Israeli Fashion from "Israel Fashion Art" book in British & U.S.A Web-Magazines

A Silvia Vered design in a Ido Lavie photo exclusive for "Israel Fashion Art" album-book by Nurit Bat-Yaar.

Hi, The fact that Israeli fashion and creativity has a lot to offer internationally has been

proven time and again when world fashion icons such as Jacky Kenedy Onassis, Princess

Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, Sarah Jessica Parker and many others had worn gowns, beachwear,

leather wear, and accessories designed by Israelis. This is all discussed in my album-book

 "Israel Fashion Art"   "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"

both in a chapter devoted to the subject as well as in relevant fashion concepts chapters.

This is one of the reasons I would like to interest an overseas publisher who would help bring

this coffee table book of mine to international crowd of fashionistas and culture and art lovers. 

Hence, I was very happy to discover that awarness of the book had reached an English and an American web magazines this week. My thanks for this goes to Anna la Germaine

of the London based Fashion Politics magazine: Israel Fashion-Art Book by Nurit Bat-Yaar Fashion Politics
http://www.f-politics.com/
who published part of the interview about the book (which was originally done by Daina Ryan Reed and Sonya Golod of http://dreedtea.com/giveaway-israeli-fashion-art-coffee-table-book.html ) providing its readers with the option to go to Dreedtea and read the article in full and view all the images included in it.

Thanks very much also to Benjamin Ivry of The Jewish Daily Forward. In his book report there named: Israeli Fashionistas in Under 500 Years – The Arty Semite – Forward ... in which he discussed
another book by Anat Helman he refered to "Israel Fashion Art" as well writing: "

A useful complement to Helman’s historical reflections is the lavishly illustrated book by Nurit Bat-Yaar, Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008 out last year from Resling Publishers, Tel Aviv. Former longtime fashion editor of the Yedioth Aharonot daily"...

In addition to that, Benjamin Ivry provides his readers with two video recordings of  Television  interviews about "Israel Fashion Art" (which he must have picked in U Tube) in which I'm discussing the book with Liat Regev of Channel 1 and with Moshe Datz of Channel 2.

To see the above please click: http://blogs.forward.com/the-arty-semite/148632/

Thanks so  much!!!

"Israel Fashion Art" Album-Book offered by DreedTea.com as a Holiday Gift

An article about "Israel Fashion Art" album-book at dreedtea.com website published today.

Hi, This week my album-book "Israel Fashion Art"  "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" enjoyed two different kinds of exposure. In the beginning of the week it was recommended by Nansi Brandes who hosted a panel discussion in the Moshe Sharet Hall of the municipality of Petach-Tikva. The panel included singer Miri Aloni, T.V. director Nurit Keidar, fashion designer Sasson Kedem, pasta producer chef Moshe Barel and physician author Dr. Dina Eisen. Each one was interviewed by the musician and humorist host Nansi Brandes about his profession/book and Miri Aloni sang some of her lovely hits. It was fun dear Nansi. Thank you very much.

Today, an interview Sonya Godol and Daina Reed-Eiland conducted with me was published in the dreedtea.com website at:
http://dreedtea.com/giveaway-israeli-fashion-art-coffee-table-book.html
It includes quite a number of striking images from the book as well as Yuli Ziv's of http://www.myitthings.com/ quote defining the book as "The first ever Israeli fashion Bible". Thank you very much dear Daina and Sonya. I appreciate it very much.

dreedtea is also offering a copy of the book as a Hanuka gift to whomever of its readers will win it
in the raffle they are holding. So, if you don't have the book yet or if you would like to get an
additional copy as a holiday gift for your dear ones this is your chance to win a free copy. Good Luck and Happy Holiday!!!

Coins - From 1968 Fashion week to TLV's 2012 FW & "Israel Fashion Art" Book.

Dorit Bar Or, "Dodo". Photo: Avi Valdman
TLV Fashion Week for s/s 2012

Tel Aviv Fashion Week organised and produced by fashion shows' director and TV producer Motty Reif and by Ophir Lev of the Israeli Textile and Fashion Association brough an air of glam to the country's cultural capital last week. Guest of honor Roberto Cavalli showed his s/s 2012 fabulous collection and fashion reporters from the international arena arrived to cover 16 fashion shows of local Israeli designers. One of the new designers who inaugurated her catwalk experience during the TLV FW was Dorit Bar-Or of "Dodo". Bar-Or was also one of the few designers whose collection was inspired by Israel's cultural heritage. Her main motive being golden coins - she concluded her show with a short performance by a profesional belly dancer.

All this brought to mind my album-book "Israel Fashion Art"  "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"
and its chapter: "Coins - from Mobile bank to the Sexiest Sight on the Beachfront". In this chapter I trace the source of the use of the coins element in clothing from the times coins were integrated in Yemenite womens' hoods and in Beduine women's veils to whom they served as a means of survival till modern times in which they are used as a purely decorative element.

The use of coins in modern day Israel had a special significance. If I may quote my own words in my book: 'coins that turned up in archeological digs...exposed the biblical past and helped create a unifyng national identity for citizens of Israel who were gathered from exile, and also confirmed our ancient claim to the land of our fathers." Through the designs of Fini Leitersdorf of "Maskit" and her followers coins became one of the most exciting components of the new original Israeli style both as a unique, exotic ornament and as a medium that bridged the past and the present.

A 1968 Fini Leitersdorf creation for "Maskit". Photo (exclusive to "Israel Fashion Art" album-book by Nurit Bat-Yaar): Peter Hertsog

Above, you can see the use of coins in a "Maskit" creation shown in 1968 Fashion Week. In some of my previous posts I've uploaded other coins images from "Israel Fashion Art" book such as the Yemenite coins hood worn by singer Ofra Haza (Nov. 9, 2010 post) and the 1997 red-carpet style coins gown of Shay Shalon (July 28, 2010 post). Dorit Bar-Or whose design image is at the top of this post manifests yet another exciting interpretation of the subject. In her design the element which corresponds with Israel's cultural heritage is combined with the current geometric trend which gives it a whole new perspective.

Dorit Bar-Or's finale, describes above, also corresponded with some the book's coins-chapter opening lines: "...there's nothing more intoxicating...than the site of gold coins twirling, glinting, delicately chiming, when they're wrapped around the silky curves of an exotic dancer."

"Israel Fashion Art" Book by Nurit Bat-Yaar shows that "Israeli Fashion is Authentic & Kicking".

One of the Castro design images (1997) exclusive to the album-book "Israel Fashion Art". Photo: Isri Halpern
Styling: Nurit Bat-Yaar. model: Amit Machtinger.

