Ayda Santourian

"I grew up in Aleppo, where I was raised in a close-knit family that valued education, hard work, and community involvement. My parents, whose ancestors are from Marah, instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility and a love of learning from a young age. In addition to my family, my community also played a significant role in shaping who I am today. As I grew older, I continued to draw on the lessons and values that I learned from my family and community. I was inspired to pursue a career that would allow me to give back to my community, and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to make a difference in the lives of others. Overall, my family and my community have instilled in me the power of will, the force of survival, hope, love, and hard work.<br><br> "After my family and I moved to Armenia from Syria due to the outbreak of war, I began to pursue my childhood hobby of needlework, which I had learned from my grandmother Arika when I was just 12 years old. Previously, I had worked as a kindergarten teacher in Aleppo, but after moving to Armenia, I was unable to find work in the same field. As a result, I decided to develop my hobby and incorporate it into modern items that I could sell.<br><br> "<i>Marashi Kordz</I>, a form of embroidery popular among the Armenians of Marash, a city in Cilician Armenia near the Mediterranean Sea, involves weaving a surface pattern through a lattice framework of two rows. Originally used for decorating various household textiles and furniture, this traditional embroidery technique is now extinct in Marash due to the Armenian Genocide. However, Armenian women throughout the diaspora still practice it to this day. The interlinking crosses create geometric forms that symbolize life and protection, adding depth and meaning to this beautiful and intricate embroidery style.<br><br> "I primarily use cotton and leather materials, which I source from Armenia. Occasionally, I also purchase these materials from Lebanon and Syria. I draw inspiration from Armenian traditional carpet motifs and <i>manrankarchutyun</I> in creating my designs and incorporate these traditional motifs into my work.<br><br> "My goal is to integrate more women and empower them to work. I also aim to serve as a bridge between our ancestors and the younger generation by passing on the art and traditions that have been carried on for centuries in our history. To make our traditional art more appealing to the younger generation, I incorporate them onto modern items like tote bags, t-shirts, jackets, covers, and wallets. I also aim to empower women in my community to start their own businesses and become independent. By providing opportunities for women to learn and develop their skills, I hope to help them create sustainable businesses and contribute to the local economy while being independent."<br><br>