We have the same concepts of haut couture and prêt-a-porter for making glasses just like in fashion. Glasses can be very unique and very expensive, for example, the glasses made by French designer Alain Mikli. Alain Mikli’s brand name glasses have been in the market for the past 20 years and have turned into the symbol of expensive and new style glasses. Mikli, who is of Armenian descent, is considered to be the first designer who started to cooperate with famous fashion designers and make collections for all seasons. He designs glasses to go with the clothes of famous modelers Dona Karan, Isey Miaki, Claude Montana and others and believes that each pair of glasses must be unique in its own way; it must not be a duplicate. The last collection of Alain Mikli is called the “9th Element” where all the frames of the glasses have been made from titanium. While working with designer Philip Stark, he has created a totally new, revolutionary design for glass frames. The new glass frames, with the help of biomechanical substances, work with human bones. Thanks to those substances the glasses “get set” on the person’s nose, they are put on and taken off easily and allow one to move easily. In addition, those frames can even turn invisible. Both the optic and sunglasses prepared by Alain Mikli are multifunctional and unique. These days, almost everyone wears glasses; some try to look more attractive. Everyone understands that the most important thing is the design of the glasses. The right type of glasses hides the defects of the face and underlines the good parts. While talking with the person in front of him, it seems as if Alain Mikli is planning out a model of a glasses frame in his mind. After going around Armenia, he has understood that many wear the wrong type of glasses because they don’t pay attention to the design. The best design has to fit in with the person. Alain Mikli doesn’t visit the homeland of his ancestors very often, but he is always ready to help those in need. Founder of the “Parisian coffee” chain of coffees Valerie Gortsunyan-Asatryan says that Alain Mikli is an old friend of his and he is known for being a benefactor. “Alain does not like to talk about himself, but he helps Armenians who are blind. He sends free glasses to those who don’t have the money to pay for them, he provides money for Armenian funds, and has even been the sponsor for the Armenian beauty that participated in the “Miss Europe” contest. Not many people know about his charities in Armenia. Alain is a special type of Armenian, very delicate and helps Armenia in the same way without making much noise.
There are more than ten exclusive “Alain Mikli” boutiques in the world. The last one was opened in Turkey. Yerevan might even have an “Alain Mikli” designed glasses store. Alain Mikli is really an elegant man. When you look at him, you notice the expressive style and high quality of his glasses at first sight.
– Everything is seen better behind the glasses rather than without the glasses. The man wearing glasses can see the beauty of women better. I started to design glasses when I realized that the problem is not my sight, but rather my huge, Armenian nose. I just didn’t fit in with any glasses that I bought. The glasses must be structured in a way that the nose doesn’t hurt; it has to be light and unnoticeable. I know for a fact that someone that has an Armenian nose can do anything in his life and reach success.
– What are you disappointed about in Armenia?
– The fact that Armenia keeps turning the pages of the past and does not move forward.
– Perhaps the reason is that it doesn’t see its future?
– But Armenia has a big future ahead. Armenians must be able to live happily. We have the world’s richest culture. We must be happy about that and share that joy around the world. We mustn’t look at the past, but rather look forward. Last week I was in Istanbul where my store just opened up. Many journalists were asking me why I was opening up a store in Turkey if I am Armenian. I answered that I am very happy to be in Turkey and I want for all Turks to look at the world through the world’s best glasses prepared by Armenians. May the glasses prepared by Armenians help improve the world outlook of Turks. I say that I am Armenian wherever I travel. The Turks also know that I am Armenian and they will soon wear the glasses prepared by yours truly. I think that everyone must work like that so that all doors open for us. God decides what will happen with our nation. We simply have to be more clever than the rest.
– You have always worried about blind people and people with poor eye vision. What made you make the relief of photographer Yan Artus-Bertran?
– That is my other job. I have always appreciated the value of feeling. The blind man has not two, but rather ten eyes. His eyes are his fingers. Blind people are more sensitive and they feel these relieves with their fingers.
– So, people who can see don’t feel anything as they touch the pictures and don’t understand.
– If you don’t feel it, that is normal. That is also possible. You can’t decide on your own to be blind for a couple of seconds. I have traveled much in my life. I have been in Hong Kong, Japan and it was there where I felt the sensitivity of blind people. Blind massagers in Japan massage you in a very unique way because their fingers are very sensitive. It was in Japan where I discovered that blind people have a sixth sense. Tactile touching is not as developed among us. When something is missing in life, nature provides it for us. I had not even thought about creating relief-images. Yan advised me to try it and I agreed. In the beginning, the blind specialists criticized us for doing this project and they printed articles in France about this project.
– What was the reason for the criticism?
– I had paid a lot of attention to the minor details. Usually, authors write books foreseen for blinds and they pay attention to the major elements. For example, they picture the Eiffel Tower by underlining each floor in detail so that the blind person can feel the outline of the tower and know how many floors it has, but they don’t consider the minor details that important. I always place importance on minor details. I know that details make one structure different from the other.
– Are you going to implement other projects for blind people?
– I want to continue the relief project and prepare the touchable versions of the portraits of famous artists. I want to make Louvre’s collection recognizable for blind people so that they can be connected to art. Louver may soon open up a hall especially for blinds. That project will be funded by the French government. Yan Artus-Bertran has taken photos of Armenia and those photos have also been shown in Turkey. My future plans include showing blind Turks Armenian landscapes. I want Turks to see Armenia from above.
– For many, losing eye vision is tragic. It seems as though you are deprived of the most important thing.
– I think that the blind man does not lose anything by being blind; on the contrary, he wins. He feels the passing of time in a different way. Time goes by more slowly for blinds; they get used to a different rhythm and can understand what we can’t. I have met blind people in Yerevan who had come to Yan-Artus-Bertran’s exhibition four-five times and said that they discover something new each time they visit. We tend to waste our time and don’t appreciate the time given to us for living. It appears that we saw everything that we could possibly see, but in reality we have not seen anything. But blind people feel and see the pictures in detail. They must run their fingers a couple of times on the picture in order to understand it. They can feel details that we can’t. It is not a crime to be blind. We commit a crime when we consider that blind people are not normal people. We tend to be unjust. But blind people must be strong so that they can fight against that injustice.