The corona led to the cancellation of the big events, and with them the orders for dresses went down • The fashion designers did not give up and reinvented themselves

• Dror Contento, sewing course

  Photo: 

  David Sasson

Many fashion designers these days are finding various solutions that help them make a living. "Even if the state does not help we will not give up on what we dreamed and built with ten fingers," they say.

Shelly Setat Kombor, head of the jewelry and fashion department at Bezalel and owner of the "Capel Off" shoe brand, joined forces with her sister Hagar Setat, a jewelry and clothing designer, and the two share one joint store in Tel Aviv. About the union she says that, "I realized that the corona is not going to disappear in the near future and it is wise to share the expenses with my sister. We are happy that there are sales even if they bought her item and not mine or vice versa. Customers cheer and even ask why we did not make the move years ago. We have a unique mix that allows the customer to find everything in one store, shoes, clothing and jewelry. "

The designers Vivi Blaish and Gadi Elimelech, who are also spouses, chose to join forces and run their business under one roof. "We realized that it was worth reducing costs, and in one studio in Jaffa I also receive my clients, Vivi," says Elimelech. Since it does not look like the events will return soon, the two decided to embark on a new venture. "These are small workshops for the general public. We teach techniques in which we take clothes that are no longer fashionable or unused and are in the closet and change them for reuse. We teach coloring techniques, fashion illustrations, stone inlays and more. Both Vivi and I like to teach and impart the knowledge we have. "And now is the time to go back and make a living from it."    

Designers Maoz Dahan and Dror Contento also began teaching courses on the basics of sewing and design. Maoz Dahan is currently opening a small fashion design school that will train young people and Contento is holding a sewing and image training course in his studio. "Like many of my colleagues, I hold on in every way to keep my head above water, so that the business we have built with our own hands will continue to exist. When the state does not take care of me and I have a girl to support who will take care of me?" Says Contento.

Private chef and messenger

Designer Idan LaRoss also chose not to give up his business, and he also works as a courier. "Already in the first closure, when I realized that the state would not really help me financially and that I had to take care of myself and my family, I looked for any job that would bring income. At night I am a courier at Tnuva distribution line, during the day I am a courier at Ten Biss, "And they are interested in the dress in the hope that the event season will open. Even if the business now has no income, I will do everything to preserve the studio, even at the cost of working hard on errands."

In the Ofer Mall in Ramat Aviv, a hat exhibition was held for the general public by designer Shai Tobol, with over 100 models of hats created by 25 years of work. Tobol, who is considered a multi-verbal artist, finds himself these days also earning a living as a private chef. "From a time when it was supposed to be the busiest at work, with so many productions, events and projects I was supposed to do, I started using savings. When you have to support a family and calculate expenses versus income, you rethink," he says.

"I participated in the Master Chef program and recently started cooking more. During the closure, friends asked for and ordered food and it turned out that I am also a private chef today. However, I look forward with optimism, the exhibition would not exist if there was no vacuum that caused the hats to sit in the studio. There was an opportunity to present them. "

Workshops and art kits

Shahar Avnet, who dressed Beyonce, is rethinking her path and starting a project to build a mitzvah. She also designs a line of wearable clothing and sells her paintings on site. "When there are no events then the solution is to produce wearable clothes for everyday because people are still looking to innovate for themselves. In addition, I came up with paintings I painted and suddenly realized it was in demand. People spend a lot of time at home looking to change and redesign the interior."

About the workshops for girls' mitzvahs, she says, "I recently did a bat mitzvah event for someone whose event was canceled, a kind of creative workshop with several companies, which created demand. I build something neat, during the workshop the girls will experience a fashion design process, and at the end they will return home with a shirt. "They designed. It will also make the girls discover maybe their hidden talent."   

Wedding dress designer Inbal Raviv recently chose to launch a venture called "Chika" with fashion design kits for girls and young women, and she is now working on expanding the project. “There are almost no wedding dress orders, and as a single mom I had to find solutions,” she says.

"I remembered that two years ago I invited girls from my child's kindergarten to me in the studio, I saw the spark in their eyes and it reminded me of the same magic I felt when I was a child when my mother brought me needle, thread and fabrics. "Create kits with an instruction booklet. I created kits with a wooden doll, fabrics, a sewing kit and decoration kits, and to my surprise it gained momentum. I myself still travel and distribute the kits to anyone who invites and is happy to see the reactions after."

Now, Raviv wants to expand the venture with the publication of a book for girls and boys, a digital course and more. "I noticed that today there is no answer on the subject. The corona has led to the need to understand that the world is changing and should not put all the eggs in one basket, so I will continue designing wedding dresses and at the same time I want to encourage hidden talents in children.