Art becomes a bridge between emotion, responsibility and community

One of the most successful Montenegrin models, Emina Čunmuljaj Nazarian, and famous fashion designer Sanja Bobar will host the event "Art for Humanity" on June 8, starting at 19 p.m. at the "Velimirović" Winery, dedicated to art, humanity, and togetherness.

This event marks the official launch of the Emina's Hand Foundation in Montenegro - a non-profit humanitarian organization founded with the mission of providing support to individuals and families who need help the most.

The evening will also be marked by an anniversary fashion show celebrating 15 years of successful career of fashion designer Sanja Bobar, as well as performances by musicians Danijela Alibabić and Tamara Živković.

"The humanitarian nature of the event aims to raise funds to support families in Montenegro, thereby laying the foundation for future activities of the Emina's Hand Foundation," the announcement states, and Bobar and Čunmuljaj Nazarian told "Vijesti" more about the event.

“'Art for Humanity' is much more than a fashion or art event - it is a meeting of people who believe that creativity has the power to initiate change. The idea is to draw attention to the importance of solidarity and support for those in need through art, fashion and togetherness. The humanitarian dimension of this project gives it special value, because it shows that aesthetics and humanity can and should go hand in hand. For me, the greatest beauty is precisely in the fact that art becomes a bridge between emotion, responsibility and community”, explained Çunmuljaj Nazarian.

“'Art for Humanity' is not just an event, but a combination of values ​​that we deeply believe in - humanity, togetherness and the power of art to initiate positive change. I am especially pleased that this evening will mark the official launch of the Emina's Hand Foundation in Montenegro. Through the foundation, we want to provide support to families and individuals who need help the most and to create a platform that will work for the benefit of the community in the long term,” Bobar continues.

"The humanitarian character of the evening is reflected in the collection of funds for the foundation's activities in Montenegro. We believe that every big change begins with a small step, and this evening represents exactly that beginning," she adds, and then explains how the collaboration between the two came about.

"Collaborating with Emina came about quite naturally, through our long-standing friendship and mutual respect. We have been friends for years and share similar values ​​when it comes to humanity, family and community support, but also the belief that success only has true meaning when we share it with others. It was from this friendship that the idea of ​​realizing this event together and contributing to an important humanitarian mission was born," said the fashion designer.

"Our collaboration came about spontaneously, through conversations about humanity, responsibility towards the community and the desire to start something together that would leave a mark. We quickly realized that we had a shared vision and that through the combination of fashion, art and humanitarian work we could create something truly special. It is a great honor for me to be a part of this story from the very beginning," she adds, and Çunmuljaj Nazarian gives a similar response.

"From the first meeting, we recognized a similar worldview - a belief in the importance of family, mutual respect, work, humanity, and giving back to the community through what we do. What I especially appreciate about Sanja is the fact that, in addition to her exceptional professionalism and creativity, she has remained true to her principles and human values. It is precisely this authenticity that has connected us," she points out.

"When we started discussing the idea of ​​the 'Art for Humanity' event, it was only natural that we would join forces. We both believe that art and success have the greatest value when they can inspire others and contribute to a higher goal. That is why this collaboration was not born as a business project, but as a result of friendship, mutual trust and a shared desire to support humanitarian initiatives and contribute to the community through our work," she emphasized, and then spoke more about the Emina's Hand Foundation.

"The Emina's Hand Humanitarian Foundation was born from a deep belief that each of us can be someone's hand of support in a moment when it is needed most. Since childhood, I have carried values ​​that taught me that success has true meaning only when we share it with others and when we use it to improve the lives of those around us," she claims.

"The foundation was created as a natural extension of my many years of humanitarian work and the desire to ensure that community assistance is organized, sustainable, and directed to where it is needed most. Our mission is not just to provide immediate assistance, but to create opportunities that can bring people long-term security, dignity, and hope," says Chunmuljai Nazarian.

"Over the years, we have implemented numerous projects in Montenegro. We have provided food assistance to families facing difficult living circumstances, provided accommodation and support to mothers who have become homeless, as well as school supplies for more than 2.000 students to provide them with the best possible conditions for education," she lists.

"I am particularly proud of the cooperation we have with companies and institutions to make it easier for people to access healthcare. One of the projects that holds a special place in my heart is the partnership with the Natal Polyclinic, through which we have been providing free mammography and ultrasound examinations for women for two years. The goal of this project is to raise awareness about the importance of breast cancer prevention and the importance of early detection of the disease, because we believe that timely diagnostics can save lives," says the interviewee of Vijesti.

