Donna Karan's visit to Shenkar stirred great excitement amongst students and faculty. It is not everyday that it is possible to meet and talk to a famous and admired international fashion icon.
Donna Karan spent most of the day at Shenkar. First, she reviewed students' projects from the departments of Textile Design headed by Tali Lachover, Fashion Design headed by Leah Perez-Recanati, Jewelry Design headed by Deganit Stern-Shocken and Industrial Design headed by Alex Padua. Donna Karan spent a lot of time examining the fabrics, portfolios and accessories and outfits designed by the students.
She also talked with students about their designs, and discussed the relationship between fabrics and design, and how designers tend to incorporate their roots and culture – be it Ethiopian, Russian or Israeli – into their designs.
Karan was excited to meet a student who immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia several years ago. She leafed through the sketchbook again and again, and said: "What amazes me time and again is that traditional clothes are the most beautiful. It doesn't matter if it is a monk, a Jew, in Bhutan or Nepal. Traditional and classic clothes look better. Today, when I travel around the world, in Africa, in Israel, in the Far East, I take an interest in the culture, not in fashion. I meet young people and feel a great need to give something back to the world now, because these students are the future."
Karan was most enthusiastic about the projects and asked to take some of the work with her in order to show people in her company.
Later in the day, she held a master class for students in the Department of Fashion Design and critiqued work being prepared for final projects. "I believe that designers today should collaborate with textile designers and artists, and suppress their ego," she said. "I saw a lot of things that I'm planning on taking back," she told the students. "There are a lot of jeans, a lot of leisure wear, things coming from your experience in the army. When authenticity and creativity are combined, magic starts to happen."
The Journey of a Woman: 20 Years of Donna Karan
During Karan's day at Shenkar, a capsule honoring her work was opened at the Lorber Gallery, in the presence of U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Mr. Gene Cretz. The capsule included Karan's favorite images from her book, "The Journey of a Woman: 20 Years of Donna Karan," as well as a selection of her iconic pieces
The gallery space was designed by Strata Architects: Galit Mashiah, Ayelet Karmon and Haim Izraeli. The design of the gallery correlated with Donna Karan's own design outlook, corresponding to her style, which is both classic, ultra chic, and sophisticated in its simplicity. In her own individualistic and creative way, she is constantly evolving in a journey of exploration. A woman's body is her primary source of inspiration, as well as the city of New York, modern life and Eastern cultures. The design of the space offered visitors a glance into this rich world, as they gradually experience the two contrasting/complementary areas that divide the capsule: an elevated rectangle platform reminiscent of a New York loft space, and a quiet, Zen-like screening room.
A text from the exhibit explains the meaning of iconic pieces:
A modern system of dressing designed to simplify a woman’s life. Conceived in the late 80's and early 90's, these are the staple items that live on, transcending the moment, the season, the year. Reconceptualized and reinterpreted for today, each piece is pure Donna Karan and has withstood the test of time. The dresses displayed were: Iconic Devore dress, 1996: Worn by Demi Moore in ad campaign; Iconic Cashmere Sequin: Designed for Barbra Streisand 2006 Concert Tour; Iconic Black & Gold Embroidered Jacket: Originally designed in 1986; Iconic Body Suit: Originally conceived in 1985; Iconic "Cold Shoulder" dress: Originally conceived in 1986.
The presentation of this capsule was made possible through the American Committee for Shenkar College, and through the invaluable feedback and cooperation of the staff of Donna Karan in New York and the Shenkar Public Relations Department.
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