey. Now, as a displaced Artsakhian woman whose dream was to become a professional tailor, I have my small business in the heart of one of Armenia’s cities—Sevan.

Sevan is a unique place indeed, as I met many Artsakians here. When Artsakhian people hear their native dialect, they approach and hug one another, even if they don’t know each other. It is a result of longing. This is how I found my employees, and now, after holding training sessions in my small tailoring shop, two more women from Artsakh will be working here. This is truly a source of pride and joy for me, as I am, in some way, helping these people overcome their social issues, because I, too, have faced those same issues.

Together, we are creating a new community—one built on mutual support, love, and the shared experience of overcoming hardship. I believe that, with this sense of unity, we will rise even higher.

It’s interesting how life can change, leaving painful memories while simultaneously pushing you to your limits, allowing you to see that you’re capable of more than you thought before.
I am thrilled that helping hands were there for me, and they bought the equipment I needed to start my business. I sew clothes for everyone, but especially for children and women. I sew unique, beautiful, and most importantly, high-quality items using the latest technology. I can say that my products in Sevan are genuinely distinctive.

Recently, in a very symbolic way, I received an order to sew skirts for kindergarten children in the colors of the Armenian flag—red, blue, and orange. It felt like a sign to me—a reminder not to give up, to hold onto my identity, and to continue loving this world. I also sew clothes with details of Artsakh cultural heritage, such as designs from “dedo-babo”, the renowned statue of Artsakhian grandparents, and Artsakh carpet patterns.

Every piece I create carries the soul of my journey, and I am proud that my work honors the traditions and culture of my homeland. This connection to my roots is what makes my craft so special.
I must say that I look forward to the future. In addition to clothing orders, I will soon try my hand at sewing bags, gaining an understanding of the nuances, and expanding my work into multiple areas. In that case, I can teach tailoring to other women here, provide them with employment, and help them achieve financial stability.

If I am in a position now to help women, then I must do it. Women’s solidarity is a powerful force that enables us to console one another and share our pain and longing with each other. My two students, who will soon become my employees, are also from the Martakert region. They also went through that hellish path and found the strength to continue, despite their age and the fact that they had seen three wars in Artsakh and in the end became displaced. They had the will to learn a new profession and work as a tailor. The willingness and perseverance of my beloved students simply inspire me.

Helping them has already become a mission for me. I’m confident that in the near future, we will have the best tailoring shop, where customers will instantly recognize that the products were made with love, warmth, and gratitude.

This mission is just the beginning, and I am optimistic that, together, we will achieve even greater things. `I do believe that our success is inevitable.
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The “Vulnerable Women Empowerment in Armenia” project is co-funded by the Saint Sarkis Charity Trust and the Association Arménienne d’Aide Sociale and implemented by the Armenian Fund for Sustainable Development.
The Arev Society provides management support to the “Vulnerable Women Empowerment Program”.