"Israel Fashion Art" - An Exeptional Gift for the Holidays

"Israel Fashion Art" Book-cover. Photo by Miri Davidovits

Hi, Looking for a unique gift for the coming holidays? The book "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"
might be exactly what you are searching. This album-book holds over 400 exceptional color photos that manifests the creative fashion designs of Israel from its inception till our time. It's been called "Israel's Fashion Bible", "A masterpiece", "A gift that looks like a million dollars". 

The book takes the reader through the development of the rich, colorful, authentic identity of Israeli fashion, inspired by the arts and crafts of the Hebrew tribes gathered together from over 100 diasporas. These crafts were applied to cosmopolitan fashion creations by the outstanding designer, Fini Leitersdorf, in the Maskit fashion house established by the remarkable visionary Ruth Dayan.

The book illustrates how some of the region's cultural aspects, like the kafiya and the hood, were interpreted by designers such as the creative Rozi Ben-Yosef as a bridge between the biblical past and the present. The book also emphasizes various other aspects of wearable art such as the use of seashells, hand-paint and sculptural designs, conceived by world swimwear queen Leah Gottlieb of "Gottex", haute-couture master Gideon Oberson and many other gifted designers. In addition, the book sheds light on imaginative-futuristic creations by students at leading Israel design colleges such as Shenkar, Bezalel and Wizo-Haifa. 

Finally this fashion-art book embodies the fabulous success of Israeli designers abroad, topped by international star Alber Elbaz who made the distinguished "Time 100" list, and according to "Vogue" magazine, "transformed Lanvin into the fashion world's most-wanted label". 

  Here are some of the latest enthusiastic responses the book received:

 מאיר קדוש                 Meir Kadosh, FB. June 23, 2012                                      

בספרך המעולה אפילו מופיעה עבודה שעשיתי לדניאלה להבי בלי קרדיט לי כמי שביים והגה את הצילום

• (;

פרח ראובן    Perach Reuven, designer. June, 26, 2012                           

נורית היקרה

אני קניתי שני עותקים של הספר שלך בהתרגשות רבה, תודה לך שאני נכללת בתוכו

דבר חשוב, רק את עם הידע המדהים שלך ויכולת עתונאית מקצועית בנשמה , יכולה להרים פרוייקט שכזה,

אני תמיד הערכתי אותך ועכשיו עוד יותר

אשרי לך יקירתי

פרח

          July,6 2012 FB            מוריה שמיר       Moria Shamir   

למי שפנוי בשעה זו
נורית בערוץ 2,
עם הספר המדהים,,
אצל שמעון פרנס.
שבת שלום מלאה באהבה לכולללללם,

אטי יעקובסון                    Eti Yaakobson, designer, FB. July,10, 2012 wrote:‏ ‏"

אמת ,מרגש ומשכר".

(בתגובה להקדמת רות דיין לספר שפורסמה בפייסבוק)

תמר פרימק, אישתר פשון               Tamar Primack, Ishtar Fashion. Aug,6,2012
מה שלומך?
זכורה לי שיחתנו משנת 2008, בעניין ספרך "שיכרון עיצובים".ֿ
אני מאוד אוהבת את הספר אני מלמדת במכון הטכנולוגי בחולון (היט)
ואני משתמשת בו בשיעורי.

‫

Noa Shoshany, FB. Aug.7, 2012                                                    נועה שושני

לכבוד הוא לי נורית - הספר שלך עומד מעל ראשי כרגע במדף הספרים שלי:) ולא רק כי כריכתו עוצרת נשימה אלא כי תוכנו הוא כזה:)

לינור נבטי Linor Nabati, FB. Aug. 18, 2012                                                  היי נורית,
הספר מונח על שולחני מהשבוע הראשון שיצא לאור.
אני מאוד מעריכה את הספר וחושבת שהינו בעל חשיבות רבה
ומשמש מעיין שליחות לתיעוד הסטורית האופנה והתרבות הישראלית .
רק שירבו עוד אנשי מקצוע כמוך שיחקרו וישמרו את נושא האופנה ותרבות בארץ ישראל.
תודה
לינור

Anat Segal, FB. Sept.1 2012                                    ענת סגל ‏"‫נורית בת יער , אנציקלופדיה של תרבות הלבוש של עמנו . וכיוון שעמנו מגיע מכל העולם אז גם של תרבות הלבוש העולמית . תודה על שאת קיימת ! "‏

מיכל סדן    Michal Sadan, FB. Sept. 6, 2012                                               

נורית את אישה ייחודית.הספר מדהים !

