Fashion Designer Nofar Shefer Releases Memoir After Two Decades

Israeli fashion designer Nofar Shefer has released her first book, "An Exercise in Awakening," detailing her tumultuous life journey. Initially published under a pseudonym to protect her children, Shefer has now re-released the 337-page book under her own name, explaining that she felt a responsibility to share her story openly, comparing it to a fashion collection that needs to be worn to have value.

Shefer's book chronicles her life from a difficult childhood in a broken home, with a father who abandoned his family for the United States, to becoming a renowned fashion designer with her brand Sample, co-founded with her sister Einav Zini. The narrative also covers the collapse of her own family unit. Shefer describes the writing process as an intense, cathartic experience, completed in about six weeks, which helped her process personal healing and achieve a sense of closure.

Shefer, who co-founded the successful fashion brand Sample in 2008, known for dressing Israeli celebrities, has since moved on to an independent career. She now operates from a studio in Netanya, where she emphasizes high-quality, locally made garments. She recently held a fashion show in collaboration with Enosh, an organization promoting mental health and well-being.

Reflecting on her past, Shefer discusses overcoming childhood abandonment issues and how her own divorce mirrored those early feelings, prompting her to seek therapy. She believes that by releasing control and accepting that the world did not collapse, she has achieved significant personal growth. Shefer also touches upon a period of spiritual awakening and learning to let go of the need for absolute control, realizing that a higher power manages events.