ISRAEL AT WARThe fashion industry is latest front in Israel’s war against Hamas
ISRAEL AT WAR
The fashion industry is latest front in Israel’s war against Hamas
More than 1,000 members of the fashion industry published a letter condemning the rising antisemitism since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, and Israeli models are being awarded many campaigns including May Tager who has replaced Bella Hadid as the face of Dior’s Christmas ad campaign.
The battle for public opinion in Israel’s war against Hamas has extended to the fashion industry. Following a struggle led by Jewish and Israeli influencers, Israeli designer Dorit Bar Or was reinstated on luxury online platform MyTheresa and other platforms after being removed following demands from pro-Palestinian influencers.
Meanwhile, over 1,000 members of the fashion industry, including designers, influencers, models and retail executives, published a letter calling on the industry to combat rising anti-Semitism. Signatories included veteran fashion journalist Suzy Menkes, who stated, "the creative industries must be free at all costs. Free from hate speech. From any attempt to influence evil; from any excuse of encouraging wicked thoughts in a whisper or a shout. There is no excuse." Other signatories include French fashion editor Carine Roitfeld, designers Donna Karan, Nicky Hilton, and Christopher Kane, beauty mogul Bobbi Brown, CEO of the British Fashion Council Caroline Rush, models, and journalists from Vogue, the Times, and the Telegraph.
"Fashion has always been a powerful platform for self-expression, inclusivity, and the celebration of diverse cultures. It has been heartbreaking for us to witness so many instances, where our industry has continued to enable acts of discrimination and hatred. Antisemitism, in any form, has no place in our society, let alone within an industry that prides itself on creativity and acceptance.
“We must start by acknowledging that antisemitism exists and understanding its impact on individuals and communities. Education and awareness are key in fostering an inclusive and respectful environment. Fashion companies and organizations should implement regular mandatory diversity and sensitivity training for all employees, from designers to executives, ensuring a deeper understanding of different cultures and religions, including Judaism. Furthermore, transparency is crucial in combating antisemitism and all forms of racism," the letter stated.
At the same time, several international campaigns led by Israeli models have been launched. Most prominently, Israeli model May Tager was selected by fashion house Dior for its Christmas ad campaign over Bella Hadid, Dior’s long-time brand ambassador known for her pro-Palestinian activism. Dior has not released an official statement regarding the change and took place before October 7, Tager’s selection has nonetheless been viewed as a gesture of support for Israel, igniting anger on social media. A new hashtag calls for a boycott of Dior, and Tager's Instagram account, with 72,000 followers, was flooded with thousands of comments featuring Palestinian flags. Similar comments appeared on Dior Beauty's Instagram account, which has 12.3 million followers. Some even called for a boycott of all LVMH brands, which includes Dior.
The acclaimed designer and former creative director of Celine, Phoebe Philo, launched her new brand also under LVMH, with Israeli model Sharon Genish chosen to lead the brand's launch campaign. Additionally, model Sun Mizrahi continues to succeed internationally, appearing on the November cover of Harper's Bazaar Italia and in the winter advertising campaign for Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta.
Meanwhile, the New York Times highlighted the resurgence of the Palestinian keffiyeh amid widespread global protests in support of Palestinians. Hirbawi, a longtime manufacturer of keffiyehs in the West Bank, sold over 18,000 keffiyehs in October alone, an “unprecedented demand.” Ted Swedenburg, an anthropology professor at the University of Arkansas, has studied the keffiyeh for 40 years, and says that it "is a means of expressing support for people's right to live."
