What is the best thing that I love about my work? What I love the most about my work is creating. I love being in direct contact with materials, experimenting, and imagining new forms and possibilities. My work is deeply connected to a very personal story: my experience with alopecia led me to question the symbolic and physical nature of hair. I wanted to transform something that was disappearing from my own body into a material with a new meaning and a new life. Over time, I developed KAMI-KAMI, a material made from revalorized keratin fibers such as hair and animal fur, which I now integrate into artworks, lighting pieces, surfaces, and design objects. Every year in France, more than 10,000 tons of human hair and animal fur are discarded, buried, or incinerated, creating environmental and sanitary issues despite being a natural and valuable resource. Through KAMI-KAMI, I wanted to rethink the way we perceive these fibers and transform them into something precious, sensitive, and meaningful. The material can be used in art, fashion, design, and architecture. What I enjoy the most is that something deeply personal evolved into something universal that can resonate with other people and open new conversations about materiality, transformation, and memory.
What is my idea of happiness? For me, happiness is reaching goals step by step. I am someone who constantly builds projects and objectives for the future, so happiness often comes through progress, evolution, and the feeling of moving forward. Even small achievements can bring me a lot of joy because they represent another step toward something bigger. I think happiness is also found in the process itself: creating, discovering, meeting inspiring people, and seeing ideas slowly become reality.
What is my greatest fear? My greatest fear is not achieving the goals that I deeply believe in. I invest a lot of energy, time, and emotion into my work and projects, so the idea of not fulfilling my purpose can be frightening. This fear also pushes me to keep going, to work harder, and to continue developing my ideas despite difficulties or doubts.
What is the trait that I most deplore in myself? I can be extremely detail-oriented, sometimes too much. I spend a huge amount of time refining details because I always want the final result to feel precise and meaningful. On one hand, this helps me create high-quality work, but on the other hand, it can slow me down a lot. I sometimes wish I could let go more easily and not overthink every aspect of a project.
Which living persons in my profession do I most admire? I admire people who succeed in creating strong artistic universes while also developing innovative and meaningful approaches to material, design, and craftsmanship. I am inspired by creatives who manage to combine experimentation, artistic sensitivity, and long-term vision in their work, like Iris Van Herpen.
What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work? Probably prospecting and constantly having to promote myself. I love creating, researching, and developing ideas, but the communication and networking side can sometimes feel exhausting. As an artist and designer, you have to constantly present your work, contact people, and search for opportunities, and that can be mentally draining.
When and where was I the happiest, in my work? I was happiest when I started receiving recognition for my work and my material research. Seeing people understand the project, react emotionally to it, and recognize its value was a very important moment for me. It gave me confidence and made me realize that something born from a very personal experience could truly connect with others.
If I could, what would I change about myself? I would probably change my shyness. Many people think I am naturally very extroverted because I learned how to present my work publicly and communicate with people, but deep down I still have a very shy side that often comes back unexpectedly. I would like to feel more naturally confident in every situation without having to fight against that part of myself.
What is my greatest achievement in work? One of my greatest achievements was winning an international award for the development of my material and creations through the Isola Design Awards in Dubai. It was a very important moment because it gave international visibility to my work and validated years of experimentation and research.
Where would I most like to live? I would love to live in a large, vibrant city where many things are happening all the time. I am very inspired by movement, encounters, cultural activity, and creative energy. I have never really been drawn to the countryside. I need places where people exchange ideas, create projects, and where there is a strong sense of life and possibility.
What is my most treasured possession? Probably my ideas and my ability to create. Material things can disappear, but imagination, creativity, and the ability to transform emotions into projects are extremely precious to me.
What is my most marked characteristic? I would say that I am extremely hardworking. I can spend endless hours working alone in my studio without even realizing how much time has passed. Once I am focused on a project, I become completely immersed in it.
What is my most inspirational location, in my city? The Seine in Paris is probably one of the most inspiring places for me. There is something very calming and reflective about it. Walking there helps me slow down, think differently, and mentally reconnect before returning to work and projects.
What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city? There is a small family-owned pizzeria that I love very much. It has existed for decades and feels completely unique compared to the rest of the city. The whole family works there together, and the atmosphere reminds me almost of the countryside despite being in an urban environment. They also make the best pizzas I have ever eaten.