Hi, Book Week is over by now. Nevertheless, a few days ago I came a cross a great recommendation about my book
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"
 in the Castro Fashion magazine in an article called Inspiring Books in honor of Book Week:  "The book of the fashion researcher and journalist Nurit Bat-Yaar is a milestone in the country's fashion literature. It's a lavish historic album that is fun to leaf through and discover cherished clothes...which remind us that we have an authentic, kicking Israeli fashion.
"ספרה של העיתונאית וחוקרת האופנה נורית בת יער הוא אבן דרך בספרות האופנה בארץ, והוא אלבום מהודר של צילומי אופנה מההיסטוריה הלא ארוכה של האופנה בישראל. נחמד לדפדף בספר ולגלות פרסומות, בגדים אהובים מהאייטיז ותמונות ארכיון שיזכירו לכולם שגם כאן יש אופנה ישראלית בועטת ואותנטית".

שבוע הספר האופנתי
http://www.castromagazine.co.il/
ספרי עיצוב, ספרי צילום, ספרי אופנה וכל מה שנותן לנו השראה לכבוד שבוע הספר

Other, highly appreciated responses the book earned came my way via Facebook. Here are some of them. This is the 13th  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 and on June 27, 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.

הדר מרום Hadar Marom, FB. May 10, 2011 חגיגה לעיניים. הצטרף לא מכבר לרשימת המתנות שלי לעצמי.

נעמי נוריאל Naomi Nuriel, FB. May 11, 2011
אהבתי את הספר עוד כשראיתי אותו בסטימצקי לפני פחות משנה, אז קניתי אותו.

שרון פייביש Sharon Faibish, fashion designer. May 12, 2011
קראתי את הספר הנהדר. כל הכבוד ו... תודה על האיזכור. שרון. לכבוד הוא לי להיות מוזכר בספר.

אורית פרייליך Orit Freilich, Shenkar prof. May 16, 2011 ספרך מרהיב ביופיו

דנה וקסלר-ספקטור May 16, 2011 Dana Wexler-Spector, former Beauty Queen.
מרשים ביותר..קיבלתי את הספר כמתנה לפני כשנה:-))

ליאלי האווה Lialy Hawa. FB. May 18, 2011
שלום
היום קניתי את הספר שלך
רציתי להגיד לך שאני נהנית מכל מילה שכתבת בספר
במיוחד הרקמות עשו לי את היום המון תודה
בכבוד רב
ליאלי

תמי גוטמן-משיח Tami Gutman-Mashiah, Prof. @ Wizo Haifa Academy
נורית בת יער היקרה, אשמח אם תפרגני גם לי ותציגי את הדגם שלי של הצפרדעים מיערות הגשם ,מתוך ספרך המדהים. ממליצה בחום לכולם לקרוא ולצפות בו,ספר חובה לכל ישראלי ולא רק לחובבי האופנה.

שרון דובז'ינסקי Sharon Dobjinsky, "At" journalist , May 26, 2011
נורית היקרה ביותר!
גם הספר וגם קטלוג התערוכה "הבזקי זוהר" הם מעבר לנהדרים!

אורלי רוזן Orli Rosen, Designer. FB. May 27, 2011
Hi Nurit,
I am very much familiar with your book, and I think your work of research is quite exquisite.
I myself have been very occupied by Israeli fashion through out the decades, to realize that we have a very unique sense of style that is able to modify itself.
Your book is essentialy educating for generations to come, and to hopefully encourage more books to be written about Israeli fashion.
Kind regards,
Orli.

דפנה מאור בלסקי Dafna Maor Belsky. FB. May 30,2011
היי נורית,
יש לי את הספר בבית והוא מדהים, ממש עבודת קודש עשית. מצאתי בו דברים מרתקים, במיוחד לאור תחום העיסוק שלי... נהנתי מאוד לקרוא אותו. שאפו!‬

Bar Refaeli in "Israel's Fashion Art" album-book's FB's Fan Club Page which counts now 2,000 FANS.

Bar Refaeli in a 2004 Eyal Nevo image exclusive to the album-book "Israel Fashion Art" by Nurit Bat-Yaar.

Hi, "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book's Facebook Fan Club reached 2,000 fans!!! Thank you so much dear book fans!!! On this happy occasion I would like to share with you this very special image of a very special model: international fashion photography model BAR REFAELI, former love of film star Leonardo Dicaprio and one of the most perfect specimens of world beauty.

This is one of several full-page photos of Bar featured in the album-book. This specific one opens the chapter "Talking Clothes" which is about T shirts and other fashion pieces featuring written-up slogans and messages and photos that are printed on them. Believing that slogans such as :"A woman without a man is like a fish without bicycles" (by Feminist Gloria Stenheim), "Make Love Not War", "Black is Beautiful" etc., provide sort of a quick course about free world culture  - I decided to devote a special chapter to this concept.

As I did in other chapters here too I traced the sources of the custom to attach words to clothes to the Bible's High Priest, widening the discussion to its appearance in art works such as Braque and Picasso's collages and to present day's Jenifer Bar-Lev's fabric works, etc.

To visit FaceBook Book's Fan Club Page please go to link:

http://pitsi.com/7xt

By the way, do you have any idea what does the white swan pillow is doing in the picture? It has nothing to do with the film "White Swan, Black Swan". Nor with the Sawn Lake ballet. It's there as a reminder that Bar's nick-name is Bar-Boor, the Hebrew word for swan! 



"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" and the President's Two Wives

Harem-style overall pants by Miri Shafir. A 60s photo exclusive to "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" by Ben Lam.

Hi, the wonderful letter Israel's current President Shimon Peres wrote to me about the album-book "Israel fashion Art 1948-2008"
"שיכרון עיצובים – אמנות האופנה בישראל"
was posted here on October 15, 2010. Today, I would like to share with you an anecdote related to the book and an additional Israeli president:
former President Itshak Navon.

President Navon who like President Peres was closely associated with Israel's first Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion purchased the book as a gift to his wife Miri Shafir. Hearing this from Miri, naturally made me very happy.

Unlike any other person – former President Navon had not one but two reasons to get the book: his two wives. His present wife Miri shafir is a former fashion designer whose creations are featured in the book. His first wife the late Ofira (Erez) Navon, who was Israel's first lady during his presidency years – is also featured in the book.

Ofira Erez as the "Typical Sabra" in 1956 in a photo exclusive to "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book

In her youth, in 1956 Ofira was chosen by the weekly magazine "Haolam Haze" as the "Typical Sabra" representing the best-looking Israeli-born gal. With her lovely thick braid and her Yemenite-embroidered festive gowns she was sort of a fashion icon. I remember that as a young girl I used to look up to her and the excitement she aroused when she visited my parents' apartment in order to choose some olive-wood earrings and wide decorative pony-tail or braid pins for her trip to Paris for the international competition organized by Elle magazine.

