The Armenian Experience

Join us for a behind the scenes of a favorite meme page, Lavash Life, and get to know the mastermind behind it.

Tigran Tsitoghdzyan is a New York City-based visual artist. He was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1976. In 1986, by the age of ten, over hundred of Tigran's childhood paintings were chosen by Henrik Iguityan to be displayed in a solo exhibition in Armenia which thereafter traveled to the US, Russia, Japan and Spain...Ten years later he migrated to Europe and then later in 2009 to the US. Since then and from New York, his new series, technic and images are experiencing a phenomenal uprise that comprises both art quality and a bold, intriguing, personal expression with a growing resonance on the international scene.Website: https://ttigran.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigrantsi/ Tigran Tsitoghdzyan is a New York City-based visual artist. He was born in Yerevan, Armenia, in 1976. In 1986, by the age of ten, over hundred of Tigran's childhood paintings were chosen by Henrik Iguityan to be displayed in a solo exhibition in Armenia which thereafter traveled to the US, Russia, Japan and Spain...Ten years later he migrated to Europe and then later in 2009 to the US. Since then and from New York, his new series, technic and images are experiencing a phenomenal uprise that comprises both art quality and a bold, intriguing, personal expression with a growing resonance on the international scene.Website: https://ttigran.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tigrantsi/

From the Founder: Mane Method was created with one purpose in mind: to use ingredients that work for you and not against you. Through many years of experiments, experience, and research, I discovered that Batana oil is the holy grail of hair oils.My hair is an example of what you can achieve with this product. Batana oil reconstructs brittle hair transforming your mane into strong healthy hair you've always dreamed of. I believe we all deserve to be the best version of ourselves, no styling needed. My vision for the company is to bring transparency to haircare, providing only the best of ingredients, for the healthiest results. I believe in quality over quantity. Website: https://manemethod.co/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mane_method/

I had the honour to speak with the Founder of Erebuni Clothing. Erebuni Clothing, is a clothing company founded in Boston, made in Armenia, that is inspired by ancient Armenian carpet and rug designs, intertwined with modern international fashion patterns, trends and vibes. It is the very first clothing line of its kind, as the designs are completely original, packed with hidden historical messages, stories and symbols, while the material and texture is novel to the clothing type. Its unmatched versatility of color patterns and designs is packed with vibrant energy which opens the door for anyone to tailor to their personal style.Website: https://erebuniclothing.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erebuniclothing/

I cannot believe I had the chance to talk to Caroline Mishelle Aghajanian, Senior Video Producer & Host @insider @insiderbeauty. Hangout with us and learn more about her journey and success in a very competitive field. Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinemishelle/Her work on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiOw77MIpPI&feature=youtu.be

Tiffany is an amazing changemaker, an activist for inclusivity and positive change! Also she is hilarious. I am so honored to have had the opportunity to meet her through the social media world and connect with her. I can't wait to visit her and meet in person. Her most famous line that I use in basically every video is"THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO BE ARMENIAN"Follow Tiffany on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffany_told_you_/

I had the honour of chatting with the Founders and one of the designers of Loom Weaving. This was an inspiring conversation on the fashion industry in Armenia, and how we can scale it globally. Checkout their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loom_weaving/

I had the chance to talk with Armineh, the Founder of Therapists for Armenia. We talked about all their efforts to make Armenia accessible and inclusive, and what they have planned for the future. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therapists_for_armenia/Website: https://lnk.bio/rqXl

Hoops4Hayastan was started by Garen Spendjian and Matthew Madoian in May of 2017. With our passion for basketball and our homeland of Armenia we have been blessed to be able to travel the world playing this sport. After a few trips to Armenia it is clear that most kids are not as fortunate as us kids and adults in the states. With basketball being a growing passion of many in Armenia, naturally resources and money are hard to come by. Our goal is to collect donations of all kinds to equip these young men and women with the essentials to practice the sport. At this time, we are taking donations of used (but not broken) basketball shoes, apparel and equipment you have that you wouldn't mind donating to an appreciative child or young adult in Armenia. Thank you for your support and please spread the word to your friends and family! #hoops4hayastanWebsite: https://hoops4hayastan.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hoops4hayastan/

What a discussion with Fred about supporting Armenian businesses. How can we work with each other towards our common goal. Collaboration vs. competition, and more. Follow Fred on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goliath.the.great/https://www.instagram.com/goliath.da.great/

I had the opportunity to chat with Armen Abelyan, the Executive Director of Equality Armenia to learn more about the work they are doing, and how can we get involved .About Equality Armenia: Equality Armenia is dedicated to achieving marriage equality in Armenia. It is our mission to encourage and facilitate a constructive dialogue in Armenian communities about LGBTQ inclusiveness, equal rights and equal protections under law. LGBTQ rights are human rights.COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTWe are an indivisible part of the Armenian identity. In advocating for LGBTQ rights, we are dedicated to bringing an inclusive and progressive voice to the Armenian people and its diverse diaspora by forming strong partnerships, facilitating public discourse and participating in civil engagement. Bringing awareness to LGBTQ rights while fostering an environment for our community to stay engaged with one another is a noble cause – as united Armenia is one where the people are united too. Visit our events page for more information on how you can become an active member.Website: https://equalityarmenia.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/equality_armenia/