This is the 20th bunch of responses to the book I'm uploading. The previous ones were posted on  Feb, 20, 2010,on Aug, 3, 2010, on Aug, 13, 2010, on Sept. 16, 2010, on Oct. 6, 2010, on Oct.23, 2010, on Nov. 26, 2010 ,on Dec. 16, 2010, on Jan.2, 2011, on March 16, 2011, on May 20 2011 on June 27, 2011 and on Aug. 1, 2011 posts. Oct. 3, 2011 , Dec. 1, 2011 on Jan.22, 2012, on March 21, 2012, on June, 3, 2012..and on June 21, 2012.

Responses from the Academy were posted on (May 3, 2010 ), Museum Curators (July 18, 2010), and the Press (June 15, 2010) .

Shimon Peres, Israel's President's so highly appreciated, heart-warming response was posted on Oct. 15, 2010
 

Alber Elbaz of Lanvin & "Israel Fashion Art" Album-book

Alber Elbaz for Lanvin's f/w 2012-13

Hi,  A few months ago I mentioned and showed Alber Elbaz' dress which was decorated withSvarovsky "snake". A decoration  inspired, in my opinion, by an 80s design by Liza Boker pictured in my "Israel Fashion Art" album-book."שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"

 Today I was happy to discover that charming Alber, who kindly wrote an introduction to the book continues to draw from it inspiration.

This time I'm referring to the above top with the two flowers on its breasts, which seems to have been inspired by photos included in the "Two Roses" chapter of the book. One of them is a photo of a bikini designed by Gideon Oberson and Dori Csengeri and the other is a picture of a t-shirt designed by Pritsi.

In an interview by Julia Reed in the September 2012 Wall Street Journal devoted to fall's fashion - among other things Alber refers to his opinion about inspiration sources: "...The idea is that you look at a dress and say "Well, that's a great dress". It doesn't matter if you take it  from the maharajah, from Brigitte bardot, from the 60s or the 80s. The important thing is to erase the evidence.".

Did "Israel Fashion Art" Album-Book by Nurit Bat-Yaar Inspire Paris' S/S 2012 catwalk?

Liza Boker fabric snake outfit in Avi Ganor's photo exclusive to "Israel Fashion Art"
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" album-book by Nurit Bat-Yaar, modeled by Tami Ben-Ami.

Hi, when prince charming, beloved Alber Albaz of Lanvin (who made the presigeous Time magazine's 100 List) kindly wrote an introduction to my album-book "Israel Fashion Art" "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" he concentrated on our very first encounter. It was before he had even registered for fashion studies at Shenkar. He was a soldier in charge of cultural affairs and approached me asking if I would agree to give a fashion lecture to some soldier girls within a small fashion show of Liza boker's designs. No wonder Boker, was Alber's choice. She was one of Israel's most creative fashion talents in the 1980s and was very highly regarded by Alber.

After viewing Lanvin's s/s 2012 magnificent show a couple of weeks ago - I couldn't stop thinking of
Elbaz's appreciation of her. The reason was Alber's stunning Svarovsky snake dresses design. Was Elbaz inspired by Boker's fabric snake design seen here above. By the idea of its swirling around the the model's body and neck? I believe so. Consciounsly or un-consciously seeing it and recalling it in "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" must have influenced his own very unique snake dresses designs.
And thus, I am happy to conclude that the historic album-book "Israel Fashion Art" had its share in inspiring Paris catwalks creations.



