Most of us have heard the term Caucasian, but how many of us know anything about Caucasia, the region of the people after whom the term was coined? Located between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, this vast area has hosted a kaleidoscope of cultures and ethnic groups that have both killed and communed for thousands of years.One of the world’s oldest centers of civilization is Armenia, locally known as Hayastan and beautifully penned as Հայաստան. With a population of less than 3 million today, Armenia comprises only a fraction of its ancient boundaries, finding itself land-locked between Turkey, Iran, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.
Armenia has proudly gone down in history as the first nation to adopt Christianity as the official state religion in 301 AD. Over the centuries, the national church—the Armenian Apostolic Church—has developed a rich liturgical and literary tradition, now preserving the separation of church and state.
Over the same centuries, however, Armenia has faced numerous foreign incursions from Empires that include those of the Arabs, the Byzantines, the Seljuk Turks, the Mongols, the Ottomans, the Russians, and finally the Soviets.
Under several periods of domination, the Armenians fell victim to massacres and genocide, accounting for millions of deaths and a massive diaspora of nearly 8 million Armenians who live abroad, compared to the 3 million at home. Finally on August 23 of 1991, Armenia declared independence.
Thirty odd years ago, designer Naira Khachatryan was born into this cradle of ancient civilization. Eventually, Naira made her way to Moscow where she studied at the Academy of Fashion. After graduation, she won assorted awards in Russia and throughout Europe for her designs.
In 2001, Naira ventured to Prato, a renown apparel manufacturing center in Italy. There, she re-wrote the abc’s of knitwear. With one hand on the past and the other on the future, Naira expressively knitted together a symbiotic collection of antiquity and futurism.
Her collections will take you on a journey through Euro-Asiatic cultures and the resilient history of an unconquerable civilization that peered forward in hope from antiquity. In step with the dynamic transformations of modern society, Naira's lines spell out the restless speed at which men and women live today.
Photos Copyright by Naira Khachatryan.
