Zabian's Clothing owner Ali Zabian poses with Lee Elementary pupils Larissa Benoit, Jayden Hammond, and Lillian DelSoldato, whose creative advertisements were selected for their colors and project descriptions.
Brandon Boule's third-grade art class at Lee Elementary School participated in iBerkshires Create an Ad series.
Ali Zabian takes questions from students about his family's longtime men's clothing business.
LEE, Mass.— From weddings and proms to a nice evening out, Zabian's Clothing will help you find an outfit that is sure to make you feel confident.
Third-grade students in Brandon Boule's art class at Lee Elementary School showcased a diverse selection of men's apparel at Zabian's Clothing, located at 19 Main St.
The merchandise includes classic and updated traditional styles in suits, sport coats, ties, slacks and jeans, along with more modern and colorful options.
"My father was more of a traditional dresser, and that translated it more for him to buy more classic, traditional clothes. For me, I like to be more of an updated traditional guy. I still have the classics, but I put a little spice into it as well," second-generation owner Ali Zabian said.
"I love color, so I have a lot of suits and sport coats that are a little bit different than the norm, but I still carry the basic blues and things."
The store was established in 1904 and has been at its current location for more than 100 years.
"I want them to really like the way they look. I know that's cliche, and that's in a slogan somewhere, but it is important that they feel good about the clothes that they wear and that they pay a fair price for it," the clothier said.
Casual dress is a big market right now, so Zabian's also carries upscale jeans, sweaters, and "funky" shirts, he said.
"I call them a throwback to the '60s. There are a lot of paisleys, a lot of bright colors, and funky styles."
Merchandise can also be tailored to meet the customers' desires.
In their drawings, students showcased a winter theme focused on men's ties and wedding apparel, and did a fantastic job, Zabian said.
"They got some students, I think they're going to be some great artists. They did a fantastic job with their colors," he said, adding the children also did a wonderful job with product placements.
The three winners selected were Larissa Benoit for first place, Jayden Hammond for second, and Lillian DelSoldato for third.
Larissa depicted a scene in which a man asks where someone got their tie, to which the person replies, "Zabian's Clothing, the best clothing store in the world."
Her drawing also included Santa riding in his sleigh, a snowman, and a hot-air balloon shaped like a colorful Christmassy tie.
Jayden drew a comparative advertisement, showing an outfit people wouldn't want to wear and another person wearing a "cool" outfit they got at Zabian's.
"Come to Zabian's Clothing for groom and handsome," he wrote.
Lillian drew a couple at a winter wedding. The man is wearing a suit from Zabian's next to his soon-to-be wife on a snowy day.
"Shop at Zabian's for the best suit ever," she wrote.
During the school visit, the students excitedly asked a range of questions about the store's history, financial literacy, and Ali Zabian's involvement in the community, specifically his previous coaching of football.
This opportunity allowed the students to learn from a local business owner who is a staple of the Lee community, Boule said.
Creating ads for a local business showed the students that art doesn't just happen in the classroom; that it is all around us, he said.
"I feel like they're learning that art isn't just something you put on the fridge, that art is in advertising, art is what you wear. Arts all around you," Boule said.
"For this project, I do feel like they were able to see that their art can really help a local business with advertising, and I try to impart to them that you're helping Zabian's by getting people excited to want to go to their store to buy things."
The students found out that Zabian's Fine Jewelers next to the clothing store is owned by Ali's brother and that they come from an immigrant family that hails from Lebanon.
Growing up, Zabian said his family taught him that success comes from hard work. This is a sentiment he demonstrated to the students during the school visit.
"They set the example, the groundwork for us to understand what work really means," he told the children.
The students were shocked to learn that Zabian had started working in his father's business at the age of 5.
The Zabians originally opened a fresh food market, but had always wanted to purchase the historic two-story Park Building on Main Street.
"[Zabian's father Michael] grew up in Lebanon, moved to Springfield, and he was taking a drive through town, and he saw the building, and the building is all marble and granite. Loved the building," Ali Zabian said.
He inquired about the space's availability, but since it was unavailable, he opened a fresh food market instead and went on to run other businesses. Michael Zabian was finally able to buy the building in 1978, preserving its historic nature and continuing the existing 74-year-old clothing store under its new name.
northadams.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
Comments are closed for this blog. If you would like to contribute information on this blog, e-mail us at info@iBerkshires.com