Alber Elbaz for Lanvin Paris s/s 2012 Photo curtsey of Style.com

This was not the first time Alber made references in his Lanvin's creations to his Israeli cultural hertigage. Another one was a collection he created from long strips of grosgrain ribbons which corresponded with a dress Maskit's Fini Leitersdorf designed for Golda Meir (for her meeting with Gana's President) from such ribbons during the Tsena period, when rationing policy made fabrics scarced and need became the mother of invention.

More Accolades to "Israel Fashion Art - 1948-2008" Album Book

Hanoch Reichelson in an Alber Elbaz creation designed during his Shenkar years. Photo exclusive to Nurit Bat-Yaar's book "Israel Fashion Art - 1948-2008" :Sami Ben-Gad

Hi, Today I would like to thank some of the many readers of "Israel Fashion Art -
1948-2008" album-book published by the academic publishing house "Resling" which is called in Hebrew:
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"
The readers which were kind enough to share with me their heartwarming impressions from the book.

This is the 11th bunch of responses I have posted here. The previous ones were posted on  Feb, 20, 2010, on Aug, 3, 2010, on Aug, 13, 2010, on Sept. 16, 2010, on Oct. 6, 2010, on Oct.23, 2010, on Nov. 26, 2010 , and on Dec. 16, 2010, Jan.2, 2011 and on March 16, 2011 posts.

Responses from the Academy were posted on (May 3, 2010 ), Museum Curators (July 18, 2010), and the Press (June 16, 2010) .

Shimon Peres, Israel's President's so highly appreciated, heart-warming response was posted on Oct. 15, 2010.

The first two responses Cybil Goldfeiner of Comme Il Faut: "A stunning book", and
designer Dorin Frankfort's WOW!!!!! were actually received last year. The delay in including them in the blog is a result of the fact that they weren't sent via the net but were written on greeting cards attached to symbolic tokens of appreciation.

The rest of the responses were received via the net, mostly from my virtual Facebook friends. Some as a response to a post in which I suggested the book would make a fit gift on the occasion of a certain holiday. I am very grateful to all the people for their enthusiastic responses and accolades and especially to Hanoch Reichelson who expressed his opinion that my special contribution to the country justifies granting  yours truly the "Israel's Award" ("Prass Israel").  Thanks so much from the depth of my heart Hanoch.

סיביל גולדפיינר Cybil Goldfeiner, Comme Il Faut. Feb. 2010
לנורית, רציתי להגיד מברוק. ספר מדהים.
כל הכבוד,סיביל וכל משפ. קום איל פו.

דורין פרנקפורט Dorin Frankfurt, Fashion Designer. Feb. 2010
WOW!!!!!

תמי קאלי Tami Kali, Facebook. Feb.27,2011
"גם אני רכשתי... אני קוראת בעונג רב. ספר חשוב שנותן מבט היסטורי על צבעי הגיזרה של החברה הישראלית. תודה נורית למתנה מופלאה."

דריה מוזס Darya Mozes, Feb.28, 2010. FB .
ספר מופלא שקיבלתי מבן לם מתנה,אושר צרוף

רפאל קינן Rafaelle Kynan, March 1, 2011. FB .
ספר מצוין התבוננתי בו ורכשתיו לפני כשבועיים

שחף לילך Lilach Shachaf, FB. March 2, 2011
יש לי את הספר מרגע השקתו והוא מקסים ומאוד מעשי

קרן גוטמן Keren Gutman, March3, 2011. FB.
נורית שלום
מעריכה מאוד את כתיבתך ופועלך
תודה על ספרים וקטלוגים נפלאים
חזק ואמץ
בהערכה
קרן.

