BasharatyanV is a British brand launched in 2010 by the talented, young fashion designer Veronica Basharatyan, who specializes in creating outstanding, individually tailored women’s clothing using unique, luxurious fabrics.
Each season collections include feminine and elegant pieces with silhouettes from simple cut dresses to oversized shapes and body-con forms with some pieces featuring delicate prints of images and symbols which represent a deeper meaning and the different emotions that a person can experience.
What motivated and inspired you to start your own business?
At the age of 7, I was watching a soap opera called “Mi Segunda Madre”, where the lead actress was a fashion designer. I totally fell in love with the idea of creating beautiful garments for women… that’s when it all started.
Tell us about your business.
We launched BASHARATYAN V in 2010 right after I graduated from the London College of Fashion. Ever since then, we’ve participated in Milan’s Fashion Week, London’s Fashion Week and took part in various trade shows in Paris.
List awards/certifications/accomplishments.
In 2010, I received an award for “Best Young Fashion Designer in Russia”, that’s how I got to show my very first collection during the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week in Russia in September 2011. Showing my collection on the main schedule in Milan and participating in London Paris Week has been two amazing accomplishments for a start up fashion label.
The brand has also achieved considerable press interest among celebrities such as Jessie J, Nicole Scherzinger, Barbra Straisand, Ornella Muti and many more.
Where is your business based?
BASHARATYAN V is based in London. We develop our designs in our studio in Central London and we produce all our collections and bespoke pieces in East London.
What were the first few steps you took to get your business up and running?
I think it was mostly a great desire to actually start my fashion brand that got me going. I took my graduation collection and developed it into a full fashion show and took part in a competition for young upcoming Russia designers. After receiving an award I was invited to take part on schedule in Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Russia.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness of your business and getting new customers?
We have always been really lucky in achieving great press and have been featured in lots of the top titles including Vogue Italia, Elle, Harpers Bazaar UK and Russia, Instyle Russia to name a few.
We’ve also been running pop up shops both in London and in Moscow for the past two years to connect directly with our customers. I would say right now it works better for the brand than our online retail.
What have been your biggest challenges so far?
Getting to the end customer and being able to show our collections each season.
How did you overcome these challenges?
By creating a diffusion line “Style Notes by BAHSRATYAN V” and taking part in numerous pop up shops and finally organizing a small multi-brand shop where our collections are presented alongside other brands.
How do you keep motivated through difficult times?
I love my job. I get inspired by things around me and places I visit. Each collection is inspired by a certain country and tradition. There’s so much amazing stuff in the world, that I show various countries and traditions through my collections to my customers.
How do you distinguish yourself from your competitors?
I believe that each and every designer is different. We all have our own tastes, take on shapes and fabrics. If you have your own strong signature and you follow it through every collection – you are already recognized and distinguished from others. For instance we have our signature – “the ribbon knit” technique – we create our fabric by hand knitting from various ribbons.
What is the best advice you have received recently?
“Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will”.
What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?
It’s not shameful to fail, because only after a failure will you learn, get up and progress.
What are your favorite business tools/resources and why?
I work with business mentors and advisors who help me develop my label.
What is a good article or book you have read recently?
“Mindset” by Carol Dweck.
What are you currently learning about for your business or looking for help with?
I am always looking for new customers and new ways of reaching and connecting with them.
What are your goals for the next few months and how are you striving to achieve them?
We are currently negotiating a place to rent for our first retail shop in Russia, Moscow and hopefully will have our very first BASHARATYAN V mono brand shop by the end of this year.
What social media outlets do you use? List them below.
Instagram @basharatyanv
Facebook @basharatyanv
Twitter @BasharatyanV
Website www.basharatyanv.com
Email vb@basharatyanv.com
Hashtags #basharatyanv