Craft will feed those with diplomas as well

Aida Santuryan’s idea of continuing Marash embroidery – one of the unique cultural values of historical Kilikia, was born due to circumstances. Aida/ a teacher by pprofession/ tries to earn money through a unique craft passed from generation to generation.

The war had just started in Aleppo, when the family decided to move to Armenia in order to avoid the impeding danger. However, staying in homeland has become a verdict and unstable situation in Aleppo extinguished all hopes of returning. And after all, in Armenia “they have roof”, their daughters are studying, etc.

Aida had worked for 12 years as an educator in Aleppo Educational Secondary School Chemberjyan, but she cannot work here because of not knowing Eastern Armenian well, and has difficulties in communicating with children. But she is not idle. Through the sewing machine provided by the Rec Cross Aida started her small business, then exhibitions came to help, the range of acquaintances enlarged, her neighbors not only got acquainted with her embroidery, but sometimes they even order.

–         In Aleppo in addition to pedagogy I was engaged in embroidery. My parents had immigrated from Marash to Aleppo, my mother learnt it from her mother and grandmother and I inherited from her that wonderful craft. Armenian families in Aleppo used to use decorated tablecloths, napkins, towels, pillows, bedding, but it seems to me that in Armenia it is not widespread. Peculiarities of Marash embroidery are crosses, which Turkish could not privatize like the other types of embroidery/ attlazlama/.

Aida fondly remembers her first tablecloth. Today many of her works admire not only visitors of exhibitions but also her customers. Instead of traditional embroidered tablclothes and other things Aida prefers creating works contributing to development of “Marketing”,  – telephone and shoulder bags, bracelets, necklaces. She needs to expand the variety, as there the trade is small.

-Once I visited Vernisaj in order to see everything there,but there everybody already has their places and they will not provide you a place especially if it is in a good place. So I decided to work from home. Aida orders floss and other items necessary for embroidery from Aleppo and some stores in Yerevan. She is not satisfied with the quality of local threads, but their defect is not seen in the labyrinth of patterns embroidered by professional fingers.

Aida is glad that one of the unique Armenian patterns will continue to develop due to young people. She creates with great pleasure especially for young people. A few days ago she embroidered a beautiful belt for her daughter’s classmate, a phone case for another one, and bracelet. She often sees embroidered customs in sewing workshops, where she would like to work. She is hopeful that Marash embroidery will have greater demand. Today mostly tourists buy her works.

Many Syrian-Armenian women deal with embroidery. Aida met many of them during exhibitions.

Unlike many people in the same situation Aida is pleased with the opportunity to love and work in Armenia.

–         I am glad to be in Armenia. I want to love and work here and if I manage to do it, I will never think about leaving Armenia.