StylePortfolios: Mariam Anna Barska

Timeless, modern and tailored with something unexpected in mind,  Mariam Anna Barska is a leading iconic brand of the American fashion with a view and a plan to lead today’s and tomorrow’s generations.

What is your employment status?
MAB: Self Employed / Entrepreneur

What is your official job title?
MAB: Design Director / CEO

Please summarize your professional career in 1 to 3 sentences; what should everyone know about you?
MAB: A Designer that Builds and Creates Successful Brands. Who also, cares about relationships and developing actionable suggestions. I am a driven creative individual capable of successfully managing multiple projects at once while keeping a calm attitude.

Describe what you do?
MAB: Everything!!! From thinking stages to merchandising, direction of the brand, developing, executing, fitting and running bulk to assure an outstanding outcome.

Why did you choose to be a designer?
MAB: Growing up in a house of artists, having a mother as a couturier (made to order apparel). Passion for color, pattern and overall garment construction. I think of fashion as moving art.

What steps did you take to become a designer?
MAB: I attended FIT in NYC while working for fashion companies.

What is the best/most challenging part of your job?
MAB: I love what I do, therefore I enjoy ups and downs of my work and I welcome every challenge!

If you weren’t a designer what would you be?
MAB: I would be in finance. I also love numbers and enjoy the finance world.

How did you get started in design?
MAB: I knew that I would be in the fashion industry most of my life. After emigrating to NYC from Armenia, I attended to FIT to start my dream career.

What do you like about what you do?
MAB: Everything, but what excites me the most is when I see people in my creations.

What’s a common misconception people have about what you do?
MAB: That it’s not a big deal to be a fashion designer and it’s not an appreciated career choice.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
MAB: Owning multiple successful brands

What sparked your interest in design?
MAB: Creating something that can live forever.

How has your work evolved since you began your career?
MAB: I consider myself a very fortunate designer who was able to work in both major cosmopolitan cities, New York and Los Angeles, and had the opportunities to design couture, be a big part of successful runway and own her own clothing brand.

Are there any types of clothing/footwear/accessories that you avoid wearing?
MAB: I do not wear heels over 3″.

What are you fascinated by at the moment and how does it feed into your work?
MAB: Starting a new season with mood/color direction. Seeing first sample rounds and having people around me wearing samples to give me feedback.

What is the biggest lesson that you have learned since you started your career?
MAB: I learn something new and learn a lesson or two all the time. But the most important lesson I learned is that IT’S OK TO BE MYSELF.

What advice would you give to young designers?
MAB: If you love what you do in whole, you will make it.

What would you like to achieve before the end of the year?
MAB: My newly developed brand, être-la to succeed. It was created in the midst of COVID-19 which is dear to my heart.

Are you superstitious or do you have any rules you live by?
MAB: CONFIDENCE will take me far. I live each day with appreciation, gratitude and patience.

What’s your motto?
MAB: I believe in myself!

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