I was so lucky to have the opportunity to talk with Kyle from ONEArmenia, and also touch upon his experience with Hike Armenia and Birthright Armenia. ONEArmenia:ONEArmenia is a global community of changemakers aiming to raise the standard of living in Armenia. We collaborate with grassroots organizations to implement innovative projects that accelerate job creation in agriculture, tech, tourism, and made in Armenia products.Website: https://onearmenia.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onearmenia/Hike Armenia: We believe Armenia can be a premier hiking destination. That's why we're developing hiking infrastructure here, and sharing theawesomeness that is Armenia with the world.Our mobile app was created back in 2015 thanks to a crowdfunding campaign organized by ONEArmenia. The goal was two-fold:share the ancient beauty of this country with the world, and support the local economy through ecotourism. Thanks to supportfrom the Hirair and Anna Hovnanian Foundation, today we're a separate operating foundation bringing Armenia's hiking trails up toworld-class standards.Website: https://hikearmenia.org/homeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/hike_armenia/App: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hikearmenia/id1108832208?ls=1&mt=8https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hikearmeniaBirthright Armenia: Birthright Armenia, also known as Depi Hayk, is a volunteer internship enhancement program that also offers travel fellowships to eligible participants to assist in the development of Armenia.Website: https://www.birthrightarmenia.org/en/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/birthrightarm/

My first interview under this initiative was with Arevik from Lemonade Fashion. "About Lemonade FashionWe believe in the power of personalized style, impeccable quality, and exclusive collections. Lemonade Fashion provides you with the foundation and luxury designs to customize your every outfit. Redefine your style with confidence for any occasion.Empowered by made to measure and bespoke assets, it is our privilege to ship you the perfect ensemble. In addition to luxurious styles we provide you with the experience of extraordinary fabriques and textiles.With savvy photo technology, we take your measurements with two photos. Upload a front and side photo of yourself, and let us do the rest. Our designers, manufacturers, and technology comes together to provide you with a profound online shopping experience, by making custom-made and made-to-measure designer outfits accessible anytime and anywhere.Our Designer BrandsWe hand pick the most talented established and emerging designers. They belong to an exclusive club of Lemonade Certified Designers, a symbol of excellent design, impeccable finishing, and environmental consciousness.Our MaterialThe material we use to create your unique outfits, are top of the line, high end material. Strategized by our fashion experts and executive Lemonade Fashion team members, we put together with the creative heads at Lemonade Fashion, we provide you with the most beautiful detailing, high quality apparel, exceeding your expectations. Our exclusive fabrics and intricate detailing are noteworthy and unprecedented.The Shopping ExperienceWe provide you with a simple yet remarkable shopping experience.Select Exclusive Designs: We offer you exclusive collections through our partnerships with high end designers.Customize Your Outfit: Highlight Your Personal Style: change color, choose fabric, shape the designGet Measured: E-Tailored experience. Upload two images and the platform does the rest.Upon your order, our tailors will start sewing your customized outfit. Due to meticulous and exceptional attention to detail, this takes some time. Expect your outfit ready and in your closet within three weeks.PricingWe want fashion to be accessible for everyone. That's why we only add a small mark up to the production cost. Using the same top material to produce high end luxury designs, we disregard all the traditional mark-ups for you to enjoy the fashion you deserve at the best price."Website: https://lemonadefashion.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lemonade.fashion/

I had the honor of speaking with the marketing team at Ararat Box where they shared some behind the scenes of the brand, how it started, and what's next for them. We also did some Q&A with the live audience. Ararat Box is a startup supported and funded by Renderforest, which is one of the largest IT companies based in Armenia. It has over 10 million users worldwide and is one of the world's largest video production platforms. Renderforest is a pure Armenian company and is 281's largest taxpayer in Armenia (data of 2020 Q1-Q2). Our clients include companies like General Electric, Vodafone, Ericsson, Springer, Bose, Sony Music, and much more. 99% of the revenue is generated outside of Armenia, and we do our best to bring as much money as we can to our country. While being a small team of 3 in 2013, Renderforest has grown to a staff of 80 employees in 2020 and has built its headquarters in Yerevan. G2Crowd listed Renderforest as one of the Best Software Companies in the world for the year 2019. We are involved in more activities dedicated to the development of Armenia. You can learn more by visiting armenia.renderforest.com or renderforest.com/aboutWhile creating the Ararat box, they decided to support mostly small businesses of Armenia. Over the first half of 2020, the Ararat Box team traveled across Armenia, shortlisted over 150 small businesses, and tasted over 1000 products. They handpicked every product and guarantee that you will receive a box handpicked with care. Each Ararat Box has around 20 Armenian products made by different suppliers, from which 70% are small businesses. We switch vendors every month, ensuring you receive entirely new products, and this way, we support hundreds of small businesses every year to export their products outside of Armenia. Ararat Box is involved in charities as well. Recently they collected and made over 400 boxes, which were sent to the children of Artsakh whose fathers are currently fighting in the frontline. Website: https://araratbox.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/araratbox/