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A FASHIONABLE LOVE STORY
Ottawa Citizen, Canada
June 27 2013
They came from Korea and Armenia and now they are making a life - and
a business - together
It's a Canadian love story with an international twist. Seoyoung Park
of South Korea and Karen Pogosyan, who was born in Armenia and grew up
in Russia, met and fell in love two years ago while studying at
Algonquin College. The pair have just become business partners as well
after opening a stylish boutique in the ByWard Market.
Be uniQ, located on Parent Street, opened five weeks ago and is
garnering lots of buzz for its imported clothing lines from some of
South Korea's top fashion designers. On Wednesday, the couple returned
to the Algonquin campus where they first met for their official launch
party and fashion show hosted by former CTV Ottawa anchor Max Keeping.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and councillor Mathieu Fleury were also on
hand to toast the couple.
Canada was the country of choice for Pogosyan, 22, and Park, 23, who
were eager to start a new life abroad.
"I knew a little about Canada. I knew about hockey, poutine and the
Parliament Buildings," says Pogosyan, who arrived in 2009 from
Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad).
He didn't know anyone in Ottawa but was taken in by a "lovely Jamaican
woman" as part of a homestay program. He enrolled in the hospitality
program at the college, worked as a bellman at the Westin Hotel, a
bartender at the Novotel Hotel, and also at Trends International, a
men's clothing store at Rideau Centre.
"I've loved fashion all my life - it's more what I'm into," says Pogosyan.
Park says her parents recommended she study abroad and in 2008 she
settled in Fredericton, N.B., where her father has family, before
moving to Toronto to study. Her younger brother Tony came to Ottawa
the following year to attend high school and she followed him here.
"I had visited Ottawa before with my brother and I fell in love with
the city," says Park.
"The atmosphere, the downtown area, Parliament Hill and the European
style of the city is what I liked," says Park, who was here studying
English.
She went on to take business marketing at Algonquin, hoping that she
might one day open her own business.
She says her life became complete when she met Pogosyan at the college
through friends. Pogosyan says he made the first move when he saw Park
standing by herself at a social event organized by the college's
International Students Association.
Romantic sparks flew at their first meeting, and both felt it was the
start of a beautiful relationship.
"At that moment when I saw her I was walking around and thought hmmm
... maybe something will work out. Then I met her again another time
when my friend and I were going for dinner and I asked her to come
with us," says Pogosyan.
Park says she was attracted to Pogosyan because they also shared
similar interests, especially connecting over their love of fashion.
The idea to open the boutique came in 2011 after her trip to South
Korea when she brought back to Pogosyan some clothing items. Her
cousin is one of South Korea's top fashion designers.
"He said he's never seen this kind of fashion before, so I thought
maybe Canadian people would like this kind of clothing," she says.
The couple had some savings but both reached out to their parents to
help open the boutique.
"Our parents trusted us and supported us right from the beginning,"
Pogosyan says.
The 800-square-foot shop is filled with diverse styles for women and
men from casual wear to formal attire. About 30 South Korean designers
are represented and prices of the items range from $20 to $129.
"We went to South Korea and we chose all the clothing and met the
designers," says Pogosyan, adding the fashion industry in South Korea
is booming with Asia, Europe and the U.S. being among the top markets
for exports.
They both agree the boutique is something they were meant to do.
"We were nervous before we opened because it was a big step. We don't
have much experience in business, we have experience in fashion but
not in owning a business," says Pogosyan.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/fashion-beauty/fashionable+love+story/8587512/story.html
Ottawa Citizen, Canada
June 27 2013
They came from Korea and Armenia and now they are making a life - and
a business - together
It's a Canadian love story with an international twist. Seoyoung Park
of South Korea and Karen Pogosyan, who was born in Armenia and grew up
in Russia, met and fell in love two years ago while studying at
Algonquin College. The pair have just become business partners as well
after opening a stylish boutique in the ByWard Market.
Be uniQ, located on Parent Street, opened five weeks ago and is
garnering lots of buzz for its imported clothing lines from some of
South Korea's top fashion designers. On Wednesday, the couple returned
to the Algonquin campus where they first met for their official launch
party and fashion show hosted by former CTV Ottawa anchor Max Keeping.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson and councillor Mathieu Fleury were also on
hand to toast the couple.
Canada was the country of choice for Pogosyan, 22, and Park, 23, who
were eager to start a new life abroad.
"I knew a little about Canada. I knew about hockey, poutine and the
Parliament Buildings," says Pogosyan, who arrived in 2009 from
Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad).
He didn't know anyone in Ottawa but was taken in by a "lovely Jamaican
woman" as part of a homestay program. He enrolled in the hospitality
program at the college, worked as a bellman at the Westin Hotel, a
bartender at the Novotel Hotel, and also at Trends International, a
men's clothing store at Rideau Centre.
"I've loved fashion all my life - it's more what I'm into," says Pogosyan.
Park says her parents recommended she study abroad and in 2008 she
settled in Fredericton, N.B., where her father has family, before
moving to Toronto to study. Her younger brother Tony came to Ottawa
the following year to attend high school and she followed him here.
"I had visited Ottawa before with my brother and I fell in love with
the city," says Park.
"The atmosphere, the downtown area, Parliament Hill and the European
style of the city is what I liked," says Park, who was here studying
English.
She went on to take business marketing at Algonquin, hoping that she
might one day open her own business.
She says her life became complete when she met Pogosyan at the college
through friends. Pogosyan says he made the first move when he saw Park
standing by herself at a social event organized by the college's
International Students Association.
Romantic sparks flew at their first meeting, and both felt it was the
start of a beautiful relationship.
"At that moment when I saw her I was walking around and thought hmmm
... maybe something will work out. Then I met her again another time
when my friend and I were going for dinner and I asked her to come
with us," says Pogosyan.
Park says she was attracted to Pogosyan because they also shared
similar interests, especially connecting over their love of fashion.
The idea to open the boutique came in 2011 after her trip to South
Korea when she brought back to Pogosyan some clothing items. Her
cousin is one of South Korea's top fashion designers.
"He said he's never seen this kind of fashion before, so I thought
maybe Canadian people would like this kind of clothing," she says.
The couple had some savings but both reached out to their parents to
help open the boutique.
"Our parents trusted us and supported us right from the beginning,"
Pogosyan says.
The 800-square-foot shop is filled with diverse styles for women and
men from casual wear to formal attire. About 30 South Korean designers
are represented and prices of the items range from $20 to $129.
"We went to South Korea and we chose all the clothing and met the
designers," says Pogosyan, adding the fashion industry in South Korea
is booming with Asia, Europe and the U.S. being among the top markets
for exports.
They both agree the boutique is something they were meant to do.
"We were nervous before we opened because it was a big step. We don't
have much experience in business, we have experience in fashion but
not in owning a business," says Pogosyan.
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/fashion-beauty/fashionable+love+story/8587512/story.html