Meet Patil Toutounjian | Founder and Operator of Tatik Streetwear

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patil Toutounjian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patil, how does your business help the community?
I started Tatik Streetwear after living in Armenia for 1.5 years. When I went back to Canada, March of 2020, the intention was to visit for a couple of months and return to Armenia to continue to life I established in our homeland. However, due to COVID19, I found myself “stuck” in Canada. This experience allowed me to reflect on my purpose in life, which is to empower one person each day. In addition to this purpose, I felt the lack of resources that would help me integrate my Armeninennes in my day to day life. Combining both these together, I decided to launch a social enterprise that put Armenian artists from around the world on one platform, produce day to day streetwear with their work. This allowed me to not only empower the artist, tell their stories, and support them through the sales, but provide Armenians around the world to shop for their day to day basics with an Armenian.

The store launched in April of 2020. When the war started on September 27th, over 50 artists donated their work to create a collection where 100% of profits were donated to Armenia and Artsakh. With the power of unity, we were able to donate over $75k CAD, and have a documentation of significant events during this time.

Many of the pieces that were now sold worldwide became conversation starters in non-Armenian communities to tell our story as it happens.

I am very grateful for all the artists and the customers who have come together and created a powerful and united community that works towards a bright future for Armenians everywhere.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Starting an online business during a global pandemic, which was followed by the hardest time for Armenians, definitely took a toll on me. Initially when the business was launched, and when all the logistical challenges were surfacing, I wasn’t sure that I will be able to keep going.

When the war on Artsakh started, and the overwhelming unity that I felt through this platform, I realized, this is no longer my platform to give up, it’s ours. I owe it to the community, the artists, and all the supporters to keep going, and not only survive, but thrive.

Overcoming this challenge and achieving results because of our perseverance, would be the part that I am proud of. Not just of me, but of us. I would not have been able to achieve any of the results we have alone. We are stronger together. And the space the Tatik platform creates for all Artists to express freely, safely, and come together to continue telling our story, is what I believe makes Tatik unique.

Tatik, grandmother in Armenian, is the symbol of warmth, caring, and unconditional love. Tatik’s house is where the entire family comes together to support each other.

Just like Tatik, we bring independent Armenian Artists together in a platform to support their work, and create streetwear with their designs.

Our mission is to create a sustainable platform that integrates story and culture into our daily lives, through the lenses of our artists.

By supporting Tatik, you are supporting Armenian Artists everywhere.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I take this to another level, and I want to show the entire world the best parts of Armenia. I am currently living in Armenia, and creating vlogs to share my experience with 3 videos a week.

I would like this channel to encourage Armenians, and non-Armenians, to visit Armenia and experience it.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4tgXq5u9VNB0m-PiZdnrPA

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to thank our community, Armenians everywhere, each and every single Artist who takes part in this mission, and most of all my family and friends who supported this launch during a very difficult year.

Website: www.tatik.ca

Instagram: @tatik_streetwear

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/collective-tableau/?viewAsMember=true

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TatikStreetwear

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TatikStreetwear

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4tgXq5u9VNB0m-PiZdnrPA