Runway
CreLab Tavush x CreLab Kotayk's collaborative "Septa-Cord" collection is a powerful Armenian initiative that transforms regional craftsmanship into sustainable change. Designed by Natacha Kalfayan and Mane Melikyan, the collection is a spiritual journey through seven stages that blends ancestral wisdom with a contemporary voice.
Updated 09:16 pm EST, November 11, 2025
Published 09:15 pm EST, November 11, 2025
Photo Courtesy: Fashion & Garment Chamber of Armenia
Photographer: Victor Boyko
CreLab Tavush x CreLab Kotayk's collaborative "Septa-Cord" collection is a powerful Armenian initiative that transforms regional craftsmanship into sustainable change. Designed by Natacha Kalfayan and Mane Melikyan, the collection is a spiritual journey through seven stages that blends ancestral wisdom with a contemporary voice.
Updated 09:16 pm EST, November 11, 2025
Published 09:15 pm EST, November 11, 2025
Photo Courtesy: Fashion & Garment Chamber of Armenia
Photographer: Victor Boyko
CreLab Tavush x CreLab Kotayk is an Armenian collaborative initiative and social platform focused on handmade garments, jewelry, and accessories. It is part of the “Labs for Change” project, implemented by Impact Hub Yerevan and the Fashion and Design Chamber of Armenia (FDC). The “Septa-Cord” collection, which explores Armenian heritage and cultural identity through a contemporary voice, was designed and curated by Natacha Kalfayan and Mane Melikyan.
This project is recognized for its creative projects and role in transforming creativity into sustainable change, highlighting regional talent in the Armenian fashion industry. Natacha Kalfayan, a key designer, is also a jewelry designer known for incorporating emotion and heritage into her work.
This is a journey of a spiritual exploration of the past, present, and future through fashion. Rooted in heritage yet expressed with a contemporary voice, the collection unfolds through regal silhouettes, translucent layers, futuristic forms, and rich textiles symbolizing strength, healing, and renewal.
Through seven stages, Septa-Cord unites ancestral wisdom with modern expression, reflecting the timeless continuity of cultural memory.
The collection incorporated bold textiles that symbolize strength and renewal, along with translucent layers. The emphasis of this collection is on “hand-made garments” and regional craftsmanship. The fusion of these deep-seated cultural concepts with contemporary silhouettes and futuristic elements, such as “futuristic gold forms,” creates a dialogue between the past and the future —the essence of the collection’s narrative.
Septa-Cord’s color palette was simple yet very effective, with dashes of bold red striping, whites, and pops of purple. One look was remarkable, with an avant-garde outer vest that was very oversized, paired with a grey inner dress and an opulent red crystal necklace. The model walked down the runway with her arms inside the vest, which only emphasized the draping and bold color scheme. It was worn with long socks that matched the vest. This outfit provided a glimpse into traditional design, but a very fashion-forward cut. Nonetheless, the outfit draped beautifully and was extraordinarily eye-catching.
Another design was a shag cape, which mimicked a traditional jacket —a long-pile fur coat made of goat wool, often with white fur on the outside. This version was oversized and layed with a simple grey body unitard. It made a fabulous impact and looked very chic while referencing Armenian Culture.
More than just a label, the brand is a dynamic social initiative deeply committed to the collective success and empowerment of the regional Armenian artisans it supports. AVESSA eagerly anticipates their next creative iteration.
Recovering from an obsession with Italian-designed menswear, Alfonso decided to take a deeper look into women’s fashion to see how our relationship among clothing, society, and business has changed. Educated as an economist with an MBA, he travels between Chicago, Miami, and Mexico on a search to see what happens next to fashion.
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