Emin Bolbolian from Wuppertal (the greenest city in Germany), combines the passion of his youth with his Armenian roots in the fashion creations of his brand "SINOIAN". The 31-year-old makes ethnic high-end streetwear which is unique to its kind.
– Four-page article originally published in German magazine "Einfach Bergisch", by Wolfgang Weitzdörfer –
Emin Bolbolian’s fashion lives from its motifs – and they originate from the Armenian cultural circle. Usually these are ornate, slightly psychedelic image details, but often also typography with an Armenian reference. Sometimes only small details on a white textile, then at times large prints spread on the garment. Above all, they are always noticeable. In opposition to the designer himself, who is a quiet person, polite and reserved. Nevertheless, it quickly becomes clear that the 31-year-old from Wuppertal is minded wholeheartedly when it comes to his fashion and his own up-and-coming label "SINOIAN". Bolbolian himself also has Armenian roots and he incorporates that background into his collections in various ways. This is what makes them authentic in their segment: "There are no other high-end pret-à-porter brands that lay the focus on connecting streetwear with Armenian culture and folklore."
He redesigned jeans for classmates
Bolbolian did not graduate in fashion design, but finished his studies in communication design, initially in Wuppertal and later at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany. "However, fashion is something that I was interested in and that inspired me since my early youth," he says. At the age of 16, he created his first own collections and designs. "I used my own clothes which I redesigned and personalized." At the age of 18, he gets his first sewing machine and soon the classmates take notice of his talent and let him redesign their jeans: "Custom made by me" he says, laughing. After graduating in communication design, Bolbolian becomes self-employed - as a graphic and web designer, a job that the 31-year-old still exercises occasionally: "It's fun, and whenever I have a little time left, I accept selected jobs."
In any case, the design topic is part of Bolbolian’s life in all variants. "I also look at architecture, shoes or cars from a design perspective. That's just a part of me." However, he rarely has time: Sometimes the young designer works up to 16 hours a day. His brother, who is a business consultant, advises him on strategic issues. "I finish all the designs and drafts myself and I take care of the purchase of the high-quality fabrics, the packaging design and the further steps of the collection development. Quality is a very important aspect. With my seamstress I then create the prototypes", says Bolbolian. His collections, which are available both for women and men, are produced in Italy, Poland and Portugal, depending on the design. The fabrics are hand-picked from Italy. The textiles are also printed in Italy or in Germany. "It was always important to me that my collections are not unethical cheap productions from Asia. I chose the European companies after a long research process regarding reliability and working conditions."
The Armenian element can be found in all pieces of the collections. And this already begins with the origin of the label name: "Armenian surnames predominantly end on -ian or -yan," says Bolbolian. The name of his label is, however, is a neologism, based on the surname of the great Armenian writer William Saroyan, who has done in his work what Bolbolian is doing with his fashion: the combination of traditional Armenian elements and Western modernity.
Well-known musicians wear his fashion
Numerous allusions to the current Armenian culture are found in the designs. "I have an exclusive contract with the painter Sevada Grigoryan, so I can use parts of his oil paintings for my fashion," says the designer. But also historic Armenian elements taken from the early Armenian Bible, as well as from historical Armenian manuscripts and illuminations with their many floral ornaments, are used by Bolbolian in his work. The 31-year-old is also politically interested. He has closely followed the discussion about the resolution of the German Bundestag concerning the Armenian genocide. In his fashion, however, he does not incorporate politics. "I am separating these things", Bolbolian says.
Currently you can only buy Bolbolian’s fashion exclusively on the internet: "I have an online boutique, and since September 2016 SINOIAN is also available on Showroom.de, Europe's largest platform for independent streetwear designers," says the designer, who however has further plans. "I would like to be represented in boutiques of the fashion metropoles."
And he could succeed: After all great artists such as chansonnier Charles Aznavour or the co-founder of the band System Of A Down, musician OnTronik, are wearing his fashion pieces. And in 2015, the emerging designer has successfully represented Armenia at the first-ever Eurovision Fashion Show "Fashion For Europe" in Vienna. "14 well-known European fashion brands and designers from 14 countries were participating", says Bolbolian. Including Michalsky for Germany, Calzedonia for Italy or Lena Hoschek for Austria. There are truly worse references in order to make a breakthrough in the fashion world.