No wonder, then, that a portrait of her, in her typical Israeli look, with her braid and a Yemenite embroidered dress, which she gave me, upon my request, many years ago is featured in the book.

                                                      ************                                          
A few days ago, Israel celebrated its 63rd Independence Day. I would like
to take this opportunity to thank dear Victoria Dolinsky Vice General Manager of Radio Reka for broadcasting on this special holiday an interview about the book in Russian for the benefit of the country's Russian newcomers.

Photos from the book (of a Gideon Oberson 1963 gown) were featured on that holiday in a Yaara Yaacov article in "Maariv"'s "Signon" magz. & in
http://www.nrg.co.il/
and in Merav Crystal's article (of a "Rosh Indiani" and a "Topper"
80s designs) in the website of "Yedioth Ahronoth": http://www.ynet.co.il/
Thank you both dear Yaara and Merav.

Israeli Fashion & "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" Going International.

Lea Gottlieb for Gottex beachwear. Photo: Ben Lam



From right: Shay Shalom gown. Photo: Yaniv Edri. Saruel-style jeans by Frau Blau. Photo: Sasha Flit.



From right: Shirt by gershon Bram. Photo: Ido Lavi. Portrait of Nurit Bat-Yaar. Photo: Ron Kedmi.

Hi, my hope is that a translated version of the album-book "Israel Fashion Art - 1948-2008"
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008"
would be published overseas. This would bring the creative and original aspects of Israeli fashion design to the attention of design, art, esthetics, and culture lovers everywhere. Also, it would enrich the variety of albums about Israel beyond books about Jerusalem and would give people overseas another view of Israel and its culture not ordinarily seen on TV and in the News.

Therefore I am very happy and gratefull whenever the book is mentioned in articles outside of Israel. Up to now overseas articles about the book appeared in Yuli Ziv's New York's "My It Things" web magazine @http://myitthings.com/Yuli/Post/fashion/It-Thing/It-Book:--Israel-s-Fashion-Art---1948-2008--by-Nurit-Bat-Yaar./593252010130272281.htm
.
Also in New York's Fashion Institue of Technology's blog "On Pins and Needles" in an article by Keren Ben-Horin's @http://pinsndls.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/from-rags-to-riches-israeli-fashion-rediscovered/


About these two book coverages I reported here previously.


Last week another article was published overseas. This time by Sima Borkowsky in the Swiss magazine "Tachles". Sima interviewed me about Israeli fashion using the above photos from the book. As the author of "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" and the former fashion editor ( for several decades) of "Yedioth Ahronoth" I was in a position to tell her about the very unique beginning of Israel's fashion originating in Rut Dayan's "Maskit" as well as about the great success of Israeli fashion designers all over the world, and the leading fashion icons, Jacquline Kennedy, Princess Diana, Katherine Hepborn and many others who wore Israeli designed creations.
Thank-you Sima. I appreciate it very much.

"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" has an International Potential.

Hi, Today I would like to express my appreciation to all the kind readers of "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" (Resling)  הוצאת רסלינג) "שיכרון עיצובים אמנות האופנה בישראל

A Yehuda Dor design exclusive to the book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008"
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"
photographed by Sami Ben-Gad.

who shared with me their excitement and accolates about the album-book. Dotan Sofer who indicates that "the excellent album-book has an international potential". Ron Assouline who believes "calling the book "Israel's Fashion Bible" wouldn't fully express the scope of this phenomenal creation of artistic mosaic of a country still in its cradle".  Dana Friman who generously claims I'm a "National Treasure" and all the other book's readers whose enthusiasm is expressed in the following quotes.

This is the 10th bunch of responses posted here. It is rather a long bunch since in fact I've united two bunches I've gathered into one.


Earlier responses 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 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.

יפה גרנבאו Yaffa Grebenao, Former model & exporter.Dec.25,2010
נורית יקרה, רב תודות על ברכות, על שהנצחת גם אותי בספרך המדהים, ועל חברות נעימה ומפרה.. בפייס

דותן סופר
 Dotan Sofer, musician. Jan. 2, 2011
ממליץ בחום , לדעתי לספר שלך יש פוטנציאל בינלאומי, למרות שאינני מבין באופנה, מהמעט שראיתי הוא ספר מצוין, מפורט , מסקרן וערוך מעולה, הוא יעבור גם במדינות שאינן ישראל למרות שהוא עוסק בישראל , אבל אני מניח שישראל השפיעה ובטח הושפעה מהנעשה בתחום בעולם.... קשה לי להאמין שתוכניות בוקר או לייף סטייל לא יגלו עניין באוצר כזה.

דנה פרימן Dana Friman, Facebook.Jan.10,2011
את אישה יפהפייה ונכס לאומי,
את גורמת לי להרגיש גאה
במורשת ובתרבות שלנו כישראלים.(:
יום מקסים
ד

דליה ארזי Dalya Arazi, wife of Scitex's genius Efi Arazi, Jan.16,2011
Dalya wrote:
"נורית יקרה! את מדהימה!
את אישה השראה!
הספר שלך מהמם! ברמה עולמית! איזה עיצוב, איזו איכות של צילומים! אין מילים!
תודה:))"
את גדולה מהחיים! אין דברים כאלה!

אוראל כהן Orel Cohen, Fashion Blogger, Jan.17, 2011
מדהים מדהים מדהים!
הספר ראוי לכל תגובה שהוא זוכה לה - מומלץ!

ברק אביעם Barak Aviam, Fashion teacher, Jan.22,2011
כמובן כמובן שקיבלתי אותו ליומולדתי בשנה שעברה
ואני שמח וטוב לבב ממנו
ו.. מלמד ממנו ולומד ממנו

ליאורה בסון לרש' Liora Basson Lerech, Researcher Jan.28, 2011
אני מחזקת את הכיוון של נורית בעבודתה המקסימה ,הלבוש על מכלול מרכיביו הוא בבואה היסטורית נאמנה המייצגת את הזיכרון קולקטיבי של עם, מדינה וכו. בתקופות שונות . דרכו ובאמצעותו ניתן ללמוד היסטוריה
כל הכבוד לנורית בת-יער שהרימה את הכפפה ה"ישראלית" . תודה לנורית על האלבום המרהיב

פרופ' עוז אלמוג Prof. Oz Almog, Haifa Univ. Sociologist & author. Jan. 28, 2011
תודה ליאורה על דבריך המחכימים. היום יש באמת יותר ויותר מודעות היסטורית וסוציולוגית לביגוד והופעה חיצונית. זה מתבטא גם ביותר מוזיאונים ותערוכות המוקדשים לנושא. בישראל עדיין הנושא בחיתוליו ונורית בת יער מאד תורמת לפיתוחו.

