Arrigo: An Interview with Dominique Ciupek
Name: Dominique Ciupek
Location: Somercotes, Derbyshire
Website: www.arrigo.co.uk
Tell us what you do! Hi, I'm Dominique, I'm 24 and I'm the director of Arrigo Models and Events. My agency represents models, creatives, entertainers, stylists, designers, photographers and film crews. We can supply full media coverage and tailor make any event.
We are constantly looking for new models and will be launching our new London set up in the near future.
So how did it all start? Where did the idea for Arrigo come from? I was inspired to start Arrigo Models, and Arrigo Events, through my love of fashion, beauty and music. I wanted to combine them to bring them together to entertain the world through Arrigo Event and bring the fantastic Arrigo Models to the front line. Arrigo Models covers a wide range of models, right from promotional staff to high fashion.
Arrigo Models and anyone involved with Arrigo Ltd in any way, are very close. We all work to help each other out. My models keep me going and that's the same with the photographers and stylists who are represented by Arrigo.. Arrigo is a family.
What's been your proudest moment so far? My proudest moment was watching the new models from Arrigo take part in a runway for House of Fraser, they were fantastic and made me so proud, and just seeing professionals in the industry achieve a goal from joining Arrigo.. every time it happens it is my proudest moment!
And your greatest achievement? My greatest achievement is being able to run the agency as well as look after my two children (under 4 years old) mostly at the same time, it's very hard work and to keep it going is a daily achievement. Keeping the correct balance with work and family is essential.
Where do you hope Arrigo will be in five years time? My first goal for Arrigo was for Arrigo to have it's set up in London, as well as the Midlands, and to be representing some of the most well known names in the industry - after only 5 months we can say this has been achieved already!
We have a model walking in London Fashion Week this year, and models in Milan this season keeping themselves very busy!
In five years time we will hope to have exclusivity on some of the biggest Fashion shows in England.
Who or what inspires you? Music mainly, and for people not to believe in what I'm doing.. I take their negative energy and transform it into fuel to push me harder to prove to young women that having children does not stop you from achieving any goals. I left school with no qualifications and had my children early on.. and now I've recently received a VIP guest invitation to view London Clothes Show Live 2010, that inspired me more than anything else. Maybe Arrigo will be involved in the show next year, keep your eyes peeled!
So when you aren't running your agency, you are..? With my children and husband, I like to practice dancing and swing poi with my friends, play with my dogs and have a BBQ (alot!).
Anything exciting ongoing or in the pipeline? There are many things going on at Arrigo, please check out the website www.arrigo.co.uk where you can keep track of what's happening, and you can subscribe to our rss feeds to have the info on events first.
Finally, any words of wisdom? My message to the readers is this.. Whoever you are, and whatever your dream is, stop right now and picture yourself living your dream - you took the time to dream it, so take the time to make it happen! I'm 24 years old and I have two beautiful children under 4 years old, and a supportive husband, I'm very lucky. There are people out there who will help you no matter what your situation is, you are not stuck in it, you have the freewill to be whoever you want to be in this world, no one can stop you! Never be afraid to ask people because they will help you! Now go have one last cup of tea, get your boots on, get out there and get to work! Go get your dream and never let anyone take it from you.
Arrigo Ltd have a lot of upcoming projects, for more information and to keep updated visit the website www.arrigo.co.uk You can also find Arrigo on Facebook
