Hello Beauties and Happy Easter to everyone around the world !

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend with your families but more importantly, that the easter bunny was good to you too !

Today was a very exhausting yet significant day for the Ratavosi Team. Why, you ask ? Well, because we finally managed to organise and get our photo shoot under way !

To be honest, our photo-shoot was originally planned for Easter Saturday. But of course, as expected, the bi-polar weather of Sydney ruined it for us, Thus having to postpone and organise the shoot on a different day, a more significant day.

Easter Monday, In Armenian Tradition also lies with another important custom known as Merelots. Merelots is the Armenian day of remembrance for the dead. Unlike other day of the dead traditions, Merelots usually takes place 5 times a year, on the following monday of each of the five major religious holidays. In this case, as we have celebrated Easter, the monday after the feast, being Easter Monday becomes Merelots.

I found this very fitting to our photo shoot and highly symbolic, of not only the collection it self, but of Ratavosi the label.

Often it can confuse people, or insult and anger them as to why my collections are portrayed in a certain “light”. It is not because I am weird, rude or disrespectful, or that I have any sort of issues, It is simply because I have another view on it, and if you really step back and try to understand the message I am trying to communicate, then you too, will grasp the real meaning behind it all.

This is the long-winded explanation –

As most of you may know I am very influenced and inspired by my Grandmother. She was an amazing Seamstress with talent that I will probably never be able to match but can only hope to get as close to that as possible. I grew up with her living with our family, she raised both my brother and I, she was my best friend, my idol, my teacher – and when she left… I guess I can’t really sit here and dig deep into my feelings and tell you what it was like but imagine losing someone like that in your life. Someone whom you see everyday, talk to everyday, sit with at the dinner table, share conversation with, interests with, a bond with – and then one day they are gone… imagine that. I’m sure I don’t have to delve into that.

Rebirth, previously known as Nostalgic Nuances, has become my pride and joy. I changed the name to Rebirth because it was symbolic of finally being able to break free of negativity and bad aura that had been stuck with me since before college. Being born again with Fresh, new, bright light, taking another step into a world, a different world, where there are so many doors to choose from, a place where you are in control. Rebirth is about shaking off every thing, every one that made me doubt myself and listen to their negative (and totally not constructive) feedback and make me think that I’m not capable of doing the things that I thought I was. I am being born again with confidence, I’ve shaken off that doubt, I’ve shaken off the fear and I’ve shaken off the bad aura that came with it all. This chance to showcase my Collection in LA has given me strength. I’ve taken it to the graveyard one more time, and although I could have been with my grandparents today for Merelots, I decided that what I needed to do was to show them what I wish they would be here to see.

All that I have accomplished, that they have missed out on, that I can no longer sit down at the dinner table and tell them, that I can no longer see the excitement and happiness on their face, or how proud they’d be. Because I know they would be.  Touching more on the Collection, Rebirth brings together the dark and the light and the harsh difference between them. This deliberate amalgamation of two very contrasting elements encapsulates the mood and transition from a Dark, deep, Melancholic Character to a lighter, more happier, Free feeling Character that has gained Clarity, and confidence. You see a beautiful Black Dress, a Dress full of details from top to bottom, symbolic of deep and complicated thoughts, but beautiful… still very beautifully Dark. and then you see another version of that character, a different mood, a crisp white piece with light beige embroidery, showing clarity and acceptance. It is also inspired by Victorian fashion and strict tailoring.

As this Collection is based on the aforementioned transition I thought it was very relevant to shoot at a cemetery. I always remember one quote of Chanel, where she mentioned that the Dead are not really dead unless people remember them. Ever since I read that quote I have never forgotten it. By Photographing this collection at the cemetery we remember them, all of them, whether we know them or not, we remember them. We visit them and entertain them, they are watching us, especially my grandparents and they are proud.

I’m not sure if this makes sense or if you stopped reading half way or if you can relate, but if you can relate and you manage to get through it then drop me a line below and tell me what your happiest memory of your deceased was ?

I think I’ll leave it at that,

on the upside – something you have all been waiting for – A few behind the Scenes from our photo-shoot today.

xxxx Much love,

Yours Truly