אטי יעקובזון . Eti Yakobson, fashion designer. March,3,2011
אכן הספר הוא עדות "לתפארת האופנה בישראל" שחלפה ואיננה עוד לצערי."
אביבה בראל Aviva Barel, FB. March 4, 2011
היי נורית, ערב טוב
תודה על חברותך הוירטואלית! אצטרף בשמחה ובהנאה מרובה למועדון אוהדי הספר! יישר כח על העבודה המדהימה!!! ברכות מירושלים, אביבה

ליאורה בסון לרש Liora Bassoon,B.A., Researcher. March 9, 2011 Lerech
ספרך מונח במרכז הסלון אצלנו בבית. אנחנו נהנות לדפדף בדפיו המשובחים ובצילומים הנהדרים. את מומחית בתחומך וראויה על הערכה רבה על האלבום הזה.

יסמין לוי Yasmine levi, "Yedioth Ahronoth" Journalist. March 10, 2011
מתנה מופלאה ונהדרת. כמוך

דבי צבעוני Debbie Zivoni, Facebook. March 11, 2011
"אכן מומלץ ביותר!"

חנוך רייכלסון Hannoch Reichelson, Fashion. March 16, 2011
נורית, אין עליך, שנה הבאה אני ממליץ עליך לפרס ישראל על תרומה מיוחדת למדינה".

Israeli Fashion Posters in New Exhibit. Alber Elbaz about Nurit Bat-Yaar @ "Israel Fashion Art"

In Genesis' story of creation Tuesday is marked as a special day since on that day G-d said twice "Good". Hence, till our times Tuesday is considered to be an especially  good day. This particular Tuesday was indeed such a day for me. Not one but 2 good things relating to the album-book occurred.

The first one: "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" FACEBOOK FAN CLUB reached its 1600th fan. To mark this special occasion I uploaded Alber Elbaz's forward to the book in which he recalls our very first meeting when he was just an 18 years old soldier.
Among other things he kindly writes that I was his oracle when he made his first steps on the fashion arena and that I opened for him the window to a dream world.
Thanks so much dear Alber.

Alber Elbaz' forward to the album-book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008"

The second one: Sociologist and author Prof. Oz Almog announced the opening of an exhibition of my 60s fashion, ads, and poster photos in his website:
  אלבומי תמונות - אנשים ישראל

http://www.peopleil.org/ :
תערוכה מרתקת של נורית בת יער על ראשית תעשיית האופנה הישראלית אצלנו "באנשים ישראל". כולכם מוזמנים לקרוא ולצפות

נורית בת-יער, מחברת הספר "שיכרון עיצובים – אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008", מוכרת לרבים כעיתונאית וחוקרת אופנה. אבל לקריירה התקשורתית קדמה קריירה עשירה בתחום הדוגמנות. בריג'יט בארדו, שפרצה לתודעה בשלהי שנות החמישים של המאה העשרים, השפיעה על ענף הפרסום והאופנה בארץ. "לוק" האישה-ילדה השובב-צעיר של בארדו

Among some magazine covers, a postcard, and other black & white as well as color photos there are four pictures from the book  "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008" Three of them of "Maskit" handwoven and embroidered creations.
Thanks very much dear Prof. Oz Almog and Dr. Tamar Almog.

<

Hand embroidered little black dress, handwoven fabric and a rug. all by Maskit. Model: Nurit Bat-Yaar.
Photo from the book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" now on exhibit @www.peopleil.org

"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" In Simona Kogan's Blog.

Hi, today I would like to thank Simona Kogan for writing about "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" in her blog:  Fashion Israel אופנה ישראלית - http://fashionisrael.wordpress.com/
At this point Simona chose to concentrate on my friendship with "Lanvin"'s Alber Elbaz

who is featured in the album-book in several photos (including this one taken in 1994 by Rafael Fuchs and stylised by me for "Yedioth Ahronoth", when Alber was designingfor Jeffrey Been).  Alber Elbaz was also kind enough to write an introduction for my book, describing there, in his own words, our very first meeting when he was still a soldier in charge of cultural affairs.

Simona shares with her blog's readers the story about how I had followed Elbaz's career since this first meeting till his outstanding success as the designer who, according to U.S Vogue turned "Lanvin" to the world's most desired fashion label. She concludes her post with the following sentence: "As I read the book and learn more about Bat-Yaar and her genius, there will definitely be more on this blog as she is essential to understanding the history of Israeli fashion."

