As I promised to all of you; our group will not only be about receiving notices. I will also put an effort for all of you be able to get to know our designers in other ways; as person, as Human Being. They will be sharing with us their experiences; goods and bads, to help us learn and understand the nature of their businesses. I hope you enjoy this very first Interview with our SL Master Jeweler Izira Kirkorian.
FashTrend Interview - iZa boutique – Oct. 16, 2008
Q. WHAT IS YOUR SL NAME?
R. Izira Kirkorian
Q. WHEN DID YOU START PLAYING SL?
R. I started playing SL Jan 18, 2006 and fell in love with it the first day.
R. I started playing SL Jan 18, 2006 and fell in love with it the first day.
Q. WHERE DO YOU HEAR ABOUT SL FOR FIRST TIME?
R. I was surfing the web and just kind of stumbled onto the website.
R. I was surfing the web and just kind of stumbled onto the website.
Q. WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO COME TO SL?
R. SL appeared to be a very interesting premise… it had wonderful graphics! And I knew that when I learned how to manipulate it correctly it would be the first program I could include my own creations. And if that wasn’t enough, it encouraged you to have your own business!
R. SL appeared to be a very interesting premise… it had wonderful graphics! And I knew that when I learned how to manipulate it correctly it would be the first program I could include my own creations. And if that wasn’t enough, it encouraged you to have your own business!
Q. NOW THAT YOU ARE A BUSINESS PERSON IN THIS WORLD WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR BUSINESS AND HOW YOU DECIDE THAT NAME FOR IT?
R. Actually my business name is iZa boutique, I used my own nick-name because I wanted my students to be able to remember it and find it easily.
R. Actually my business name is iZa boutique, I used my own nick-name because I wanted my students to be able to remember it and find it easily.
Q. DID YOU CAME HERE THINKING OF BECOMING A DESIGNER SINCE THE BEGINNING OR IT HAPPENED LATER DURING YOUR WEEKS AT THE GAME? TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THAT.
R. I did not come here planning to be a designer. When I first got here I was lucky enough to get directed to a wonderful school my very first day. I rarely left this school for the first 4 - 6 weeks! If I did it was usually only to take a class at another school. By the end of two months I had taken in the range of 300 classes on every subject the schools offered and requested to become a teacher and give back to the community what I had received. I was soon approved to teach by LL and I just continued to build... finding I had a great love for Nano-prims!
R. I did not come here planning to be a designer. When I first got here I was lucky enough to get directed to a wonderful school my very first day. I rarely left this school for the first 4 - 6 weeks! If I did it was usually only to take a class at another school. By the end of two months I had taken in the range of 300 classes on every subject the schools offered and requested to become a teacher and give back to the community what I had received. I was soon approved to teach by LL and I just continued to build... finding I had a great love for Nano-prims!
Q. WHAT EXACTLY YOU DO AS DESIGNER i MEAN WHAT YOU CREATE?
R. Well I am first a jeweler :)... I adore making jewelry, silks, shoes, and accessories as well. I have begun to branch out, I have made some clothing, even made a couple of hair styles, but right now I am very into making my own skins and find it is a lot of fun!
R. Well I am first a jeweler :)... I adore making jewelry, silks, shoes, and accessories as well. I have begun to branch out, I have made some clothing, even made a couple of hair styles, but right now I am very into making my own skins and find it is a lot of fun!
Q. DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN HARD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS DESIGNER AND HAVING AN INCREASE IN YOUR SALES?
R. Business is never easy, especially as we are in a global market here. I think you first have to judge your success by whether you are doing what you enjoy, and then be realistic about what you consider success is as well. Usually in business you are considered successful if you make a profit within 5 years... here if you can support your business costs and still have some fun too... I would have to call that successful.
R. Business is never easy, especially as we are in a global market here. I think you first have to judge your success by whether you are doing what you enjoy, and then be realistic about what you consider success is as well. Usually in business you are considered successful if you make a profit within 5 years... here if you can support your business costs and still have some fun too... I would have to call that successful.
Q. FROM WHERE YOU GET YOUR INSPIRATION TO CREATE, TO DESIGN; THE MUSA?
R. Well to get a feeling for upcoming styles I look to current fashion shows around the world, I also try to go to as many in-world fashion shows as possible... but my actual inspiration - that comes from my dreams.
