Every fairytale needs a storyteller - someone who can dig deep into a heroine’s persona, pull out her essence and recreate it, and in this case, into something wearable. Mistinguett by Missak HajiAvedikian is the bridge between fairytale and modern femininity - a stitched storybook that draws you in from the moment you lay eyes on it.

His collections shake up the classic notions of form and function with a series of grand gestures. The first collection “Fractures In Light”, based on a short film dedicated to Armenian film director Serguei Paradjanov, unleashed his artistic fury. Each piece told a story of a woman’s life, from childhood to adolescence, reflecting Missak’s passion for his Armenian ancestry and the fairytales he had heard as a child.

Missak began his fashion career in 2007 after graduating from the prestigious Esmod, Beirut. After receiving numerous accolades upon completing his studies, he sought inspiration in the fashion capitals of the world - Paris, Milan, New York. His fantastical but always wearable touch, stems from his experiences abroad and the valuable insight he gained.

In 2008 “Gorky, The Artist and his Mother” and “Trchoun” (Armenian for bird) debuted as part of Starch Foundation’s premiere season – a new initiative launched by Rabih Kayrouz, to promote Lebanese emerging artists. The following year, his winter ready to wear collection “The Boy with the Fruit Basket” shown at Residence de Linda Sursock was the combination of refinement and luxury, earning him a cult following among celebrities and fashion editors.

Missak’s deep engagement with art and his Armenian heritage allows him to revisit cultural themes time and again with “Vana Lij” (Lake Van), “Shamiram” – the story of an Assyrian Queen and her forsaken love Ara, and his latest collection “Giostra” – the circus of fashion with all its colorful facets.