Hasmik Soghomonyan & Mikayel Torosyan

Leatherworker

©Mikayel & Hasmiks

©Narek Harutyunyan

©Mikayel & Hasmiks

©Narek Harutyunyan

United in craft

Hasmik and Mikayel combine their talents to make leather bags
They are inspired by nature and the working process
They offer workshops from their studio in Dilijan

Hasmik Soghomonyan and Mikayel Torosyan live and work in Dilijan. Here, they founded the MiKashi brand, which offers bespoke leather bags for women and men. The pair have different artistic specialties; Hasmik is mainly experienced in jewellery making and works with silver, while Mikayel is an experienced designer. They combine their talents and ideas to create MiKashi's handmade leather bags. Most of the bags feature typical Armenian decoration depicting flowers and animals. Their inspiration comes from the working process itself, but at the same time, they are both inspired by the endless beauty of the nature around Dilijan. This artistic couple has a small workshop where visitors can view their bags and make their own customised leather accessories.

Interview

©Narek Harutyunyan

©Narek Harutyunyan

Did you learn from a master?: Hasmik: We both graduated from the Art and Design Institute of Yerevan, so we had some skills, but we mostly learned from online resources. Also, over some time, we developed our own techniques. It was a long journey, but eventually, we got there!
How did you choose this craft?: Mikayel: After finishing at the institute, we both worked with various crafts. We were experimenting with all sorts of materials, and in the end, we chose leather and metal. We got experience working with them and then created the MiKashi brand together.
Is your craft influenced by Armenian culture?: Hasmik: Definitely, we get inspired by Armenian culture, and we often use Armenian decoration in our works. We also get inspired by our own works; the working process brings inspiration itself. Mikayel: Also, Dilijan, the city where we live, is an endless source of inspiration.
Do you have a workshop?: Mikayel: We have a small workshop space, and we offer different courses, such as making a leather purse or a bag. Our studio is open to anyone who wants to work with leather. Hasmik: We enjoy working with our guests as we also learn new things from them.

Hasmik Soghomonyan & Mikayel Torosyan are rising stars: they began their career in 2019