Today we’d like to introduce you to Arpi Azizyan.
Hi Arpi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Art and design are so intricately interwoven into the fabric of my life, it’s hard to think about a time when I was not immersed in it. My father was an architect with a sharp eye for design so he noticed my propensity for color and art very early on and enrolled me in art lessons as a child. Meanwhile, my aunt, who was a seamstress, began to teach me how to sew. It started with making clothes for my dolls and culminated in designing and sewing dresses for my mom’s friends by the time I was 14. As we were living in Soviet-era Armenia, I was able to capitalize on the fact that stores were not stocked with an abundance of ready-to-wear clothes, so my services were in demand with acquaintances. While as a teenager I didn’t consciously recognize a void in the market for tailored clothing, I think I always harbored an entrepreneurial spirit that was fueled by a desire to bring beautiful things to fruition. For the next 12 years, I was able to earn a living by developing a steady stream of clients willing to pay for custom-made clothing. Then shortly after immigrating to the U.S. in 1990 with my husband and young daughters, I understood very quickly that I would have to leverage my sewing skills in order to help provide for my family. I began sewing and doing alterations full-time, once again tasked with building a new client base with word of mouth referrals as my only source of advertisement. Finally, after over two decades spent as a seamstress, I transitioned to designing window treatments by accident in 2004 after a client inquired if I could assist her in selecting drapery fabrics and styles. While this was an entirely new sphere for me, I felt compelled to explore it, ultimately bringing me to where I am today.
In reflecting on my personal journey, I feel extremely fortunate for my successes, yet this is tinged with regret at the fact that I was never able to pursue a formal education in art. Although life circumstances prevented me from earning a degree, life has brought me a wealth of knowledge, practical experience and many opportunities to shape raw potential into a career in a field I love.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has been one that is full of twists and turns, potholes and of course scenic views along the way. I think the challenge was mainly at the intersection of motherhood and establishing a career where I had to strike that delicate balance of raising children while simultaneously building a business. I believe that this is a struggle that many women encounter as they seek to navigate their roles as partners, mothers and professionals. While I wanted to build my career, I also knew that it was imperative for me to be the primary caregiver for my children in their formative years. There is always an innate sense of guilt and anxiety around the idea that if we focus on one then it may upset the equilibrium, especially where our children are concerned.
Carving out this niche for myself in the interior design space has been rich in opportunities and obstacles. In a competitive market like LA where there are so many talented designers, earning business has meant having to be a fearless risk taker, engaging in tireless research to stay on trend and being innovative so that I can deliver outstanding results for each project. I’ve been fortunate enough to develop a loyal client base, but it has come from years of fostering connections and cultivating trust. In an age before social media, building a successful new business without having the sophisticated advertising and marketing tools that exist today to generate traction, business and brand awareness in the early stages of inception came with its adversities. However, it is also a testament to the decades-long relationships I have built with my clients who have become like family.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work centers around residential and commercial interior design, installation as well as consultation. With an emphasis in window treatments and furniture upholstery, I specialize in indoor and outdoor drapery, blinds as well as manual and automatic window shades. Over the course of the last 20 plus years, I have completed hundreds of projects of varying scales in both LA and Orange County. From private residences to office buildings and event venues, my designs serve as an integral piece of each space. Regardless of the setting, I believe that each room deserves to be dressed in an aesthetic that complements its unique features and needs. There is something so transformative about walking into a barren space, articulating a new concept for it and then overseeing its progression as your ideas become tangible. I find joy in even the minute details of this process.
I think it’s easy to become entrenched in what is fashionable without really considering if it aligns with and enhances the space we are designing. While I study trends and understand their importance in guiding taste and style, I vehemently oppose the idea of applying them as a cookie cutter solution. My work has to add value to the environment in which it is housed. As such, it requires understanding not only the space but also the person inhabiting it. Ultimately, it’s an exercise in flexibility, trust and collaboration as I work with people to bring our mutual vision to life. I never take for granted the faith that clients extend when they allow me into their homes and businesses, giving me creative license to mold the appearance of their spaces. Building that reciprocal pathway of trust with my clients is what sets me apart in my field. These professional partnerships, which often span across many years and multiple projects, are what I am most proud of.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Creativity is inherently a risk because it involves laying your innermost vision bare for the consumption and judgement of others. In my view, art, design and innovation would be stilted if not propelled forward by the willingness to risk it all in the quest for something better or more beautiful. While it’s comforting to remain safely cocooned in the status quo, our potential for growth and greatness also diminishes when we are in that captive state.
The single most important risk in my professional life occurred when I decided to pivot from dressmaking to interior design after nearly 25 years as a seamstress. Although this shift was not intentional at first, it was serendipitous because I was at a point where I was no longer fulfilled by sewing. I felt as though my growth had been stunted in that arena so I needed to leave my comfort zone behind in order to expand the business, broaden my creative horizons and achieve lasting power in the industry. I essentially torched one business in the hopes that I could build a new one from its ashes. It initially involved losing income, sacrificing a solid client base to a degree and stretching my artistic boundaries. However, 21 years later, I remain steadfast in the belief that it was a risk absolutely worth taking because it positively altered the course of my life and influenced my career trajectory in the most remarkable ways. This one decision to trespass against my own fear of failure helped connect me to people in the interior design industry that were instrumental to my growth and success. Yet, had I remained tethered to my safety net, I would never have had the opportunity to work on incredible projects that satisfy my creative drive on a daily basis.
Pricing:
- Services are custom and prices vary
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/draped_with_amor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drapedwithamor