רון אסולין Ron Assouline, Founder & President of Filmind. Jan.30,2011
נורית יקרה
הספר מאלף!!! רציתי להגיד שזה ממש התנ"ך של האופנה הישראלית אבל זו אמירה שמקטינה את גודל המפעל העצום - בנית פה את הפסיפס האמנותי ואת הייחוד של מדינה שעדיין נמצאת בחיתוליה.

ענבל מימרם Inbal B Mimran , Fashion designer. Feb.1, 2011
שלום נורית,
הספר שלך הוא ספר חובה לכל מעצב בארץ

Maya Eshet, "AT" journalist. Feb.3,2011 מיה עשת
"מומלץ!"

פזית דור Pazit Dor, Designer. Feb. 3, 2011
איזו התרגשות לראות את התמונה הניצחית הזו כל פעם מחדש.... זו אחת התמונות המפורסמות של יהודה דור.... היא היתה על קיר שלם אצלנו בסטודיו......
נוריתי יש לי את הספר המשובח שלך.. שהוא מדהים ומרגש..... ו
אני גם קניתי אותו פעם כמתנה לחברה..
תודה גדולה... כבוד הוא לנו."

אורנה מזור Orna Mazor, Shenkar design courses manager .Feb.4,2011
שמי אורנה , אני מתעסקת בעיצוב פנים ובסטיילינג ומנהלת את קורסי העיצוב בשנקר הנדסאים את מוזמנת להצטרף לקבוצה
ולהמליץ על הספר המצוין שלך ! בהצלחה גדולה אורנה מזור

חפציבה זר אביב Heftsiba Zer Aviv, Facebook. Feb.5, 2011
ספר תעודי מרהיב ואת מדהימה גם ביופייך וגם במפעל החיים בעולם האופנה הישאלי...בראוו

Shira Mayzenberg, Editor @www.onlife.co.il, Feb. 8,2011 שירה מייזנברג
יצא לי לאחוז את ספרך הנפלא בידיי ולעיין בו (עד לא מזמן עבדתי ברשת שוקן והספר הגיע לעורכת התרבות, ומובן שביקשתי לעיין בו).

Yasmine Levi, journalist @ Yedioth Ahronoth Feb.9,2011 יסמין לוי
וכמובן, אין על נורית וספרה המושלם, ערב מקסים דיר

מירלה משה אלבו Mirale Moshe Alvo, Poet. Feb. 9, 2011
מאושרת שעבודותיי זכו להיכלל בספרך האלמותי על האופנה בישראל

Orly Adiri, Facebook. Feb.12, 2011 אורלי
יש לי חנות יד שנייה והספר שלך המדהים הוא ערך מוסף בתוכה. תודה

אילנה מרגלית Ilana Margalit. Fashion shows producer. Feb. 17, 2011
 נורית יקרה.רכשתי את שיכרון עיצובים .רק עילעלתי ונהנתי.תזכורת מהנה לתקופה שאני מכירה אישית את הדמויות המופיעות בספרך.ואני אמשיך לקרוא ולראות את היופי שבאופנה.שבת שלום
 ועוד מאילנה מרגלית: שלום נורית. רואים את ההשקעה הגדולה שהשקעת.ואכן התוצאה מהממת ומענגת. רואים שיד מקצועית ומבינה הוציאה יצירה כזאתעלי והצליחי

Israeli Fashion in early Tel-Aviv

Pnina and Isaac Polishook, Tel-Aviv in the forties.



From right: Dr. Eliezer (Lusia) Matan, Isaac Polishook. Tel-Aviv beach, in the thurties.

Hi, Although the book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" focuses on creative Israeli fashion since the country's inception - an article by Neta Halperin published last Friday in the weekly "Ahbar Ha-ir" of "Haaretz" daily newspaper (for which I was interviewed) raised the question why Tel-Avivians prefer casual dress code nowadays. To be precise the title on the magazine's cover was "Why Tel-Aviv still doesn't dress-up?". One of the reasons suggested by culture writer Neta was our warm weather. In one of the answers to this - she quotes yours truly writing: "There's no doubt that Israel's climate influences the tendency to dress more casually...agrees Nurit Bat-Yaar, the fashion researcher and author of "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008", although a photo I had found in my family album testifies to the fact that in the 30s even on the Tel-Aviv beach people strolled in light bright suits. Not everyone was wearing pioneers' mode haki-colored bermuda pants". In view of this I've raised the question (in the Facebook book's Fan Club page) weather the title on the magazine's cover shouldn't be changed from "Why Tel-Aviv still doesn't dress-up?" to "Why Tel-Avivians no longer dress-up".

To illustrate this I uploaded to the book's Facebook Fan Club page a photo of my father in a light summer-suit and two of his friends in presentable slacks and shirts strolling on Tel-Aviv beach (on the sand itself) before its Tayelet-strolling pavement was even built.

So, although it's not a picture from the book I'm making an exception this time and uploading it here along with another Tel-Aviv photo (from the pre-book period) of my parents. By the way, to see additional early Tel-Aviv fashion you can visit the blog I did on that subject for the Tel-Aviv municipality website @www.snurl.com/a3jyv on the occasion of the city's 100th celebrations.

למה תל-אביב עדיין לא מתלבשת?"
תוהה הכותרת שבשער "עכבר העיר" האחרון, המפנה את הקוראים לכתבתה המקיפה של עתונאית התרבות נטע הלפרין. בכתבה מעלה נטע את האפשרות שהחום הוא בעוכרי אותם תל-אביבים
וכותבת: "אין ספק שהאקלים בארץ משפיע על הנטייה להתלבש באופן יותר קז'ואלי ופחות מוקפד, מסכימה נורית בת-יער, חוקרת אופנה ומחברת הספר "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008"
למרות שתמונה שמצאתי באלבום המשפחתי מעידה שבשנות ה-30 אפילו בחוף הים התל-אביבי טיילו בחליפות בהירות קלות. לא כולם הסתובבו במכנסי ברמודה בצבע חאקי".

כדי להמחיש לחברי הפייסבוק שלי את הדבר, העליתי לעמוד מועדון אוהדי הספר בפייסבוק תמונה שצולמה בתל-אביב בשנות ה-30 כאשר לעיר העברית הראשונה אפילו טרם הייתה טיילת ותושבי העיר טיילו לאורך רצועת החוף על החול עצמו.  בתמונה, ראשון מימין, נראה דודי ד"ר אליעזר (לוסיה) מתן שלימים הכיר לאבי את אחותו (אמי). לידו, שני מימין נראה אבי יצחק פולישוק בצעירותו בחליפה בהירה. בסיום הפוסט הצעתי שלאור זאת אולי כדאי היה להחליף את המילה עדיין במילה כבר? כך שהיא תהיה "למה תל-אביב כבר לא מתלבשת".