R. Well to get a feeling for upcoming styles I look to current fashion shows around the world, I also try to go to as many in-world fashion shows as possible... but my actual inspiration - that comes from my dreams.
Q. DO YOU HOLD ANY OFFICIAL TITLE THAT SHOW YOU AS A MASTER IN WHAT YOU DESIGN? I MEAN A TITLE GIVEN TO YOU BY ANY SL ORGANIZATION OR SCHOOL.
R. Yes actually I am a Master Jeweler... I was one of the first Master Jewelers in SL (fall of 2006) and was given the title by First Page from TUi. She also happens to be the owner of the first school I worked for as an instructor back then, and I am still associated with her school. My school, MJC, is associated with First's TUi thru their career courses program. Without First's influence I would not be where I am today, many people owe their start in SL to her.
R. Yes actually I am a Master Jeweler... I was one of the first Master Jewelers in SL (fall of 2006) and was given the title by First Page from TUi. She also happens to be the owner of the first school I worked for as an instructor back then, and I am still associated with her school. My school, MJC, is associated with First's TUi thru their career courses program. Without First's influence I would not be where I am today, many people owe their start in SL to her.
Q. DO YOU THINK IS HARD THE COMPETITON HERE AS DESIGNER? WHY?
R. Yes the competition increases everyday. As the influx of people, and talent, increases, it is more difficult to find any one way to reach the populous. (When I first started 3,000 people online at time would create issues…lol.) Of course that is also true in the real world. So you need to be creative in your method of getting the word out about yourself, and your product.
R. Yes the competition increases everyday. As the influx of people, and talent, increases, it is more difficult to find any one way to reach the populous. (When I first started 3,000 people online at time would create issues…lol.) Of course that is also true in the real world. So you need to be creative in your method of getting the word out about yourself, and your product.
Q. FOR HOW LONG HAS YOU BEEN DESIGNING HERE PROFESSIONALY? TELL US A LITTLE HOW YOU HAVE EVOLVED.
R. To start I was not a jewelry store but a boutique where you could purchase items that we had made in my classes. Since I started taking classes my first day, I began building my first day - I had land and a building of my own within 3 weeks. Then as I began to teach I would teach a class on making a chair... actually it was a series of classes on making an entire front room set... then I would also have that set for sale in my shop - but with special textures I had made myself in GIMP. As an instructor I taught classes because I wanted to help others learn as I had learned… anyway, as my classes evolved from swimming pools, to furniture, to Fairie Lights, to jewelry… I found many people that wanted to purchase my jewelry. So by the fall of 2006 I had focused on jewelry. I absolutely love being creative in SL!
R. To start I was not a jewelry store but a boutique where you could purchase items that we had made in my classes. Since I started taking classes my first day, I began building my first day - I had land and a building of my own within 3 weeks. Then as I began to teach I would teach a class on making a chair... actually it was a series of classes on making an entire front room set... then I would also have that set for sale in my shop - but with special textures I had made myself in GIMP. As an instructor I taught classes because I wanted to help others learn as I had learned… anyway, as my classes evolved from swimming pools, to furniture, to Fairie Lights, to jewelry… I found many people that wanted to purchase my jewelry. So by the fall of 2006 I had focused on jewelry. I absolutely love being creative in SL!
Q. DO YOU THINK YOUR DESIGNS ARE DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE? WHY? EXPLAIN A LITTLE.
R. I do make a lot of the classics; such as the pearls for weddings, and the diamond encrusted tiaras, but I also have a fun side which would include my StarShine series with the sparkly stones and dangly stars, my shoes covered in flowers, my watches that tell time from your own time zone... I also make some pretty intricate designs such as my Promises set and a personal favorite is a Men’s ring I designed that is based in part on the design of Gandalf’s ring – you would have to see the chaining design embedded around the ring, took a lot of planning to make that design. I also take very good care of my customers… without them I would not have a business. If a client requests something special… a texture change, an added charm, a different fit… I am always glad to accommodate their needs. Sometimes there is a fee involved depending upon their needs… but I always try to be fair and to give them what they want. This is a fairytale world; here you can have what you cannot have in the real world… I enjoy giving that to someone.
