DESIGNERS HOST FASHION SHOW TO HELP CHURCH
By Yadira Betances, ybetances@eagletribune.com

Eagle Tribune
June 26, 2009 02:09 am

METHUEN – Tears ran down Cinda Derderian’s face as she adjusted
the wedding veil on her daughter Laurie Beth – and she’s not even
getting married.

The younger Derderian, 24, was trying on the dress for a fashion
show tomorrow afternoon to benefit the Armenian Church at Hye Pointe
building fund.

The church was formed in 2002 when Holy Cross in Lawrence and
St. Gregory the Illuminator Church of Haverhill merged. It was the
first time two Armenian churches had joined to form one parish in
the United States. Now, the congregation is building a new church on
Boston Road in Bradford, and raising money for the cause.

"It was breathtaking to see her," Cinda Derderian, of Methuen, said
of her daughter, who was just as happy.

"It’s a privilege to model it just to think she was my age when she
got married," Laurie Beth said.

Members of the Women’s Guild came up with the idea for a fashion show
featuring vintage wedding gowns from 1929, and the 1940s, ’50s and
’60s, to be modeled by young church members.

At the show, a dress from 1906, accented with a strand of pearls, will
be on display, along with the shoes the bride wore on her wedding day.

Api Kazanjian, 82, of Methuen, took her 1929 dress out of storage to
have it in the show.

"I offered my gown to help the church," said Kazanjian, who was married
on Jan. 28, 1951, at Holy Cross Armenian Church in Lawrence. "I’m
quite happy to see someone else wear it. It’s very simple, but that’s
what makes it beautiful."

In addition to wedding gowns, guests will see dresses and hats designed
by parishioners and recent Lasall College graduates, Lisa Jesse and
Farrah Derderian.

Derderian, 22, concentrated on her Armenian roots for her
creations. The dress boasts a shawl with the names of towns written
in Armenian and red circles throughout, representing the number of
people who died in the genocide.

Samantha Sirmaian, 14, of Salem, N.H., will model the Armenian dress.

"I feel proud to wear it because it represents my culture," she said.

Jesse, 23, who graduated summa cum laude, designed a dress honoring
her Portuguese roots. The skirt is blue for the blue-and-green water
of the Azores and the bodice is brown with red sequined lines for
the island’s volcano and lava. On the side is a purple hydrangea,
a popular flower grown in the islands.

Jesse, of Waltham, has been sewing since she was in high school and
remembers making both her junior and senior prom dresses.

"Fashion is not just the clothes you wear," Jesse said. "It’s part
of my life. I’m inspired by everything, the sky, the movies, books
and music."

Farrah Derderian, formerly of Methuen, began designing in high school
when she would make sketches from fashions she saw in magazines. She
gradually moved to doing fashion illustrations on T-shirts, taking
an oversized men’s shirt and turning it into a dress.

Jesse will take antique wear to another level with her line of dresses
harkening to the Victorian era in rich burgundy, accented with pink
and black lace.

Her avant-garde designs also include a two-piece dress made out of
playing cards and poker chips.

Both women will show handmade hats on the runway. The hats are black
and bedecked with feathers, flowers and colorful designs.

"When I think of fashion, I don’t think of an outfit," Derderian
said. "It’s a concept from everything, including style, color and
accessories."

If you go What: Fashion show featuring antique wedding gowns and
designs by Farrah Derderian, formerly of Methuen, and Lisa Jesse
of Waltham.

When: Saturday, 1 to 4 p.m.

Where: Days Hotel, 159 Pelham St.

Admission: $20 per person. Proceeds will benefit the second phase of
the Armenian Church at Hye Pointe building fund.