Israeli fashion design is thriving! On trips back to the US, I always wear clothes or a handbag or piece of jewelry or pair of shoes or even a hat that is designed by an Israeli fashion designer – and wait for the inevitable wows! and get me one of those too please comments/requests from girlfriends, sisters and sisters-in-law – and even mom. Which I do by taking my Israeli fashion fans to designer studios, shops, and boutiques when they visit us in Israel.

Judith Isaacson showing off Israeli fashion design

Israeli fashion design is led by graduates of Tel Aviv’s Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art, Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, and Holon’s Institute of Technology. These talented students often open small studios and shops to showcase their creations and Israeli fashion design. In the south Tel Aviv neighborhood of Electric Park, a small enclave in a less pricey area off Allenby Street, is the site of such boutiques and studios. Old Jaffa, Jerusalem, and areas in the Galilee are also sites where designers open shop.

Israel’s top designers like Ronen Chen, Yaron Minkowsky, Gershon Bram, Karen Oberson can be found in stores around the world. On a trip to Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, I was thrilled to find Ronen Chen dresses hanging side by side with world name designers in a boutique on the main street — at higher prices than in Israel.

A new favorite from the world of Israeli fashion design is Belinky. Originally, the talented designers at Belinky created leather purses and handbags with unique and stunning leather treatment. Now they also design clothing in unique shapes and fabrics.

In a Palo Alto, California, shoe store, Beautifeel shoes – made in Israel – were walking out the door, so to speak, as were the Naot – one of Israel’s top brands – sandals and boots. Savvy shoppers are sure to include buying sprees of these brands in their trips to Israel.

Shoppers flock to Michal Negrin’s upscale store in Soho, Manhattan. My tip for such flockers is to book a trip to Israel and flock to the factory outlet in Bat Yam, a Tel Aviv suburb, where you can even meet Michal Negrin in person.

Meet Liat Azar, pictured above, a young designer making a name for herself from her tiny boutique in Old Jaffa.

For those shoppers among us who like to “discover” new talent and fresh voices, I invite you to include a fashion tour when you visit the Holy Land and Israel. Total fun – and get ready for the oohs and aahs when you return home.

Fashion Designer Liat Azar