ראיות נוספות על כך שבתל-אביב הקטנה התלבשו יפה מאד אפשר לראות בבלוג "תולדות הסטייל" שכתבתי
באתר חגיגות המאה לת"א בלינק
www.snurl.com/a3jyv
בפרט בפוסט על שנות ה-30 בתמונת משפחת מירה ויגאל דנין ובפוסט על שנות ה-40 בתמונת אחותו של לובה אליאב שבחרתי מתוך אוסף "העיר הנגלית לעין" שנסרק לרגל שנת המאה.





"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" in Simona's "2010 Israeli Fashion Obsessions"

"This is a tribute to a noteworthy fashion book that came out this year, but it’s also a tribute to an experienced fashion historian and a fabulous, sophisticated person. Nurit Bat-Yaar was the former fashion editor of Israel’s most well-known newspaper Yedioth Ahronot for 26 years after a modeling stint for Maskit multicultural designs. She also wrote about American fashion for 5 years for the newspaper Maariv. There’s so much more to Nurit, but you’ll have to read about it to find out." writes fashion blogger and  journalist Simona Kogan, an American in Israel, in her "2010 Israeli Fashion Obsessions" post published today in her in her blog "Fashion Israel - אופנה ישראלית" @http://fashionisrael.wordpress.com/2011/01/05/2010-Israeli-fashion-obsessions/
shortened link: http://pitsi.com/7x5

Referring to the album-book called in Hebrew "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" Simona continues: "She certainly is an expert in the field, with her fashion experience culminating in the go-to book for Israeli fashion history: “Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008.” The book hits all of the major aspects that made Israeli fashion something special including everything from designers that based their work on exotic, cultural, and Middle Eastern trends in the Israeli environment to just how much Israeli designers made an impact on world fashion. While we have been in touch through e-mail for quite some time now, I finally had the chance to meet Ms. Bat-Yaar at the Philip Treacy event in December. I can tell you that she every bit the “first lady of fashion in Israel” that everyone says she is. I’m a fan of her style and her high collars which bring a sophistication to Israeli fashion I don’t often see. I’ve never met such a well-groomed, elegant woman in my life!"

Dear Simona,
You are so very kind. I thank you from the depth of my heart.

"Israel Fashion Art - 1948-2008" book-cover

Israeli Fashion in "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008": "A Million Dollar Looking Gift"

"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" book cover's photo by Miri Davidovich of a Jacob Harpaz gown.


Hi, One of the greatest responses "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008"
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל"
album-book received when it was recently offered on Facebook as a holiday gift was that "it's a million dollars looking gift". Aviva Pivco, a former successful Israeli designer who wrote it dressed many Israeli celebrities and actresses. She is represented in the book in the following unique design in which far-eastern influences meet a near-east hat. The 1984 Menahem Oz photo, was taken in Paris and modeled by Maybritt.

Today, I'm uploading the 8th part of the heart-warming book responses for which I'm so very grateful. In addition to the "million dollar looking gift" of Aviva, it includes "Yedioth Ahronoth"s Journalist Yasmin Levi's comment about the book: "Perfection", Mina Tselim, Gingette leather design founder's: "Unique book, photographed and edited gloriously",Lucy Zotoff's: "A fantastic book. Highly  recommended" and many other much appreciated comments.

Here they are in their original language:
סימונה קוגן Simona Kogan, Fashion Blogger. Oct. 29,2010

פוסט חדש: "סימונה קוגן הספר האלבומי "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל" ממש העניק לי השראה

שוש סבאג Sosh Sabaag, Facebook. Nov.4,2010
אני צפיתי וממש נהניתי מהתמונות אכן פאר של יצירות הכל מושקע מרשים ומושלם ב ה צ ל ח ההההההה"

לוסי זוטוף Lucy Zotoff, Facebook, Nov. 2010
ספר נפלא. מומלץ מאוד (!) גם למי שתחום העיסוק שלו קשור באופנה, וגם למי שמתעניין בתרבות ובהיסטוריה, ואוהב את האמנות והיופי.

אתי יעקובזון Etti Jacobson, Facebook. Nov. 9, 2010
תולדות הלבוש בא"י בתמונות ובצבעים משכרים .ניהנתי לקרוא.
הייתי שם.. חבל שהאפנה כיום היא ללא שכרון !

איריס קאופמן Iris L. Kaufman, Facebook, Nov.14,2010
בוקר טוב ושבוע טוב ! רציתי לומר לך שאת פשוט מלכה ואני כל כך שמחה לראות את התגובות שלך ואת שמך
הספר שלך מדהים כל בכבוד וכל טוב

שמחה מאד שאת משתפת אותי. תודה רבה

כבוד לי שיהיה יום טוב

שרית דמיר Sarit Damir, former model. Nov.16,.
מזדהה עם כל מה שנאמר על הספר ועליך יוצרתו.

עירית פלדמן Irit Feldman, Former model. Nov.17, 2010
‫נורית היי:) קניתי את הספר המקסים שלך וקיבלתי הפתעה נעימה כאשר מצאתי את עצמי שם פתאום לפני 16 שנה בערך ... תודה על המחמאה :) עירית פלדמן

מינה צאלים Mina Tselim, Nov. 19, 2010. Founder of Gingette Fashion
נורית עיינתי עמוקות בספרך המיוחד הכתוב מצולם וערוך לתפארה..ואף קניתי אותו כמתנת ראש השנה לחברותי ו..גם לי..תבורכי

"בכיף, בשמחה ובהערכה.מגיע לך כל הכבוד!"

יפה גרבנאו Yafa grebenau, Former model & exporter. Nov.20,2010
כבר סיפרתי לך נורית, שזאת המתנה הכי יפה שאני קונה לימיי הולדת של חברות, בארץ ובחו"ל.. ולימיי החגים כמובן, מתנה שווה באיכותה!!! חושבת שאני הקניינית הכי גדולה, ומפרגנת שלך! אך בעיקר מתנה מכובדת ומהנה!!!!!"

אביבה פיבקו Aviva Pivko, former fashion-designer. Nov. 20, 2010
Aviva wrote: "רכשתי-וזו מתנה שנראית מיליון דולר,לעלעל בה נותן תחושה של מיליון דולר-והמחיר ? האמת שהתכוננתי למחיר כפול...זו היתה הפתעה נעימה לשלם את המחיר הנדרש !!"

פנינה חסקלוביץ Pnina Chasklowicz, Nov. 20.2010 wrote:
"מסכימה לכל מילה!!!! המלצה של מיליון דולר!!!"

