Does it sometimes happen to you when you walk outside, your eyes fixed on the ground or some imaginative point in space, deeply immersed in your thoughts and then you bump into a signpost?
I bump into signposts every day because I’m looking at the pavement, studying it, the way it is made, its stains and dirt, the type of bricks making up the wall besides this pavement and the people walking around me, I take all this usually neglected information and turn it into a dress.
This process of contemplation, looking for the small details around me, dreaming and imagining is the way I work.
I create out of my dreams.
I dream until there is an enormous wall of inspiration in my mind; huge pictures, bright colors and textures that tickle the tip of my fingers. I live this dream, dance it, breathe it, tear it apart and sew it back again until it is ready. And when it's ready it goes out of my head and into long skinny fashion figures until my fantasy takes a form. Then, I make the pattern, manipulate the fabric by coloring, painting and tearing, I feel the fabric through and over my skin, cut and sew. And this was just the warm up for the finishes...
Fashion for me is in culture, music and nature. It opens my eyes every morning knowing that today I will realize my dream through realizing other’s dreams. It is a true blessing and privilege.
Sadly, it wasn't always like that, or maybe, it was always there but I was just too scared to take the first step, until one day in 2009 I had a major breakthrough, while on vacation in Thailand, I suddenly understood that time is slipping away. There will never be a better time. Now is the time to face my fear of failing my life's greatest dream and take a leap of faith.
It was the best decision I ever made.
I quit my job as a successful restaurant manager and put all my time, money and effort into a fashion course and into making my final project something extraordinary, and extraordinary it was. Within three weeks, working from early mornings to late nights, I exceeded the requirement for a mini collection of 2-3 outfits knitted and sewed, all by hand, three evening dresses. But I felt that was not enough. I wanted to do better, so I took some books and learned how to make my own pattern for a men's suit and then sewed it all by myself.
Presentation day symbolizes the first day of the rest of my life. Just three years ago, I thought I hopped on the fast train, only to realize it was the super fast train. Soon after my final presentation two of my cousins got married and I was asked to design and make their bridal dresses. I won an important contest designing and making eight outfits for "Tararam" - a famous Israeli rhythm and dance group and was asked by a super popular Israeli rock singer – Orit Shahaf from the "Hayehudim"- rock band, to design her stage clothes and her 2012 promo shooting clothes.
Then I was selected to participate in the first Tel Aviv Fashion Week where I presented my first red carpet collection on the catwalk for a designers' contest that followed.
Since then I've made many couture custom made, bridal dresses and evening gowns but I always remembered that my dreams don’t begin or end with me, it is about what I can do for the world. I took a small step in realizing this when I went to volunteer in a special rehabilitation program for women who were drug addicts and prostitutes, teaching them how to design and make dresses. Seeing their happiness when they realized they are able to do something good in life. Watching their growing belief in themselves, left such a strong impact on me and moved me deeply.
So I came up with a plan.
My hope and aspiration is to have a successful brand under my name: MOTIL. I will design clothes that make women feel good about their body, clothes that reflect my passion for life and my customer’s desire of living well. But most of al,l I will design clothes that shine subtly, saying I’m here, I’m strong, I’m free!
Then, I’ll pay the world back with my gift and talent by opening fashion and sewing schools in poor and remote parts of the world. Places where one’s knowledge of sewing can make enough money to sustain a family, where the passion of doing something you love and be successful at it can motivate a whole village. I dream of making an impact and inspiring the world of fashion with my designs as with my vision. I will work day and night to achieve this and I welcome you to help me make it come true.