Yael Rosen reached the height of her success when her Kisim handbags made it into the Sex and the City movie two years ago, but she isn’t the only Israeli designer who has achieved extreme success. Israeli fashion designers have certainly carved their niche in the global fashion arena, with a few notable designers gaining fame for their creative vision.
One of them is Yigal Azrouel. Recently profiled in W magazine, Azrouel went from the youngest of eight children living in Israel with no formal fashion design training to a high-end fashion designer with two retail stores in New York, a men’s wear and accessories line. In the 12 short years that Azrouel has been in the States, he has created a strong name for himself and is known for his distressed-glamour style, with the necklines unfinished and seams exposed on many of his items. This shabby chic style has kept Azrouel true to his roots and his line on the long road to success.
Another Israeli fashion designer that has unquestionably climbed the ranks of luxury fashion is Elie Tahari. Raised in an Israeli orphanage, Tahari came to the United States in the 70′s and has now found himself with a $500 million business that spans over five continents. For the past three decades, Tahari has had a devoted following of women due to his style of feminine embellishments, sensual fabrics and subtle textures. And although he has since sold his share of the business Tahari is also the co-founder of famed fashion brand Theory, another line that is loved by women all over the world.
In 2007 Time magazine included another famed Israeli designer as one of its 100 Most Influential People in the World – Alber Elbaz. Formerly the head designer of Yves Saint-Laurent and artistic director of famed fashion house Lanvin, Elbaz was born in Morocco but was raised in Israel after the age of 10, where he served in the Israeli military forces and studied design at the Shenkar College of Engineering and Design.
Now a star in the fashion world and among A-list celebrities, Elbaz’s designs are known as “every woman’s darling” as he continues to leave his footprint in the history of fashion.
Elbaz was born in Morocco but was raised in Israel after the age of 10, where he served in the Israeli military forces and studied design