Arab-Israeli designer sees fashion as a multicultural effort
Nadia Ibrahim Azizi wants to appeal to a wide audience, fitting all shapes and sizes
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
A Jaffa-raised designer sees fashion as a way of expressing personal style, sentiment and female entrepreneurship, and she’s hoping to lead by example.
Nadia Ibrahim Azizi, who calls herself Arab-Israeli, headlined a fashion show this week at Jaffa’s Beit Kandinoff, a local space that showcases artwork, rotating exhibitions and private art studios.
“There are many styles here,” said Azizi, a graduate of Shenkar College of Engineering and Design. “We live in a very multicultural and diverse country, we come in different shapes and colors, some are tall, some are not that tall; some are naturally skinny, some are toned and some are curvy. We also practice different religions, whether secular or religious. On top of all that, we have our careers; this collection is all about that.”
Azizi’s designs range from casual wear to cocktail dresses, evening gowns and bridal dresses that are available in both ready-to-wear and custom-made versions.
It’s all made in her Jaffa studio; hence the evening’s tagline, “Made in Jaffa.”
Her pieces were augmented by designs displayed by three other Arab-Israeli designers.
There were bags created by Rafat Omar, and models wore footwear created by Sutra shoe designer Sahar Abu Seif and jewelry by Hanan Masalha, who creates the Mizyan line of geometric jewelry.
The Times of Israel Community.