I am pleased to introduce to you another Armenian Female Founder: Donara Jaghinyan.
I-AM.AM (Ես Հայ Եմ) is a business directory that aims to create a centralized hub of all Armenian-owned businesses from around the world. A hub that will simplify the search of Armenian businesses by simply searching the desired category, tag, location, business and finding the available listed businesses in the platform.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my parents. From early childhood they were the example of strength , love , unity. My father started working from a very young age and with great work ethic and hard work opened his own men clothing fashion house and became the mentor for one of the biggest Men clothing brands known in Iran “Hacopian”. Unfortunately his factory and workplace was put on fire during the Islamic Revolution in 1978 and after he was able to maintain a small portion of it and open a Clothing boutique. He imported different clothing and fashion accessories from neighboring countries and continued his collection.
Fashion industry struggled heavily after the revolution due to the new Hejab law and regulations but my parents found a way to pivot. I grew up watching my parents teamwork, unity and love. They raised their 4 children by teaching us the strong sense of unity, hard work, saving for future, basic skills of business and importing, customer service…etc Even at the hardest time I remember my mother and I making handmade clothing and evening gowns for the clients. She taught me how to stitch and do fittings.It was so pleasurable to create evening gowns that when I first came to America I participated in Miss Armenian Beauty Pageant, one more time my mom and I united and hand made my Suit and evening gown for the Pageant.I never realized how great their influence was until I graduated from ” Women Entrepreneurship Course” at Cornel University and it became obvious to me that I was raised an entrepreneur from a very young age.
I would also like to give a second shoutout to Tory Burch Foundation for granting me the course at Cornel University and making the entrepreneurship role easier.
Anet Abnous of Anet's Collection publication at Burbank Arts as the spotlight artist of the month of March, interviewed by Burbank Cultural Arts Commissioner Lusine Simonyan.
Lusine Simonyan is the founder of Miray Collections, an online platform that is curating and representing Armenian artists and jewelry makers from around the world.
We first met through a mutual friend who is as passionate about art as we are. Being so involved in art and promoting Armenian art in California, we quickly became business partners and dear friends. Currently, Anet’s Collection’s unique wearable art is represented at Miray Collections website among 45 other talented designers and artists from around the world.
I have been connecting people and networking for as long as I can remember and it comes naturally. The 'least I can do' attitude.
That is how Armenian Female Founder Collective was born and these are the small steps toward a big mission.
I am inviting you to join me on this mission by welcoming Taline Olmessekian as the second artist of the month.
Rolling with the quarantine punches, expanding our business, and meeting new and wonderful individuals on our journey!
Donations, Collaborations, Mother's Day Raffle and Anet's Collection Senior Graduation Giveaways coming your way!