יסמין לוי 2010Yasmine Levi, journalist Yedioth Ahronoth, Nov.20
Yasmine wrote: "פרפקשן ;)"

אוסנת בלקין Belkind Scheps Osnat. Facebook. Nov,21,2010
"מקסים"

רפאל אזולאי Rafael Azuly, Facebook. Nov. 21, 2010
תודה! על התיעוד האנושי המדוקדק, שאני בטוח שחשיבותו רק תלך ותגדל לאורך השנים וההיסטוריה.

Earlier responses 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, and on Nov. 26, 2010 posts.


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

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

Tel Aviv's Mayor Ron Huldai about "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008"

Hi, Facebook's FAN CLUB of "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book
שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008
 has now over 1400 FANS. Many thanks dear book fans.

On this special occasion I am uploading a gracious letter the Mayor of Tel-Aviv, Mr. Ron Huldai has sent me regarding the album-book.

"Dear Nurit", writes the mayor, "I would like to thank you for the captivating book
that the beauty which sprouts in it is a testimony of the good concealed in us which has to just be uncovered. You with your great talent did it well!
Respectfully,
Ron Huldai
Mayor of Tel-Aviv-Jaffa"
בהזדמנות מרגשת זו אני מעלה מכתב מלבב שקיבלתי מראש העיר תל-אביב מר רון חולדאי שכתב:
"נורית יקרה, ברצוני להודות לך על ספר מרתק שהיופי הנובט בו מעיד על הטוב הטמון בנו שאך יש לחשפו. את בכשרונך הרב עשית זאת היטב!" בכבוד רב, רון חולדאי, ...ראש עריית תל-אביב-יפו".,

In this 1976 Ben Lam image from "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book: a Fini Leitersdorf for "Maskit" design inspired by a Yohanan Simon painting.

"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" - A Capsule Exhibit in Oz Almog's People In Israel Website

Hi, Today I would like to share with you the opening of a capsule exhibit of images from the album-book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" in the People in Israel website of Sociologist, author, and Haifa University Prof. Oz Almog. The link to the exhibit for a month starting today, as well as it's permanent link are at the end of the text of this post.
I was honored and happy to have been approached by Prof. Almog regarding this exhibit in his website.
Presently, I present the text acompanying the exhibit in Hebrew, but at a later time I plan to translate it into English. The subject of the capsule exhibit is: Original Israeli Style and its components, some of which are embroidery, use of coins, hoods, patchwork, and art-inspired creations.

אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008 – נורית בת יער

 This photo from the book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" (and the exhibit) is of a 1994 Dani Bar-Shai patchwork skirt. Styling: Nurit Bat-Yaar. Photo: Dana Menussi.
גלריות - ראשי > ישראליאנה
מהם מאפייניו של העיצוב הישראלי מקורי בתחום האופנה? – על השאלה המסקרת הזו מנסה לענות נורית בת יער בספרה האלבומי "שיכרון עיצובים – אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008", שראה אור השנה (2010) בהוצאת רסלינג.

הספר, שזכה לשבחים רבים, מתחקה אחר שורשיהם התרבותיים של עיצובים ישראליים שונים ואחר התפקיד שמילאה האופנה בגיבוש ייצוג חזותי לישראליות המתהווה, כשהיא מגשרת בין העבר המקראי להווה. כל זאת תוך כדי מיקום יצירות האופנה הישראליות על ציר זמן היסטורי ובפרספקטיבה עולמית, לצד בחינת ההקשרים החברתיים, האמנותיים והפוליטיים שבתוכם הן נוצרו.

בתערוכת הצילומים של בת יער באתר "אנשים ישראל" מוצגים מקצת מדגמי העיצוב המופיעים בספרה. בת יער כותבת: "העיצוב הישראלי-מקורי הוא פרי של מפגש בין אמירה אישית על-זמנית לבין ייצוגם של ערכי תרבות מקומיים, המשתנים עם הזמן". העבר המקראי מסומל באמצעות מטבעות עתיקים, תלבושות רקומות וכיסויי ראש מסורתיים, שימוש במוטיבים בדואים, מרוקניים ומזרח תיכוניים אחרים, ועוד.

נורית בת-יער, דור שני לילידי תל-אביב, הייתה במשך 26 שנה עיתונאית האופנה של "ידיעות אחרונות" ובחמש השנים שקדמו לכך הייתה נציגת "מעריב" לענייני אופנה בארצות הברית וחשפה בפני קהל קוראיה את בשורות מעצביה המובילים של ניו-יורק. במהלך עבודתה ב"ידיעות אחרונות" גילתה כישרונות ישראליים חדשים מתחומי עיצוב האופנה, עיצוב השיער, והדוגמנות, כיסתה את שבועות האופנה באירופה ובארה"ב, וראיינה את גדולי האופנאים בתבל, ביניהם איסיי מיאקה, ז'אן פול גוטייה, כריסטיאן לקרואה, קנזו, פלומה פיקסו, ואולג קסיני.

טרם הקמת הערוצים המסחריים השתתפה בסרטו של עמוס גוטמן על האופנה, והופיעה בפינה קבועה בתוכניות הלייף-סטייל של טלוויזיית הכבלים. לאחרונה השתתפה בסדרת הטלוויזיה של ערוץ 10 "יפה לנו" על תולדות היופי הישראלי, והייתה שופטת-אורחת בתכנית "פרויקט מסלול" של ערוץ 2.

בשל כישוריה המיוחדים שאפיינו את עבודתה קשרו לה במהלך השנים כתרים רבים, ביניהם "מומחית האופנה של ישראל", "הגברת הראשונה של סיקור ותיעוד האופנה בארץ", "מוסד" ועוד.

נורית בת-יער הגיעה לתחום האופנה מעולם האמנות. את לימודיה לתואר ראשון באמנות ב"אפסלה קולג'" (ארצות הברית) סיימה בהצטיינות יתרה ואף זכתה ב"פרס אפסלה"; איור אופנה למדה בתל אביב אצל ריקי בן-ארי; למדה עיצוב אופנה בוושינגטון די. סי אצל מארי אליזבט קפלבי, אשר נמנתה עם המעצבים של דגמי ג'קלין קנדי.

בשנת 1999 אצרה את התערוכה "הבזקי זוהר: צילום אופנה בראי המאה", שפתחה את המילניום במוזיאון הישראלי לצילום בתל-חי.

לרגל שנת המאה לתל-אביב, כמומחית אופנה שהינה גם נכדתו של אשר פולישוק, מראשוני תל-אביב וממייסדי שכונת נחלת בנימין, נתבקשה ע"י מנהלת חגיגות המאה לכתוב את הבלוג "תולדות הסטייל" של תל-אביב.

מאז צאת ספרה לאור היא מדווחת עליו ועל התגובות להן הוא זוכה בבלוג אישי.

