Israel’s Emerging Fashion Designers Showcase Bold Graduation Collections for 2026
In July 2026, Israel’s leading fashion design schools held their annual graduation shows, unveiling the work of 94 promising new designers entering the industry. The graduates came from Shenkar (35), University of Haifa (25), and Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design (34), each presenting carefully crafted collections that reflect personal narratives and emerging design languages aimed at integrating into Israel’s competitive fashion scene and beyond.
The University of Haifa’s fashion department, celebrating two years since its merger with WIZO Academy of Design, hosted its first graduation show on campus under the theme "Assembly and Disassembly, A Fashion Reflection on Israeli Identity." The collections demonstrated a sophisticated evolution in the program, led by Dean Prof. Lea Peretz and department head Dr. Rachel Getz-Salomon. Many graduates drew heavily from the distinctive design DNA of their mentors, including prominent local designers Aharon Ganis, Shahar Avant, and Golan Taub. Notably, some collections explored cultural dissonance and identity through dramatic, oversized outerwear and quilted textiles inspired by distant, colder cultures.
Standout works included Christina Bazan’s "Shiksa," which addressed feelings of alienation and cultural belonging within Israeli society through layered, theatrical garments featuring provocative motifs and text. Nor Elhoda Dib’s "The Legend of the Arab Man" portrayed her late father’s identity and legacy through rich textile manipulations and symbolic imagery. In contrast, Raz Bachar’s "Self Renaissance" offered a bold, gender-fluid critique of homophobia with bridal-inspired silhouettes challenging traditional masculinity.
Shenkar’s graduation show took place at the Phoenix Campus Museum in Rishon LeZion, featuring 35 collections centered on themes of love, memory, home, and identity. Department head Ilan Bazha emphasized the graduates’ focus on vulnerability and authenticity. Among the highlights was Nahar Rot’s pioneering plus-size collection "POV," which used innovative textile techniques to map and celebrate the female form. Michal Avar Hadani’s men’s collection "American Delight" explored the tension between the American dream and hedonistic excess through vibrant, reimagined collegiate styles.
Bezalel Academy marked its 120th anniversary with a graduate exhibition opening July 24, 2026, showcasing works that blend jewelry and fashion as personal and cultural expression. Notable projects included Eitam Dov Lehman’s "Birthmark," which redefines body and garment boundaries with androgynous, delicate pieces, and Guy Yosef Yerzin’s "Mr. Casino," portraying a compulsive gambler through tailored, theatrical menswear inspired by vintage Vegas glamor. Gaia Cohen’s "Still Growing Body" offered intimate copper and pearl accessories inspired by close observations of nature.
These diverse collections collectively highlight the new generation’s engagement with identity, heritage, and social issues, signaling a dynamic future for Israeli fashion design.