Thanks so much Simona.

The Surrealistic Fable of Alber Elbaz in "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book.

Alber Elbaz 1987 design while still a Shenkar Student. Photo: Samy Ben-Gad.           An "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album book exclusive.

Hi, on the happy occasion of Facebook's Fan Club of the book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008"
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" having reached the round cute number (with its 3 infinity signs) of 888 Book's Fans I've uploaded this ALBER ELBAZ photo taken by Sami Ben-Gad, and modeled by Hanoch Reichelson.

This Boho-chic very captivating outfit was created by Alber in 1987 while he was a Shenkar student, his unique talent already showing up. In case you are not aware of it, about three years ago or so Alber made Time magazine's most prestigious 100 list and U.S. Vogue wrote that he turned Lavin's into the most desired label in the world.

Alber Elbaz also kindly wrote one of the introductions to my album book. So, if you are wondering how in the world did I manage to have this fashion world leader, admired and cherished by so many, write for me the introduction to my book? Well, it only took a phone call and a couple of reminders to this world-trotting designer. This is because in spite of Alber's unbelievable success, he remained the humble Prince Charming he always was (which is also one of his secrets of success), never forgetting who helped him when he had just started his career and even prior to it.

To tell you the truth, in my eyes Alber is no less than my very own surrealistic fable. Something that maybe can happen (if at all) only once in a lifetime. It is all told partly in his introduction to my book and in the book's Chapter "On the map - Israel Dresses World's Leading Fashion Icons." But I'll briefly recap the story here.

When I got a phone call in 1981 from an anonymous caller who introduced himself as a guide-soldier in charge of cultural affairs requesting that I give a talk about fashion at an event he wanted to organize for a group of female soldiers with Liza Boker designs and two of the leading models of the time, Tami Ben-Ami and Pinchy Mor - I wasn't prepared to say yes. But something in his personality (G-d knows what, perhaps his charm) must have convinced me to do it and I said OK to this 19 yr old soldier. Did I know then that this youngster would one day step into YSL's shoes designing the King's Rive Gauche line while the Master was still alive and personally approve the choice of his replacement?

No one could have predicted it then. That's why it sounds so surrealistic to me. A couple of weeks after the event for which Alber sent me a framed thank-you from his army department - his second call arrived. This time he was asking whether I would agree to meet with him again in order to take a look at some fashion drawing he created. Always searching after new budding talents - this was a request I couldn't refuse. He showed me his very colorful and vivid illustrations which definitely expressed his imaginative approach to fashion design. I praised him, adding a small piece of advice of my own suggesting he limit the number of exciting zones in one gown to preferably one point of intense attraction.

The next thing I knew Alber was accepted to Shenkar as a student. I kept track of him and his work there and posted one of his first Shenkar designs (Tami Ben-Ami modeling along with Basketball star Olsi Perry's son) on "Yedioth Ahronot"'s news pages. It was at the time the newspaper added color and the news pages editor Moshe Vardi requested I'd take advantage of it and contribute some of my fashion images to add pizazz to those pages as well.

Needless to say, I also reported about Alber's original outfits which he wore to the parties held at Shenkar. Nor did I miss any important move he made in the international arena, traveling to N.Y to interview him at Geoffrey Beene's, interviewing him once he moved to Paris to "Guy Laroche", attending his historic 1st YSL fashion show in Paris , including his YSL and Guy Laroche images in the exhibit "Glimpses of Glamour in The Mirror of a Century" which I curated (and which opened the millennium at Israel Photography Museum in Tel-Hai), talking with him when he did a special line for Italian designer Krizia, and covering his fabulous success at Lanvin.

It's been good to know you cultural-affairs soldier guide turned into a fabled Prince Charming Alber. Many thanks for the wonderful introduction you kindly wrote for my fashion album-book. It sort of closes a circle.