What if Made in France for crafts could be a form of activism? Paramaz, a leather workshop, boutique, and café, is doing just that. I'm joined today by the co-owner and creative director, Marianna Stepanian, whose journey from diplomacy at UNESCO and the Dutch Embassy to the workbench of a local craft boutique offers a fascinating look at cultural preservation in action. We discuss how she and her partner Hagop Markarian are reviving the intimate "maker-client" relationship just steps away from Paris’s luxury giants, the vital role their space plays in highlighting Armenian heritage during turbulent times, and why the city is finally embracing the beauty of a multi-functional space where you can witness a bag being stitched while enjoying your espresso.

Mentioned in this episode:

Marianna Stepanian

Paramaz

Astrig Agopian exhibition at Paramaz

Safety for Women Journalists exhibition at UNESCO

Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan

⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