The link to the exhibit for a month starting today is: www.peopleil.orghttp://www.peopleil.org/
The permanent link is:
http://www.peopleil.org/piGallery.aspx?pageID=piGalleries&galleryid=4699&cId=2

This photo of a 1977 Lea Gottlieb of Gottex beachwear, from "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book (and the exhibit) was taken by Ben Lam.

This photo of an 1989 Yaron Minkowski design, from "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book (and the exhibit) was taken by Eldad Maestro.

International Singing Star Ofra Haza in "Israel Fashion Art - 1948-2008"

Hi, שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008 ‎'s FACEBOOK FAN CLUB has now over 1200 FANS. I appreciate it very much DEAR FANS. On this special occasion I uploaded an Ofra Haza image from the book with her golden coins hood (taken by Moshe Sasson).
Ofra Haza wasn't just a fantastic singer, highly successful world-wide. She was also a fashion icon who inspired designers with her unique performance garb which incorporated her cultural heritage.

One of these outfits included this Yemenite coin hood, which was worn in Yemen by all Hebrew newly weds and which was in fact their survival kit. A type of portable "bank" from which they can draw money in case of need.

Inspired by this type of hoods as well as by the Beduine facial coin chains - in the 60s "Maskit" designer Fini Leitersdorf incorporated golden coins in her original Israeli designs thus turning them into one of the typical aspects of Israeli style. Lea Gottlieb of Gottex also adorned her unique colorful ethnic beachwear with coins.

Later on, other Israeli fashion designers such as Shai Shalon and Silvia Vered used coins in a more up to date designs. To see them and read about them - you are invited to go to the coins chapter of "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" called " Coins – from a Portable Bank to the Sexiest Beachwear" .

President Shimon Peres about "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008"

 Hi, Today I would like to share with you a highly appreciative letter I have received about the book

"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008" from Israel's very much admired president, Mr. Shimon Peres. In his letter President Peres thanks me for the book and writes:  Your pioneering album documents in words and photos a captivating piece of history which is an important part of the Israeli artistic and cultural reality since the country's existence.

Like in many other areas, so in the field of the art of fashion - Israel was blessed with a flowing fountainhead of talent, imagination, and daring. These are manifested in each and every page of the album-book and place Israel's designers on the world's front.

The spectacular designs, which are full of beauty, creativity, and originality, in addition to the deeply rooted, social and historical aspects manifested throughout the book's chapters, turns the reading and leafing through it to a true experience.
May you see blessing in your work and keep-up the good work!
Shimon Peres.

After posting the letter on Facebook in addition to many "likes" I got the following responses:
אביבה פיבקו          Aviva Pivko, former fashion designer:
מילים כדורבנות
הנשיא שלנו בניסוח מעורר השתאות-על ספר מעורר השתאות
 
אנבל טמיר   Annabel, former model 

Annabel wrote:
"congrats Nurit! well deserved!!!!"

אלון סימן טוב    Alon Siman Tov

A M A Z I N G ....... !!"

עטרה ישראלי עזריה   Atara Israeli- Azaria, Film PR
"כל הכבוד. גם הנשיא כתב וגם כתבו על זה בעיתון. טוב אם לא עבורך אז עבור מי?"עטרה יזרעלי עזריה

יסמין לוי,   Yasmine Levi, Journalist

"מוזה ;))"

מיכל ארליך   Michal Erlich, PR
  כשאינטיליגנציה וג'נטלמניות נפגשים עם יופי ואלגנטיות - זה קלף נצחון בטוח. מקווה שאת גאה בעצמך, אישה יקרה   

Izak RozenbaumMen's fashion designer.  איזאק רוזנבאום
Bravo....!!!

סימי לדרמן  Simi Lederman, Fashion designer
Simi wrote:

"chére Nurit je vient de découvrir, et lire la lettre qui ta envoyer Monsieur le Président Shimon Peres, une lettre touchante, l'analyse de monsieur le Président sur ton travail et Juste, il a bien vu, et bien lu, "Le Livre-Album Art-Fashion ISRAEL 1948-2008" Bravo a toi Nurit. simi Lederman-Elbaz"

"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" - 2nd Time in Simona Kogan's Blog

Hi, today I would like to share with you the second post Simona Kogan published in her blog about "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008". In her 1st post she told her readers how I had first met international designer star of Lanvin Alber Elbaz (who wrote an introduction to my book) while he was still a soldier in charge of culture. This time she refers to what she has learned about Israeli Fashion from my responses to FIT's Keren Ben-Horin's interview with me.

Some Israeli Fashion History

By Simona

Israeli fashion expert Nurit Bat-Yaar, author of the book “Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008″
(“שיכרון עיצובים – אמנות האופנה בישראל”) has really inspired me to find out more about the history of Israeli fashion and how it came to be what it is today (and why!) Here are some things that have been uncovered…

A 1976 Lea Gottlieb design for Gottex from "Israel Fashion Album 1948-2008" by Nurit Bat-Yaar, taken By Ben Lam.

First, I wanted to mention a blog post by Keren Ben-Horin, an Israeli-born fashion student with a degree at Shenkar School of Engineering and Design who is now studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York and specifically focusing on the history of specific companies like Gottex as part of her degree. Ben-Horin interviewed Bat-Yaar for On Pins and Needles, the blog written by students getting their Masters in History, Theory, and Museum Practice at FIT.

Now, some background on Nurit Bat-Yaar. Bat-Yaar had no idea that a short run as a model would lead her to writing about the world of fashion but when she entered the style world, she knew she had found her calling. Bat-Yaar was first a model of Maskit’s multicultural designs, which led her to meet the right people, who discovered she had a knack for fashion writing.

Bat-Yaar is a former fashion editor of Israel’s most widely circulated daily newspaper “Yedioth Ahronoth.” For 26 years, she had the opportunity to discover new budding designers in Israel and give them a springboard to show their work.
Before her 26-year stint, Bat-Yaar introduced Israeli readers to American fashion as a reporter for the “Maariv” daily newspaper where she wrote about NY’s leading designers for 5 years.

Bat-Yaar has reported from Europe and US Fashion Weeks about the latest international trends and has interviewed the world’s leading designers. She’s had a regular fashion spot in cable TV lifestyle programs. She participated in a documentary about the history of beauty in Israel and was a guest judge on Israel’s Project Runway. She was the curator of the exhibition “Glimpses of Glamour- Fashion Photography in the Mirror of a Century” which opened in the “Israel Museum of Photography” at Tel-Hai. No big surprise there, after all, Bat-Yaar studied fashion illustration under Riki Ben-Ari who illustrated Suzy Menkes fashion reports in the British Times and The Evening Standard. She also graduated with a degree in art and philosophy of the esthetics from New Jersey’s Upsala College and studied fashion design at the Washington D.C. Ardis School of Design.
She has often been described in Israeli media as Israel’s “first lady of fashion and reporting.

