Sixty of the world’s best-known fashion designers have paid an unusual tribute to the Middle East peace process.
At the request of the Israeli government, which is trying to improve Israel’s image abroad, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and tens of other big-name designers created outfits that, in their opinion, best symbolize peace.
Hoping to breathe some life into two of the country’s most important industries — tourism and fashion — the Ministry of Tourism organized an extravaganza called the Fashion World’s Salute to Peace. Sponsors included L’Oreal, El Al and the Holiday Inn hotel chain.
The event, which took place in Caesarea’s ancient Roman amphitheater over the weekend, attracted 3,000 onlookers and raised about $100,000 for two local children’s charities.
Covered by scores of journalists and photographers, and broadcast live on Channel Two, Israel’s commercial television station, the fashion show set more than a few precedents.
Israeli swimwear king Gideon Oberson, whose patriotic blue-and-white striped cocktail dress was a local favorite, called the event “extremely exciting.”
“Designers can be very snobby, and they never show their clothes together in the same show. This was a real salute to peace, and proof that Israel is finally on the [fashion] map,” Oberson said.
Flown in front New York, Milan and Paris, as well as from Jordan, Egypt and Morocco, the clothes ranged from gorgeous to outrageous.
Some of the designers took the peace motif quite literally.
Yves Saint Laurent sent a peacock-blue toga with a swooping white dove on one shoulder, while Valentino created a white tank dress with the word “peace” emblazoned in a dozen language.
Isaac Mizrahi, who despite his Hebrew name hails from New York, opted for black leggings and a red crop top with a Jordanian flag over one breast and an Israeli flag over the other.
One of the more eclectic numbers was Russian designer Valentin Yudashkin’s “mermaid” dress. Tight-fitting until the midcalf, with a couple of doves at chest-level, the dress mushroomed into a 360-degree map of the world.
Some of the most imaginative designs came from the 10 Israeli participants.
Using Jerusalem as her inspiration, Dorin Frankfurt designed a gold evening gown with copper and orange stone jewelry.
Tel Aviv native Yuval Ravid, choosing weapons disarmament as his theme, designed a silk and chiffon dress complete with a bullet belt covered with flowers. An olive-branch headpiece completed the effect.
“Israel could attract 4 million tourists by the year 2,000 — provided we had a real and lasting peace,” Tourism Minister Uzi Baram told the audience.
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was accompanied by his granddaughter Noa, appeared uncharacteristically relaxed and upbeat.
Only hours after speaking with U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher who spent the weekend shuttling around the Middle East, Rabin said, “I would be happy if our army uniforms could be transformed into the clothes of peace.”
Egyptian Amr Khalil, a former fashion designer who shifted to interior design, said he came out of “retirement” to participate in the show.
“It was important for an Egyptian to be here,” he said. “We officially made peace a long time ago, but Israelis and Egyptians rarely do things together. It’s about time we made contact.”
Asked whether he was concerned about the reaction back home, especially from Islamic fundamentalists who do not recognize the 1979 Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty, Khalil replied, “I’ve already received phone calls from people back in Cairo who watched the event via satellite. They said it was a great show.”
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