"In addition, we continuously invest in the education and development of young people through scholarships for students, mentoring programs for girls, as well as support for sports activities that contribute to their self-confidence, health and personal development. Although these are just some of the projects we have implemented, what connects them all is the same idea - that no one should be left to their own devices. That is why the foundation is called Emina's Hand. It symbolizes a hand of support, solidarity and togetherness, extended to anyone who needs an opportunity, help or encouragement to take a step forward," she explained.

Čunmuljaj Nazarian also answers the question of how it came about that someone, after a successful international modeling career, would choose a completely different path and dedicate themselves to humanitarian work.

"Although at first glance it seems like a complete turnaround, for me it was a very natural life path. I grew up in a small community, with strong family values ​​that taught me humility, empathy and the importance of helping others. When life took me to the big world stages and allowed me to build a successful career in the fashion industry, I got the opportunity to meet different people, cultures and life circumstances," she said.

"That journey taught me a very important lesson - no matter how far we go, we must never forget where we started. It was the roots and values ​​I grew up with that always brought me back to my essence and reminded me that success has much greater meaning when we use it for the benefit of others," adds the once very successful model.

“I believe that public figures have a certain responsibility to be part of the changes they want to see in society. That's why I decided to use my platform not only for professional projects, but also as a channel through which I can launch humanitarian initiatives, connect people and provide support to those who need it most. Fashion gave me a voice and visibility, but humanitarian work gave me a purpose. Today, I consider my greatest success not what I have achieved for myself, but the opportunities I have managed to create for others and the positive impact that together we can leave in the community,” she concludes.

As part of this event, Bobar will celebrate its jubilee - 15 years in the world of fashion design and will present a new collection on that occasion.

"For this occasion, I decided to present a collection that symbolically connects the past, present and future of my work. I do not see it as a classic overview of everything I have done over the past fifteen years, but rather as a kind of evolution of design expression. It will recognize the elements that have marked my work over the years, but also the direction in which I want to develop in the future. It is a collection that speaks of maturation, experience and faith in my own authorial signature," the designer hinted.

"The collection I present carries the slogan 'Art for Humanity', because I believe that fashion has the power to convey much more than aesthetics. This year, I wanted to support the message of the event through design, so the collection has become an extension of the humanitarian mission in a way, and an inspiration to me personally. It is a summer collection made up of silk models that are both elegant and very wearable. I wanted to create pieces that a woman can wear during the day, but with simple combinations and details they can also be the perfect choice for evening occasions," continues Bobar.

"My inspiration was freedom of movement, the lightness of summer and natural femininity. The collection is intended for women who love sophistication, but do not want to sacrifice comfort. Light and delicate tones dominate, as well as colors that evoke the Mediterranean spirit, summer and elegance," she explains, and then reveals how much Sanja Bobar has changed as a designer from her first to her last collection.

"Fifteen years of work have brought a lot of experience and maturity. Today, I know much more clearly what I want to convey through my design and I trust my own feelings more than at the beginning of my career. However, what has not changed is my love for femininity, elegance and quality workmanship. I have never followed trends at all costs. I have always wanted to create pieces that will last longer than one season and in which a woman will feel beautiful, confident and natural," emphasizes the interviewee of "Vijesti", who also reflects on how much her clients have changed during that period, but emphasizes that there are also those who have remained "faithful" to her.

"My clientele has expanded significantly over the years, but what makes me especially happy is the fact that many women have stayed with my brand from the very beginning. I have clients who came to me for their first formal dresses fifteen years ago, and today they still trust me for the most important moments of their lives. That is the greatest confirmation for me that what I do has value. Of course, new generations of women are also coming, which shows me that my designs manage to find their way to different generations, and I consider that a great success," Bobar replies.

At the end of the conversation, she looks back at her very beginning and reveals what advice she would give herself, from the perspective of the present.

"I would tell myself to believe more in my dreams and not to be afraid of big goals. When I was starting out, I could never have imagined that my work would one day be presented on international fashion stages and that I would be celebrating fifteen years of my career with an event like this. That's why I would tell myself to be braver, to doubt less, and to trust the process. Everything I've been through, both successes and challenges, was necessary for me to be where I am today. I am especially grateful to all the people who have believed in me throughout all these years, because every success is more beautiful when you share it with others," says the fashion designer.