In the very eye-opening interview with Bat-Yaar, I learned a lot about the history of Israeli fashion and it left me wondering why fashion here is not on the world map (at least as much as it was in the 60s and 70s, as Nurit mentioned in her answers to the questions.) Hence, the biggest reason I’m mentioning it here and perhaps a small step in the mission of my blog: to promote the potential of the talented designers, labels, and fashionistas we have here in Israel.

Nurit Bat-Yaar

Some surprising things I learned about Israeli fashion:

» According to Bat-Yaar, present day Israelis know very little about the heritage of Israel’s fashion industry and its fabulous success on the international arena
» Back in the 60s and 70s, and to a certain extant in the 80s as well, exotic styles and ethnic fabrics (Yemenite embroidery, kafias, were much more popular in Israel than the mod, indie styles of today).

“Designers were more oriented to the country’s cultural resources and used them as an inspiration. Today, on the other hand, globalization has taken over. Companies go to far-eastern low-cost labor manufacturers. Young designers (once hired by the export industry) now work on a small scale in their own studios.”–Nurit Bat-Yaar
» Stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana wore designs by Israeli designers
» Israelis have done much in the world of fashion. Gottex is one of the most famous swimwear lines in the world and Zuri Guetta invented the use of silicone incorporated fabric whose clients include leading haute-couture Paris designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier.

» Designers like Donna Karan and John Galliano have assisted students at Shenkar with internships and apprenticeships.
For more of Keren Ben-Horin’s great interview, please visit her post: From Rags To Riches: Israeli Fashion Rediscovered in the link: http://pinsndls.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/from-rags-to-riches-israeli-fashion-rediscovered/
protected by copyrights.

Nurit Bat-Yaar, author of "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008"

"Israel Fashion Art - 1948-2008" in today's "Maariv": Gorgeous Photos.

"Israel Fashion Art" album-book's cover. Photo: Miri davidovits. Gown: Jacob Harpaz.

Hi, today I would like to share with you an item published in today's "Maariv" by fashion journalist Lital Rosenstein. Lital published the book's cover photo seen here in which model Adaya Meirchik, photographed by Miri Davidovits is wearing a timeless Jacob Harpaz gown he designed in the 80s. About the book Lital wrote: "Nurit Bat-Yaar one of the local fashion icons, is launching the book
"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008"
Fashion lovers can indulge in gorgeous photos included in chapters which follow the changes in the local fashion scene, a discussion enriched by cultural-political-social aspects.

Today, I also got a call from David Sela, editor-in-chief of the Nostalgia online website who told me he had talked about the "fantastic book" in Moshik Timor's radio show and praised it there.

Thank you Lital Rosenstein.
Thank you David Sela.

Orel Butterfly: "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" - "The Best Fashion Book"

Hi, Today I would like to share with you guys the latest interview I gave about the album-book "שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008" conducted by Orel Butterfly and published in her blog: http://israblog.nana10.co.il/blogread.asp?blog=684670

Orel started her post by writing: "Nurit Bat-Yaar, is the greatest fashion personality in the country and author of the best fashion book ever written here, and this is an understatement, and one of the best I have ever read. After I was enormously impressed by the book and since for years I have regarded Nurit  as a model ( in the sense of: someone to follow in her footsteps, N.B-Y) - the idea of interviewing her seemed to me next to impossible. Nevertheless, I have decided to give it a try".

"During the interview I have discovered that aside from being intelligent, smart and  really great (something I've known beforehand) Nurit is a charming, pleasant and courteous."

"This interview was definitely one of my greatest achievements and I am proud to post it here in the blog. I am sure you would enjoy it very much and will be enriched by it. Enjoyable reading!"

Orel included in her post several lovely photos from the book which you can see once you click on the above link to her blog, including a great 1968 Fini Leitersdorf for Maskit design adorned with coins (taken by Peter Hertsog) and the stunning Ben Lam photo of a Lea Gottlieb for Gottex 1976 beachwear design. She was also kind enough to include quotes from some of the book reviews the album-book got.

The only problem with the post - is its English translation which Orel included. It is the Google automatic one and hence it includes errors. Orel promised to have it corrected and once it would be done I'll be certain to inform my English readers.

Thanks so much Orel for the great encompassing post and the recommendation of the book. I appreciate it very much.

"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.

"Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" in Keren Ben-Horin's FIT's post.

Hi, today I would like to thank Keren Ben-Horin, a Shenkar graduate, now at  New York's F.I.T about an interview she conducted with me which she posted today at  the Fashion Institute of Technology's (FIT) of New York's Forum Blog called "On Pins and Needles". The blog is written by

BY THE GRADUATE STUDENTS OF FASHION AND TEXTILE STUDIES :HISTORY, THEORY, MUSEUM PRACTICE.

Inspired by the album-book "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008"

"שיכרון עיצובים - אמנות האופנה בישראל 1948-2008" Keren Ben-Horin decided to conduct this interview which she posted there today about Israeli fashion then and now. The post includes several photos from the book: the book's cover image (taken by Miri Davidowits) of a Yaacov Hapaz gown, a Maskit creation by Fini Leitersdorf (taken by Peter Hertsog) , a Rozi Ben-Yossef kafia-fabric design (taken by Ben Lam) , a Yaron minkowski's golden hat-mask (taken by Gadi Dagon), the following Lea Gottlieb for Gottex design (taken by Ben Lam), and Bezalel's Mor Hemed's sculptural-futuristic creation (taken by Dafna Grossman).
 In her post Keren Ben-Horin states:
Ms. Bat-Yaar’s book was not translated to English yet, but you can find all about it in her  blog:

http://nuritbatyaar-fashionart.blogspot.com

 It is a huge contribution to the very limited sources of the history of Israeli fashion and fashion design.


 It's title is:

← Then&Now

From Rags to Riches- Israeli fashion rediscovered

and the link is: http://pinsndls.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/from-rags-to-riches-israeli-fashion-rediscovered/

A 1967 Lea Gottlieb design for "Gottex". Photo (by Ben Lam) from "Israel Fashion Art 1948-2008" album-book by Nurit Bat-Yaar.

And a few words about Keren Ben-Horin herself:

 Keren Ben-Horin has a B.Des in Fashion Design from Shenkar College of Engineering & Design in Israel. Four years ago she moved to New York to work in the fashion industry and since then she has tried to absorb everything the city has to offer when it comes to fashion and style. She was always passionate about the academic aspects of fashion and so found a natural place in the Fashion and Textiles: History, theory and Museum Practice program at FIT. She is especially interested in 20th century fashion and the life and work of the great designers of our time. She is currently studying the work of Israeli designer Lea Gottlieb and the swimwear house she founded, Gottex.