@_khosrov_
Los Angeles, CA
What is the desired impact or message you aim to convey through your garments?
First and foremost, I try to represent my Armenian culture and background. I think coming from such a small country, where we have experienced mass genocide in 1915, and again in 2022, the importance of putting emphasis on heritage is at the top of my list. After that, I want people to know the quality of what they are seeing and buying into. I have an obsession with perfection and you can see that in the finishing, details, and cuts of my garments. Even if hems are left raw and such, there is a calculated reasoning to it. This is one of the main reasons why I moved my business to Italy—craftsmanship is important. Quite often, my work takes me to various parts of the world where I live and immerse myself, and this always tends to blend into the storyline of each season—be it Florence, Los Angeles, or London—it’s all there.
If you were to collaborate with a musician or band to create a fashion collection, who would it be, and what would your collection include?
This is quite tough, but I’d say Kali Uchis. I’ve had her on repeat for a while now. I love her sound, the way it’s developed through the years, and her pride as a Colombian woman and artist. Seeing as she is in her floral, Spanish, dance era, I’d probably do something that revolves around that. Lots of florals, lots of sex appeal, draping, chiffon, beading, and glitz. It would be fun to dive deeper from a sexier perspective and show my range. I love working with the body, so sculpting around her curves would be a treat as well. She’s quite cinematic, so I think we would create some dramatic looks together.
What is the most peculiar or unexpected source of inspiration you’ve ever had for a design, and how did it influence your creative process?
I’ve yet to expand on peculiarities. There’s a lot of things I’d like to say visually, but I’ve been limited in terms of how many looks I create, the pressure to make things feel a bit more commercial, and finances, as I am self-funded. So, I think the things that people would find unexpected have yet to be seen and shown. This past season is the first one where I’ve been able to come into my own a little more and I’m excited to showcase that moving forward.
If you had to pick one fashion trend from history to make a comeback, which one would it be and why?
I can’t pinpoint a specific trend, but I’d like to see people investing in slow fashion and having things made more. Understandably, this could be pricey, but if you find a local tailor, you’d end up having more worthwhile, well-made, and long-lasting pieces of clothing. I’m all for choices, so I’d rather give the person their choice of mini vs maxi or skinny vs wide leg, etc.
If you could design an outfit that embodies a specific emotion, which emotion would it be and how would you express it through your design?
Grief. There’s something about the way people dress when grieving, especially throughout history—it’s just so chic. Strip it of the reasoning, and you have quite a stunning goth look. I’d probably go somewhere between Morticia Addams and Lydia Deetz. I’d start out quite bodycon, and have the silhouettes getting bigger to engulf the wearer. The weight that comes with grief, depression, and melancholy is an element I’d probably explore. Having garments become physically heavier as the collection would progress.
If you had to choose one unconventional material to work with for an entire collection, what would it be and why?
Wood. I love exploring my sculptural side and it would be such a fun opportunity to work with master sculptures. It’s something that’s been on my mind to be honest. While living in Florence, there were a couple wood carvers nearby and seeing them work was always a treat. But aside from the carving element, you can shave it down and have veneers. It could be super lightweight and pliable. It can also be stained, burned, or varnished to create a number of different textures. There’s so much that can be done.
