Israeli Designer Maor Tzabar Combines Culinary Passion and Millinery in New Book Featuring Hats Inspired by Israeli Chefs
Maor Tzabar, the Israeli milliner and costume designer known for creating Netta Barzilai's iconic 2018 Eurovision outfit, has launched his debut book "Just Don’t Eat the Hat." The book merges his two lifelong passions: fashion and food. It features 60 handcrafted hats inspired by 55 recipes from 30 Israeli chefs and pastry artists, alongside stories about his personal journey and the intersection of culinary art and millinery.
Tzabar, 47, who has Crohn's disease and dietary restrictions, began making food-inspired hats as a form of therapy when he could no longer eat many foods he loved. His career started early, influenced by his grandparents, and he studied fashion design with a focus on stage costumes. He now teaches millinery at Shenkar College and operates a studio specializing in surreal and humorous handmade hats.
The book, developed over several years and published in 2025 with sponsorship from Roladin, a leading Israeli confectionery chain, includes recipes from chefs like Haim Cohen, Avi Biton, Israel Aharoni, and Yuval Ben Neriah. Proceeds support Leket Israel, a national food rescue organization, which donates fruit and vegetable boxes to families in need for every book sold.
Tzabar collaborated variably with chefs, some deeply involved in styling and photography, others less so. The hats range from literal to conceptual interpretations of dishes, avoiding overly literal or controversial designs such as meat-shaped hats. Notably, half of the hats have already sold, mostly to international collectors and performers, with 90% of sales going to the U.S.
A surprising highlight is that American pop star Katy Perry purchased one of Tzabar’s Thanksgiving-themed hats anonymously online. Tzabar embraces traditional craftsmanship alongside modern tools like AI, which he uses but does not see as a replacement for handmade art. He plans to translate the book into English and hopes to create similar projects internationally with local chefs.
"Just Don’t Eat the Hat" is both a personal memoir and a creative fusion of culinary and fashion arts, celebrating Israeli cuisine and craftsmanship while supporting social causes.
