Meet Hasmik Makyan, a crochet master from Kapan, the city in Syunik in the southern province of Armenia. She works for the Oolik project and knits for the kids born and living outside Armenia, and she sends a piece of the homeland through her dolls.
Hasmik’s grandmother taught her how to knit when she was six. She started attending a children’s knitting club at eleven, and her mother gave her the first crochet hooks. When her first child was born, Hasmik began to knit clothes for her, and after her second child was born, she began improving her knitting skills. Soon, she got an offer from a clothing store to make dolls for sale, and Hasmik started to expand her collection.
Oolik doll is one of her favorites, inspired by Hovhannes Tumanyan’s famous fairy tale character.
“Through my work, I am trying to give my love and warmth to children. I use high-quality materials so that the dolls retain their appearance for a long time. I chose a semi-cotton thread to be safe for children. I am happy to deliver my dolls to the Armenian kids in the US and hope they truly enjoy this gift from their homeland,” Hasmik said.
She gets to use her crochet hooks when she receives orders. Order for the “Oolik” project has allowed her to share her dolls with the American market. “I hope the demands will grow, allowing me to involve many women and young people in this work. There is a need to create employment opportunities in Kapan to ensure that people have jobs and continue living in the post-war Syunik, especially when security threats continue.
After the Artsakh war, Kapan has a border with Azerbaijan, and security threats have increased. Azerbaijan does not hide its intentions to occupy the historical Armenian province of Syunik. The proof was the attack on various regions of Armenia, including Syunik, in September 2022.
Supporting Syunik is the priority of all Armenians today. Together we should create jobs for people to continue living there. There are many talented people in Syunik who, despite the dangers, continue to live and create.
By buying Hasmik’s dolls, we will help her business to grow. Hasmik ensures that in case of larger orders, she can involve other women, teach them to knit, and provide them with work.
Let’s support our sisters and brothers in this challenging time for the motherland. They have ideas and skills and need support to start businesses and enter large markets.
Buying high-quality and unique dolls for your children contributes to creating jobs in the far regions of Armenia.
