From October 8 to 11, Yerevan hosted its fourth fashion week, coinciding with the city's 2808th anniversary celebration. This time, the shows moved beyond traditional venues, taking place at Zvartnots, the Red Bridge, and the Komitas Museum-Institute. Among the participants was Armen Galyan with his brand Man in Town, presenting The Autumn Sun collection, dedicated to autumn and that fleeting period when the sun still warms, but the air is already turning cooler.
At the center of the presentation was the quince. This fruit became the starting point for working with the color, form, and mood of the collection. Instead of a conventional runway show with sequential model exits, Galyan offered the audience a chance to observe the clothing in a different setting.
Man and Clothing as Parts of a Single Composition
One of the most interesting details was an installation featuring a table laid with caps and ripe quince. A model was positioned nearby, integrated into the overall composition. The blue textiles, fruit, and headwear resembled elements of a still life (nature morte), where the clothing was not separated from the surrounding objects.
I liked that there was no attempt to surprise the viewer with a complex setup or spectacular exits; the focus shifted to the items themselves, their texture, color, and combinations. The clothing didn't get lost against the backdrop of the installation but became part of the overall composition.
The Autumn Sun: An Attempt to Prolong Autumn
Armen Galyan explains the collection's concept quite simply: he dislikes winter and wanted to preserve the feeling of autumn warmth for as long as possible. There's no need to look for a complex concept behind every item in the collection. It is dominated by pale yellow, khaki, graphite, and blue shades, layered combinations, and familiar elements of a men's wardrobe. Sweatshirts, shirts, and knitwear look calm but not boring.
It can be added that the quince here is more of an inspiration than a direct decorative motif. Galyan draws upon familiar autumn sensations and translates them into clothing, which makes the idea of the collection understandable without further explanation.
Clothing for Everyday Life
Stylistically, The Autumn Sun sits between sportswear and a relaxed urban wardrobe. The collection features color-blocked sweatshirts, trousers with side stripes, textured knitwear, and striped shirts. The items can be combined with each other without having to invent complex looks.
I was particularly interested in the cost of the collection. Prices range from 8 to 26 thousand drams, which, for the Armenian market, is a very concrete conversation about the accessibility of locally produced clothing.
At the same time, accessibility does not mean the clothing has to look characterless. The combinations of colors, textures, and layering give character to the looks. The items are not overloaded with details, making it easier to integrate them into one's own wardrobe.
The View from the Participants
Models Arem Avetisyan and Yaroslav Ozhirelyev participated in the presentation. Their impressions allow us to look at the collection not only from the audience's perspective but also from the perspective of people who worked directly with the clothing at the exhibition.
Arem Avetisyan: "The look is held together by the items themselves and the color, and it's easy to imagine yourself wearing it not only at a show but on an ordinary autumn day. I like that it remains simple at the same time."
Yaroslav Ozhirelyev: "For me, participating in the Man in Town presentation was an opportunity to see menswear that is put together into a look in such a way that it can be repeated in real life. The styling here works for the clothing, not the other way around, and I relate to this approach to men's fashion."
Man in Town and the Armenian Fashion Scene
Armen Galyan founded Man in Town in 2021. Prior to that, he worked as a stylist on commercial and editorial shoots for about twenty years. Currently, the brand is developing its own production in Armenia and creating menswear for everyday life. For the local industry, such projects provide an opportunity to develop domestic production and gradually expand to other markets.
The Autumn Sun continues this work. The collection doesn't try to surprise with complex constructions or turn every piece into a separate statement. Galyan offers clothing that can be worn every day, combined in one's own way, and is not tied to the specific trends of the season.
Brand: Man In Town
Photographer: Victor Boyko
Models: wot models
Article by Raphael Bedikyan
Presentation at Yerevan Fashion Week by Fashion Chamber of Armenia NGO