R. I do make a lot of the classics; such as the pearls for weddings, and the diamond encrusted tiaras, but I also have a fun side which would include my StarShine series with the sparkly stones and dangly stars, my shoes covered in flowers, my watches that tell time from your own time zone... I also make some pretty intricate designs such as my Promises set and a personal favorite is a Men’s ring I designed that is based in part on the design of Gandalf’s ring – you would have to see the chaining design embedded around the ring, took a lot of planning to make that design. I also take very good care of my customers… without them I would not have a business. If a client requests something special… a texture change, an added charm, a different fit… I am always glad to accommodate their needs. Sometimes there is a fee involved depending upon their needs… but I always try to be fair and to give them what they want. This is a fairytale world; here you can have what you cannot have in the real world… I enjoy giving that to someone.
Q. DO YOU HAVE TIME TO HAVE FUN? HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR SL AS DESIGNER WITH YOUR SL AS A NORMAL RESIDENT?
R. Sometimes yes… most times no. I not only run my boutique, I also run a very exclusive school for Master Jewelers which has an intensive 16 week program for designers. I also have a busy real life that requires my attention but when I do have time to just go out and have fun I tend to turn to music here. I am very lucky to have Speelo Snook as a very good friend… in real life he, Marx Loeb, was just inducted into the AZ Blues Hall of Fame this past weekend! Everyone should listen to him whenever they can – he is the most awesome drummer ever and plays regularly with Tone Uriza. He also has the best DJ gig's in SL. I also go listen to Tone Uriza (rl Tony from Tony & The Torpedoes) play some really HOT blues, or Zaphod Theas (rl Allan Dawson) play a varied range of original acoustic and electric live rock. SL is very lucky to have the talents of these musicians, and others, so readily available, with their real life musical experiences translated to the SL audience.
R. Sometimes yes… most times no. I not only run my boutique, I also run a very exclusive school for Master Jewelers which has an intensive 16 week program for designers. I also have a busy real life that requires my attention but when I do have time to just go out and have fun I tend to turn to music here. I am very lucky to have Speelo Snook as a very good friend… in real life he, Marx Loeb, was just inducted into the AZ Blues Hall of Fame this past weekend! Everyone should listen to him whenever they can – he is the most awesome drummer ever and plays regularly with Tone Uriza. He also has the best DJ gig's in SL. I also go listen to Tone Uriza (rl Tony from Tony & The Torpedoes) play some really HOT blues, or Zaphod Theas (rl Allan Dawson) play a varied range of original acoustic and electric live rock. SL is very lucky to have the talents of these musicians, and others, so readily available, with their real life musical experiences translated to the SL audience.
Q. IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE A ROMANCE AND BEING A DESIGNER AT THE SAME TIME? WHY? HOW YOU HANDLE OR WOULD HANDLE THAT SITUATION?
R. Of course I think it would be possible, as I have seen it time and time again successfully. However is that what I am looking for in SL? No... I am not actively looking for a relationship in SL. That being said, I would also not walk away from the possibility. I think a relationship in SL would be fabulous, interesting, and extraordinary! - Both appealing and challenging. I know I am looking for a Knight to ride in on his white horse with a fairy tale ending… not very realistic… but stranger things have happened- And in SL anything is possible!
R. Of course I think it would be possible, as I have seen it time and time again successfully. However is that what I am looking for in SL? No... I am not actively looking for a relationship in SL. That being said, I would also not walk away from the possibility. I think a relationship in SL would be fabulous, interesting, and extraordinary! - Both appealing and challenging. I know I am looking for a Knight to ride in on his white horse with a fairy tale ending… not very realistic… but stranger things have happened- And in SL anything is possible!
Q. ANY ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATION YOU WANT TO GIVE TO OTHER DESIGNERS, BUYERS OR RESIDENTS?
R. Be yourself, be fair, treat others as you would like to be treated... and above all else remember to HAVE FUN!!!
R. Be yourself, be fair, treat others as you would like to be treated... and above all else remember to HAVE FUN!!!
Now I will share with you some pictures of her best creations.
Thanks izira for taking the time to answer these question and share a little about you with us. We do appreciate that. Now all of you know that Izira has a School for those interested in creating so visit her main store and apply to become a student if you really want to pursue a career here as Jeweler.
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