rraner
easutres
Unfortunately, in our day, the honored recently in Israel by the
world doesn't always see the Shenkar College of Fashion and
beauty in every body type. If the Technology for her pioneering
Jews are God's partners in per- work. The power of personal
fecting the world according to the transformation is at the foun-
Divine image, then Israeli dation of both Gottex and Gideon
swimwear is humanity's part- Oberson.
ner in perfecting the human
"We work very hard on
body in a bathing suit.
what's in the bathing suit, like
"The bathing suit is not re- tummy control and wires and
ally for going to the beach for a cups to help the body look bet-
swim" says Mr. Oberson, whose ter," says Mr. Oberson. Gottex,
line includes 300 pieces. "It's
more a way of living. We don't
look at the practicality of it for
swimming. It's more what the
woman wants to say about her-
self."
But what does the propensi-
ty for designing fashionable
women's bathing suits say about
Israel or Jewish designers, and
from where did their brush with
theology come?
Gideon Oberson was born in
Italy in 1943 to Jewish parents
who escaped the Nazi horrors
with illegal papers. 'To this day,
my parents are fearful of every
little thing." Mr. Oberson's sense
of personal security comes from
the pride in building up the Jew-
ish state. "You look at Israel
from 40 years ago to now and it's
amazing," he says. The design-
er overflows with optimism—
about the absorption of new
immigrants, the peace process,
the Israeli economy, and, yes,
about bikinis. "We build on peo-
ple's dreams, on their imagina-
tions," says Mr.Oberson, and
then "help them reach those
dreams."
which has 550 pieces in its
. Leah Gottlieb, the founder of collection, has revolution-
Gottex and the designing genius ized the body-sculpting di-
behind its fashionable reputa- mension of swimsuits,
tion, was hidden along with her which is one reason why
two young daughters from the such notables as Princess
Nazis by non-Jews in Hungary Di, Ivana, Nancy
while her husband served in the Kissinger, Queen Eliza-
Russian at my and was later im- . beth, Brooke Shields, Bar-
prisoned in a Nazi labor camp. bara Walters, and Yoko
They, like the Obersons, arrived Ono wear Gottex. The fa-
in Israel in 1949 with nothing mous and the not-so-fa-
but dreams. The Gottliebs first mous order Gottex
manufactured raincoats, which through Victoria's Secret
was a flop in a country that has or walk into posh stores
limited rainfall. Next they tried like Harrod's in London or
children's clothing. Undaunt- Neiman Marcus in Troy.
ed, they moved on to And most women don't
swimwear— but with a hint of have the Sports Illustrat-
lingerie design. The rest is fash- ed model body.
ion history.
"Of course we design
Indeed, Leah Gottlieb was MEDITERRANEAN page 38
Exotic and elegant
swimwear, all from
Gideon Oberson.
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