Huri and Salpi

Artisan Organization: Huri and Salpi

Country: Armenia

"I am Huri. My sister, Salpi, and I were born and raised in Aleppo, Syria. We are twins and the eldest children in our family. We had a happy childhood and our parents did their best to provide us with everything we needed. We were members of the Union Armenian Girls in Aleppo, an organization for the diaspora community in Syria. We were raised with a deep love for our motherland, Armenia, and it was always our dream to return and settle there. Since moving to Armenia in 2015, we have continued our work with the mission of preserving and popularizing our skills for future generations.

"We have been involved in the craft business for over 35 years. Initially, we learned beadwork, cross-stitch, and other skills from our grandmother. We later received training, where we mastered techniques like Gobelin, lace, and French and Italian stitching. We also learned the ancient Armenian techniques of Kilika, Urfa, and Tigranakert. These traditions and skills were passed down to us by our ancestors, and we are committed to preserving them and passing them on to future generations.

"For our creations, we use etamine fabrics, thread, silk, and plywood. One of the notable aspects of our work is the precise replication of ornamental colors. We are meticulous in our work, and we operate independently without any employees or assistants. We hope that one day we will be able to open our own studio where we can showcase and popularize our work worldwide. We also dream of sharing our skills with the younger generation as much as possible. Currently, we offer classes at the Armenian Relief Society and other centers for Syrian Armenians.

"We have experienced the loss of loved ones. Our brother passed away in 2015 after a prolonged illness, and our father passed away in 2000. This taught us the importance of being healthy in body and soul and cherishing our loved ones.

"If we were to describe ourselves, it would be as dedicated family members, trustworthy keepers of our friends' secrets, and modest Armenian women.""