KHACHATUR ABOVYAN ARMENIAN STATE PEDAGOGICAL UNIVERSITY

The Armenian State Pedagogical University (ASPU) as a center for fashion — this is what 22 students of the Fashion Design Department of the ASPU Faculty of Art Education presented as graduate works at the ASPU, located at 13 Alek Manukyan Street in Yerevan.

The collections were showcased by the graduating students and guest professional models.

The future fashion designers shared the knowledge that they have gained during their studies, their skills in working with various fabrics, and highlighted their own stylistic preferences. It should be mentioned that everything about Armenia and Armenians was emphasized in this year’s collections as well, combining new and modern solutions with various techniques in fashion design.

Selection and exploration of a topic, sketches, corrections, preparation for the fashion show and the fashion show itself — these are the stages which professional designers also undergo when presenting collections. It is the organizing of a fashion show during which students use their knowledge and skills in practice.

The students’ supervisors were Professors Hripsime Maronyan, Gayane Yeghiazaryan, Anna Davtyan, Sona Sagradova and Aram Nikolyan.

The chairperson of the commission is People’s Artist of the Republic of Armenia Hrant Tadevosyan, who is, by the way, the first alumnus of the Fine Arts Department of the ASPU. Among the members of the commission are President of the Artists’ Union of Armenia Suren Safaryan, the Union’s Secretary Vahagn Galstyan, Dean of the Faculty of Art Education Ara Hakobyan and ASPU Vice-Rector for HR Management and International Cooperation Marianna Harutyunyan.

ASPU Rector Srbuhi Gevorgyan congratulated the graduates and voiced hope that this fashion show will become a major experience and serve as a guarantee in their profession.

“When you were choosing your profession, you certainly dreamed of this day when you could implement your ideas and creative thoughts. You succeeded in giving us pleasure thanks to the unique manifestations of colors, mental states, approaches and identity,” the Rector remarked and wished the graduates success.

Dean of the Faculty of Art Education Ara Hakobyan told old.aspu.am that during the second semester, that is, ahead of the professional fashion show, discussions were often held and proposals were made to show the works that are as close to being professional as possible. Hakobyan says that he is content with the practical skills of the graduates and that the theoretical knowledge will be assessed the day after the fashion show, adding that this is the innovation of this year.

The Dean is of the opinion that these fashion shows are important and effective for both sides. “These fashion shows make the final educational outcome of the University and the profession more tangible. Besides, future fashion designers start their professional career from the university,” Ara Hakobyan remarked and added that the University’s goal is to showcase the best collections of the graduates of various years in the busier areas of the capital, engaging also those who love fashion.

“We have adopted the principle of presenting everything about Armenia and Armenians with the moderns solutions presented in the works, starting from embroidery and ending with ornaments, and this is more than important in our days,” Ara Hakobyan stated and gladly noted that the Fashion Design Department remains in the list of professions that are in demand at the University.