- Title: Two brothers in Beirut upcycle vintage items
- Date: 17th January 2017
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (JANUARY 12, 2017) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF 'THE VINTAGE SHOP 961' IN BOURJ HAMMOUD NEIGHBOURHOOD ITEMS FOR SALE OUTSIDE SHOP VARIOUS OF BROTHERS, AVEDIS AND KRIKOR DER BOGHOSSIAN, PLAYING WITH THEIR DOG OUTSIDE THEIR SHOP VARIOUS OF ITEM ON WALL WITH LETTERS READING (English): 'I LOVE BEIRUT' LAMPS AND FURNITURE ITEMS INSIDE THE SHOP (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-OWNER OF SHOP, AVEDIS DER BOGHOSSIAN, SAYING: "Our hobby was to collect things and work on them after work hours or during our free time on weekends. Therefore, you can say it is like an evolution: an involuntary process that has evolved on different levels. And because we used to work outside working hours and on weekends, there were some pieces needed to fix items that we couldn't find so we had to take other pieces from different items and mix things together to get a new product. It used to be just a hobby and we put items aside, this is how we formed a big collection." VARIOUS OF WALL CLOCKS IN THE SHOP VARIOUS OF OBJECTS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-OWNER OF SHOP, AVEDIS DER BOGHOSSIAN, SAYING: "With time, this hobby started to turn into a kind of obsession, and we started to have difficulties working on our other daily work and we started to discharge items we had. Every time we sold items, we collected others and this is how we entered a whirlpool, a positive cycle for us and we quit our jobs. If someone now asks us what do we do for work, we tell him we don't work, we play. This game has a financial reward, not a stable one, but we are happy." VARIOUS OF DER BOGHOSSIAN BROTHERS WALKING TOWARDS STREET SELLER VARIOUS OF AVEDIS DER BOGHOSSIAN BUYING ITEMS FROM THE STREET SELLER (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) CO-OWNER OF SHOP, AVEDIS DER BOGHOSSIAN, SAYING: "Sometimes we have several things, missing pieces. Let's say we find a tripod but we don't have its camera, we decide to transform the tripod to a floor lamp - in the process and because we don't have many resources but we work with what we have and what we collect, we don't find a lamp but we find a glass, so we cancel the floor lamp project and end up transforming the tripod into a table. There is no clear plan to what we will have and what we won't have." VARIOUS OF THE DER BOGHOSSIAN BROTHERS WORKING TOGETHER DOG OUTSIDE THE SHOP OBJECT ON DISPLAY WITH LETTERS READING (English): 'LOVE' DER BOGHOSSIAN BROTHERS WITH THEIR DOG SIGN OUTSIDE SHOP READING (English): 'THE VINTAGE SHOP 961' DER BOGHOSSIAN BROTHERS POSING FOR PHOTO WITH THEIR DOG OUTSIDE SHOP
- Embargoed: 31st January 2017 16:33
- Keywords: Lebanon Beirut vintage shop furniture recycling upcycling
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA0015ZGV7MD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In Beirut's Bourj Hammoud neighbourhood, brothers Avedis and Krikor Der Boghossian found their passion in 'The Vintage Shop Beirut 961' that they own and fill with repurposed and upcycled items.
They spend most of their time there, along with their dog, named Killer.
The brothers, known as Avo and Koko, give new life to old things, including World War II military gadgets, vinyl players and petrol pumps.
What started as a hobby transformed into a full time job, explained older brother Avedis, as the brothers upcycle unwanted items found anywhere, even in the street or garbage.
"Our hobby was to collect things and work on them after work hours or during our free time on weekends. Therefore, you can say it is like an evolution: an involuntary process that has evolved on different levels. And because we used to work outside working hours and on weekends, there were some pieces needed to fix items that we couldn't find so we had to take other pieces from different items and mix things together to get a new product. It used to be just a hobby and we put items aside, this is how we formed a big collection," he said.
"With time, this hobby started to turn into a kind of obsession, and we started to have difficulties working on our other daily work and we started to discharge items we have. Every time we sold items, we collected others and this is how we entered a whirlpool, a positive cycle for us and we quit our job. If someone now asks us what do we do for work, we tell him we don't work, we play. This game has a financial reward, not a stable one, but we are happy," Avedis added.
The two brothers say they are addicted to collecting things and transforming them, they find happiness and satisfaction in producing unusual objects.
Avedis describes the duo as having super powers - thinking the same way, having four eyes and four hands.
Avedis and Krikor begin working on items without having a clear plan for the end product and they often end up with a non-expected final piece.
Items at their shop include wall clocks, furniture, lighting objects, with prices starting at around $100.
"Sometimes we have several things, missing pieces. Let's say we find a tripod but we don't have its camera, we decide to transform the tripod to a floor lamp - in the process and because we don't have many resources but we work with what we have and what we collect, we don't find a lamp but we find a glass, so we cancel the floor lamp project and end up transforming the tripod into a table. There is no clear plan to what we will have and what we won't have," Avedis said.
Killer, their dog, also plays an integral role in the running of their furniture store.
What started as a childhood dream of owning a dog quickly gave them an unusual business 'partner', keeping them company, guarding the store and even doing some PR work for the brothers.
Avedis said people often notice Killer sitting outside the shop, which entices visitors to stop to browse their upcycled items. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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