Mode Israel showcases it's fashion stars at LA Fashion Week

Jacob Dayan, Consul General of Israel & Kathy Ireland, Israel supporter

On Wednesday night commenced an event that will go down in the record books. At the Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week presentations, was the first ever Mode Israel LA Runway show. This was a truly a moment, as it was the first time Israeli Designers made it across the pond to show at an American Fashion Week. We were all apart of history. Showing eight Israel designer collections down the runway and even four jewelry designers showcased in the lobby, this was twelve lines that have made it past their current boundaries and in to our LA hearts.

Shai Shalom Zebra pattern dress

What I loved about the show is that the Israeli designers while all having their own fashion point of view, all had something very similar about it too. Perhaps it is the Israeli design aesthetic. What I noticed is that most of these Israeli designers are about comfort and casual chic. With the usage of soft drape knits, all draped, wrapped, ruffled, tiered, knotted, torn, and even with purposeful runs, layered over each other. Also from all designers were lots of experimentation with fabrication mixing. Different fabrications, different textures, and various weights all being mixed together in one outfit to create a fashion point of view.

Shai Shalom final look

Some of my favorite shows are worth a call out. I loved the opening collection by Kedem Sasson. Somewhat reminding me of Issey Miyaki’s Pleats please store in Soho. There was something interesting about the unusual volume to each garments. And with that, in each garment was unusual (in a good way)draping. All finished so perfectly, offset by the barefoot models with only a scrap wrapped around a single ankle. A beautiful contrast of luxury and poverty perhaps? My second love was Karen Naftali's collection.  For it's chic take on casual looks.  All in interesting mixes of neutrals as well as flashes of metallics amazing jewelry styled within.  I would wear this line in a second.   And finally I really loved Shai Shalom. Saving the best for last was the strategy here. With menswear and womenswear going down the runway, we saw incredibly made mens suits and of course on the finest of men. But the women’s clothes were just as fantastic. Flirty Dresses, interesting mixes of patterns and textures, shorts, a robe jacket and detailed bead work.  Just all around beautiful, wearable, well thought out and very well made.

Over all? It was incredible to see an Israeli fashion vision. And it was such a treat to have this new vision walking down our Los Angeles runways. Breathing new life in to LA fashion and LA Fashion Week. From your Editor-in-Chic...I’ll see you on the runways!!