By Hannah Kelley
Florence, Italy, is home to Nina Gasparyan, her husband, and their three children. Inspired by the city around her, as well as nature, modern fashion, and her travels, Gasparyan spends her days stitching and embellishing doll-size outfits by hand.
Gasparyan, owner of Odd Princess, holds master’s degrees in both world literature and graphic design. At age 25, she began her professional career as a photographer and graphic designer, but by 2010, she was looking for a new way to channel her creativity. “For about a year, I was drawing and learning dollmaking techniques,” she said. “My first doll came into the world in 2011. It was a sad princess who took me more than three months to complete. I put a lot of effort into her but still was very surprised when I was offered €700 for her immediately after I posted her pictures on my Facebook page. The interest and support toward my work gave me a new inspiration, and a series of Odd Princesses was born.”
From sculpting to sewing outfits to writing accompanying fairy tales for each doll, Gasparyan was fully immersed in her new work. And her efforts did not go unnoticed. Collectors were quick to purchase her creations on Etsy.
Unfortunately, parts of the dollmaking process can pose health risks, so when Gasparyan became pregnant with her second daughter, she opted to move away from dollmaking. Instead, she started making jewelry and teddy bears, which also proved popular with her ever-growing fan base.
Paving the way for her current creative pursuits, Gasparyan said, “Real success came when one day I decided to make a Blythe-size dress to match a tiny teddy bear. Very fast, my Blythe dresses became popular — the constant demand didn’t leave time for any other projects. I collected over 80 stock Blythes and customized several of them.” During this phase of her journey, she welcomed her third child. For several years thereafter, sewing and knitting for Blythe became her sole occupation.
Her first ball-jointed doll joined her collection in 2017, and she has since amassed approximately 100 dolls. “Getting a new doll is always like falling in love for me. And it’s a strong connection with my creative process. I feel inspired and eager to create something special for a particular doll. I see her dressed, styled in my own way,” Gasparyan said. She added, “I have my favorite face-up and wig-creating artists, so very often, it’s several people’s work you see as a final result in my pictures. I also collaborate with different BJD artists in Europe and Asia, and you can often see their dolls being released in my outfits.”
Unlike generic doll clothes that are mass-produced using readily available fabrics, Odd Princess couture outfits are all individually made from only the finest materials the designer can find. These include high-quality silks from reputable online dealers or Italian boutiques; rare antique French lace; and delicate Chinese silk and Japanese Mokuba ribbons. She said, “All beads and sequins are attached by hand. Each outfit takes from two days to two weeks depending on the size. And each has a lot of decorations, as I just can’t do simple designs — for me, they have a feeling of incompleteness, so casual style is definitely not my cup of tea.” Gasparyan compared the process to putting together a puzzle.
Just like frequently doing puzzles can sharpen a person’s ability to see what pieces can be joined, the same is true when it comes to art forms dealing with colors, patterns, and textures. Gasparyan said her style has improved with experience, but she is still proud of her earlier creations: “I get surprised at myself of how complicated their outfits are, especially taking into consideration that I had zero sewing experience when I started. And the most important thing that I’m totally self-taught in sewing, so when my fans ask me if it’s possible to start sewing without professional skills, I say yes. And to help newbies, I create several e-patterns with step-by-step instructions for my most popular and basic designs.”
Gasparyan genuinely loves what she does, and after 15 years in this line of work, she most enjoys putting the finished outfits on the intended dolls and photographing them. Although she has had the convenience of operating her business out of her residence, she said, “I need to admit that my apartment feels like a fabric store and doll exhibition in the same place, and I also live there with my family. I never thought of having a separate place, since my working process lasts 12 hours a day without weekends and I have to manage being a wife and mom of three at the same time. It’s not easy, but no one complains. I’m very good at cooking, so it compensates the chaos atmosphere we have at home.”
In any profession, it is essential to take personal time to recharge. In Gasparyan’s case, her apartment is located right next to Trinity Bridge. “When I need a break, I just go out to have a cup of coffee and short or long walks in the center and I’m full of energy again,” she said.
New collections and collaborations are constantly in development, and Gasparyan said each new doll is an adventure that provides motivation. However, she stated, “Constant interest and support from my followers and customers are the most motivating aspects, of course.” She receives encouragement from fans around the world, and with her travels now expanding from Europe into Asian countries including Japan, Taiwan, and the Republic of Korea, there are a lot more people for her to meet in person.
“Everything goes on as it should, and I’m happy. Everything I achieved is a result of 15 years of hard nonstop work. All I need is to continue this exciting journey,” Gasparyan said. Next on her to-do list is creating couture for fashion dolls. “I can’t stop on anything or limit myself with only certain dolls. I love changes, experimenting, and finding new inspirations. And I’m satisfied in my profession, as it supports me and my family. I don’t create for money, but I’m happy my work is so popular.”
