A New Fashion Exhibition
(or ‘Shoshke and I’)
A very special opportunity came my way: to create without limits, to make something from the heart without thinking too much about cost and pricing considerations.
A few months ago, the phone rang, and on the other end was a dear friend who is also an artist I really love.
It was Nona Chaland and she had the most wonderful news.
A very special opportunity came my way: to create without limits, to make something from the heart without thinking too much about cost and pricing considerations.
A few months ago, the phone rang, and on the other end was a dear friend who is also an artist I really love.
It was Nona Chaland and she had the most wonderful news.
Ze’ev Engelmayer, known as ‘Shoshke’; photo: Nona Chaland
“It has to be avant-garde, larger than life,” Nona told me during that exciting phone call about a month ago. She told me about the incredible opportunity that had come her way, and about her wonderful initiative to put on a fashion show and fashion exhibition, with the support of the Tel Aviv Municipality, right here near us, at Beit Ha'Ir in Tel Aviv.
At first, it was a little scary. But after the initial paralysis and overcoming my fear, I sat down to think about what I really felt like creating—something straight from the heart. Then my hand began to doodle, and that same tremendous excitement I’d felt before came over me again, when I worked on my final project, and also when I created my very first collection. It was that feeling of true freedom to let my biggest ideas out into the world.
“It has to be avant-garde, larger than life,” Nona told me during that exciting phone call about a month ago. She told me about the incredible opportunity that had come her way, and about her wonderful initiative to put on a fashion show and fashion exhibition, with the support of the Tel Aviv Municipality, right here near us, at Beit Ha'Ir in Tel Aviv.
At first, it was a little scary. But after the initial paralysis and overcoming my fear, I sat down to think about what I really felt like creating—something straight from the heart. Then my hand began to doodle, and that same tremendous excitement I’d felt before came over me again, when I worked on my final project, and also when I created my very first collection. It was that feeling of true freedom to let my biggest ideas out into the world.
A sketch from my sketchbook
I thought of creating a kind of BLOW-UP (a huge-scale enlargement) of the technique I use in my design work. I wanted to work with new materials and in new sizes, and that’s exactly what I did.
After drawing, I moved on to large-scale patternmaking. As always, I like to start by working with paper. Working with paper initially helps me build a larger, more avant-garde and distinctive silhouette, and also lets me experiment with a less expensive material at first—which frees up my creativity and, just as importantly, is more economical and less polluting.
I thought of creating a kind of BLOW-UP (a huge-scale enlargement) of the technique I use in my design work. I wanted to work with new materials and in new sizes, and that’s exactly what I did.
After drawing, I moved on to large-scale patternmaking. As always, I like to start by working with paper. Working with paper initially helps me build a larger, more avant-garde and distinctive silhouette, and also lets me experiment with a less expensive material at first—which frees up my creativity and, just as importantly, is more economical and less polluting.
A glimpse into my studio. Paper draping is the starting point for every design process I go through
Then I moved on to working with fabric and creating the initial pattern using a computerized laser cutter.
You’ll be able to see the final result very soon—in about two weeks. On December 22, 2016, a one-of-a-kind alternative fashion show called “Shosh Couture” will take place at Beit Ha'Ir in Tel Aviv, inspired by the exhibition ‘The Promised Land’ by the artist and creator Ze'ev Engelmayer, also known as ‘Shoshke’, and curated and cast by Nona Chaland. Fifteen Israeli designers, including me, will present 15 different avant-garde looks at this one-of-a-kind event. The unique designs will be on display at Beit Ha'Ir until the exhibition closes.
Until then? We’ll wait patiently :-) And in the meantime, here’s a little sneak peek at what’s in store:
Then I moved on to working with fabric and creating the initial pattern using a computerized laser cutter.
You’ll be able to see the final result very soon—in about two weeks. On December 22, 2016, a one-of-a-kind alternative fashion show called “Shosh Couture” will take place at Beit Ha'Ir in Tel Aviv, inspired by the exhibition ‘The Promised Land’ by the artist and creator Ze'ev Engelmayer, also known as ‘Shoshke’, and curated and cast by Nona Chaland. Fifteen Israeli designers, including me, will present 15 different avant-garde looks at this one-of-a-kind event. The unique designs will be on display at Beit Ha'Ir until the exhibition closes.
Until then? We’ll wait patiently :-) And in the meantime, here’s a little sneak peek at what’s in store:
A close-up of the toile (test garment) that just came back from the laser cutter
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