Syrian-Armenian on his business: Seeing Armenians wearing Turkish clothes, we were offended
Syrian-Armenian Aram offers sweaters, T-shirts and other sportswear with Monte, David of Sassoun and the Armenian Coat of Arms printed on them in his store.
“I’m sure this is one of the most affordable stores in Yerevan,” Aram told Panorama.am presenting his ‘#Sport’ store opened about a year ago.
They import the fabric to Armenia and tailor the clothes in their sewing workshop in Armenia.
Aram is proud to say they’ve created 50 jobs.
“To tell you the simplest thing, at this point about 50 families have money because of a small store, young people and women work here, we’ve created jobs, people can live a normal life, they have an income,” Aram Plkhian says.
Before the war broke in Syria, Aram’s family had a wholesale clothing business, comprising of 6-7 stores. Two years ago, Aram came to Armenia with his sister to get to know the market and plan their further actions. Afterwards their parents joined in.
Aram says he got offended seeing Turkish clothing in Armenia. He planned to manufacture Armenian clothing. In a very visible part of the store there is the note ‘No to Turkish goods’.
“Even in Syria, we were saying ‘no to Turkish goods’. When in Armenia, we got offended watching Armenians praising Turkish clothes. We decided to continue the business we’ve started in Syria,” Aram notes.
Meanwhile there’s no place for the Syrian refugees in the world, the same refugees create and make plans in Armenia. Aram plans to extend the business and export to Russia and Persia.
“We tailor the same clothing here in Yerevan. We design, print and sell our clothes in the store,” says Aram pointing out the address of the store – Koghbatsi 20/3.
There were no difficulties in establishing the business. Everything has been arranged according to the law.
Aram doesn’t even think about returning to Syria. “If I had an intention of going back, I wouldn’t be here until now.”
Aram demonstrated his small business within the framework of ‘New Perspectives for Syrian-Armenians’ exhibition.
President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan attended the exhibition.