What books influenced my life and how? One of the books that influenced me the most is The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I first read it when I was younger, and its message stayed with me over the years. The story is about following your own path, trusting your intuition, and having the courage to pursue what truly matters to you, even when the destination is uncertain. As an artist and creator of KAMI-KAMI, I often relate to that idea. Developing a new material from something as unexpected as hair and animal fibers required years of experimentation, perseverance, and belief in a project that did not exist before. The book taught me that meaningful journeys are rarely straightforward, and that obstacles, encounters, and unexpected turns are often part of the process. It reminded me that sometimes the most important thing is simply to keep moving forward and trust where your path is leading you.
You Only Die Once. What music would I listen to on my last day? I would probably listen to the music of Gorgeous Beats. I love the way their melodies mix Armenian influences with more contemporary sounds and atmospheres. Their music feels emotional, cinematic, and almost timeless to me. I am very sensitive to music that carries both melancholy and strength at the same time, and their compositions create that feeling perfectly.
Who is my hero or heroine in fiction? I do not think I have one specific fictional heroine. I am generally more inspired by real human stories, resilience, and people who transform difficulties into creative strength.
Who are my heroes and heroines in real life? My family, especially my mother. They have always supported me through my projects and encouraged me to continue dreaming and creating. My mother, who is Armenian from Syria, inspires me deeply because she left her country and had to build an entirely new life in France. She was a great athlete and studied chemistry for many years, but when she arrived in France, her diploma was not recognized, and she was forced to start over from scratch. Despite these challenges, she worked incredibly hard, learned the language on her own, and eventually built a successful new life for herself. Today, she speaks four languages fluently. She is someone extremely strong, determined, and courageous, and her story has always inspired me.
What role do stories play in my life and work? Stories play a central role in both my life and my work. My creations are often connected to memory, identity, transformation, and personal experiences. Even the material I developed comes from a personal story that evolved into something larger and more universal. I think stories allow people to emotionally connect with objects, materials, and artworks. Beyond aesthetics, I want my work to carry meaning and open conversations.
What do the words “You are the storyteller of your own life” mean to me? To me, these words mean that we all have the ability to shape our own direction through our choices, our perseverance, and the way we interact with others. Of course, there are things we cannot control in life, but I believe that hard work, determination, and kindness deeply influence the path we create for ourselves. Opportunities also come through human connections, mutual support, and the energy we share with people around us. I think life stories are constantly evolving, and we actively participate in writing them every day.
Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime? Definitely my family. They have always believed in my work and supported me emotionally through all the different stages of my journey, even during uncertain moments.
Which people or companies would I like to work with? I would love to collaborate with companies and creative houses that value innovation, craftsmanship, and material experimentation, especially within fashion, luxury, design, and architecture. Companies such as Hermès, LVMH, Chanel, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Baccarat, L’Oréal, Patagonia, or architecture studios like RDAI could create very meaningful collaborations with my material research and artistic universe.
What project am I looking forward to work on? I am looking forward to continuing the development of my material and pushing it into larger-scale projects combining art, design, and architecture. I am especially excited about creating more immersive installations and experimenting with new applications for the material in space and light. One of the projects I am most excited about is my participation in Maison & Objet Paris in September 2026, where I will present my work in the Craft sector. As a designer, this is a milestone that means a lot to me. I remember visiting the fair as a student and seeing it as a place where innovation, craftsmanship, and design come together. Being selected to exhibit there now feels both rewarding and motivating. I am also looking forward to developing new international collaborations and exploring new applications for KAMI-KAMI through future exhibitions and projects.
Where can you see me or my work? My work has recently been exhibited during Milan Design Week, and several new exhibitions and projects are currently being prepared.
What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me? To me, these words mean that true passion never disappears. When you deeply love creating, imagining, researching, and building projects, it becomes part of who you are. Passion continues to evolve throughout life and keeps pushing you forward despite difficulties, doubts, or time passing. I think passion is one of the strongest driving forces in both creative work and life itself.
How can you contact me? You can contact me by email at hello@lorig.fr
Website: http://www.lorig.fr Instagram: @lorigdesign