Israeli innovation isn’t just about the technology scene. The creative Israeli mentality was celebrated on the runway during last week’s Tel Aviv Fashion Week. In its sixth year, Tel Aviv Fashion Week is four days of about 40 designers who welcome the opportunity to spotlight their work in hopes of reaching the global fashion scene. In addition, five students from Shenkar College of Engineering and Design, one of the most globally esteemed design schools, had the opportunity to enter a lottery and win spots to participate.
Fashion designers in Israel have limited amounts of resources to work with based on what’s available, especially with the export of production and the rising prices placed on imports. With similar drive displayed in the tech scene of the startup nation, designers are forced to innovate and inspire a fresh perspective to the runway.
Diversity was the underlying theme of the event, the designers create in variously artistic ways and inspirations. From Alon Livne, a seasoned Tel Aviv designer known to design for Beyoncé, to Dana Cohen, a lottery winner from Shenkar, who used recycled sustainable textiles inspired by NASA photos – both used natural resources to create such art.
Bridging technology and creativity, new technologies hit the stage and have helped Israeli fashion designers advance their looks to be fully fashion forward. From 3D printing and pattern making, upcycling textiles, sustainable and waterless fabric dyeing, and blending ancient and modern techniques, Tel Aviv Fashion Week was approached with fashion as never seen before.
The first fashion tech gathering took place during the Tel Aviv Fashion Week. Israeli startups such as Zeekit, Twine Solutions and Screenshop are showcasing the emerging technologies and how they are weaving together the future of fashion in the way only the startup nation knows how.
