When the history books are written, will our “future self be satisfied” with how the global culture handled “identity”? Will we connect the dots today on why it matters to understand fashion’s power in transforming cultural and individual identity? In an age of identity politics, multiculturalism, and social transformation, fashion is a catalyst for dialogue and exchange of ideas and values. It is fundamentally rooted in our culture. 

Maital Levitan, of mixed heritage, demonstrates fashion’s power in communicating a transformative narrative of becoming one identity through the construction of cloth. Her body of work, Culture Osmosis is showcased in “CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE: fashion builds a story”, along with the work of a select group of international designers … Here is a preview, a sneak peek of the work of Maital Levitan.

Born in America, Seattle, Washington, and later moved to her family’s home in Israel at the age of seven, Levitan used her ‘global family’ and mixed identity as inspiration for creating two collections, Culture Osmosis and What’s Left Behind (not in show).

Her story is manifested in the mixing and fabric blocking of materials, creating a symbiotic texture that arguably could be a blend of multiple identities into one. For example, Look 2 of Culture Osmosis is a fabric mixed jacket with kimono sleeves, handmade embroidered lace flower patchwork created by mixing multiple lace pieces, cut and stitched by hand. “I combined the shapes of my traditional origin – Poland with the modern tailoring of the 50’s back in NYC,” she describes. “Mixing textures and fabrics from both worlds – flowers, stripes and checks with embroidery and patchwork techniques.”

Incorporating a sustainable, zero-waste practice, Levitan used leftover couture fabrics, such as silk, wool, and cotton, sourced from major European fashion houses, “I used amazing couture fabrics from the best factories in Italy that create fabrics for all the big Maisons.”  Look 1, a fabric mixed jacket with transparent sleeves and a jacquard skinny pant, is another example of a symbiotic effect of fabric blocking in color and pattern.

What’s Left Behind, the familial link and core to Levitan’s identity, was created in memory of her deceased grandfather. She skillfully transferred that loss into a powerful collection, centered around an ‘old soul’, combining the past and present. 

How society deals with human loss is unique to each culture. What was it about her grandfather that inspired her to do this collection?  “After my grandfather passed away, I started reflecting on life after death. Dealing with a present and disappearing world, the loss, the feeling of absence, “something is missing” and the marks left behind – someone was here just a second ago. The memories, the pictures in the gold frame, the feeling of home, the old clothes and belongings that are still there. I was also inspired by the dandelion flower (saba – grandfather in Hebrew) that scatters in time and creates new life.” 

‘Old soul’ menswear/tailored fabrics with delicate sheer materials were used. The symbolic detail of the dandelion flower is tastefully engineered into the collection.

A peek into the making of Look 6, the Feather Coat, an inventive idea to repurpose what exists:

More About Maital Levitan

@maital_levitan 
Maital Levitan website

Read more about Maital Levitan and all looks from Culture Osmosis and What’s Left Behind – Fashion for the Soul | A Talk with Maital Levitan

Exhibition Details

CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE: fashion builds a story, curated by Rhonda P. Hill, 24 October 2023–24 January 2024, Parallax Art Center, Portland, Oregon, USA

Photo Credits:

• Culture Osmosis – Photography: Simone Ammendola, Stylist: Stefania Pelliccioni, MUA and Hair: Cosimo Bellomo, Model: Martina J for Nur Model Management.
• What’s Left Behind – Photography: Rotem Lebel, Stylist: Haya Vider, MUA and Hair: Tal Davara, Model: Maria Shainer for R&R by Roberto and Rotem.