Being born in the USA and moving to Israel, having a “global family” and a mixed identity, were inspirations for this collection.
– Maital Levitan
When you are of mixed culture, how do you define and identify yourself outside the imposition of society? Many designers use their collections to make socially relevant statements and offer storytelling through a fashion lens we don’t often see. Having a multi-cultural identity confers authenticity and a unique ability in the creative process to highlight all cultures, adapting to modern times while preserving the history of traditional methods, textiles, and silhouettes. Fashion can be transformative in fusing a multi-cultural identity.
Seattle-Washington-born, raised in Israel, Levitan, who is of a multi-cultural heritage tells a story about mixed identity with her body of work Culture Osmosis, and says we are all connected and part of a global tribe but are challenged in finding our own individuality and belonging: “Culture Osmosis is a story about identity, a journey of discovering who we are, breaking the rules of tradition, finding our own way in the world, searching for meaning, belonging, and freedom, moving from place to place as nomads of the universe, transforming and becoming a new version of ourselves.”
In an excerpt from an interview with Levitan, she talks about her cross-cultural upbringing in both Seattle and Israel, and how it has shaped who she is today:
My parents moved to Seattle from Israel in their early 20’s to study and be with my dad’s parents who worked there for a few years at that time. During those years, I was born and later, my younger brother. My grandparents moved back to Israel, and we stayed in Seattle. My parents always knew that they would go back to Israel since all our family was there and they didn’t want us to grow up without being close to them. Every year they said it’s time to go back but it was always delayed, and when I turned 7, they decided that now is the time and I started 2nd grade in Israel. I have amazing memories from Seattle and my childhood, growing up with close friends that became family, getting to know different people and cultures and traveling around the world from a young age. These experiences played a huge part in who I am today.
Levitan, who holds a master’s degree in Alta Moda Haute Couture from Accademia Costume & Moda, Rome, Italy, used leftover couture fabrics of silk, wool, cotton, jacquard patterns, and lace from some of the main fashion houses in Italy. Culture Osmosis was constructed sustainably with intent to leave no waste. This opened the creative process, allowing for self-discovery and a blending of her mixed identity through the mixing of textures. Mixing textures or fabric blocking can be viewed as a transformation, becoming one identity. Levitan says, “Being born in the USA and moving to Israel, having a ‘global family’ and a mixed identity, were inspirations for this collection. I used amazing couture fabrics from the best factories in Italy that create fabrics for all the big Maisons. I combined the shapes of my traditional origin, Poland, with the modern tailoring of the 50’s back in NYC.”
Why Maital Levitan’s work is not shown in the exhibition:
Culture Osmosis is a story about identity in a multicultural world created by Maital Levitan that would have been exhibited here. Maital was born in Seattle, grew up and schooled in Israel, graduating from two of the world’s most prestigious fashion schools–Shenkar College of Engineering and Design in Tel Aviv and a Masters in High Fashion Haute Couture from the Academy of Costume and Fashion in Rome. Levitan currently lives near Tel Aviv. Levitan served for five years in the Israel Defense Force achieving the rank of captain before finishing her advanced studies and degrees.
Her contribution to CLOTH, Construct, CULTURE was packed up and ready to ship from Israel when Hamas terrorists brutally attacked Israel initiating a war whose rockets quickly made Israel’s roads and skies unsafe for commercial transport.
As of the mounting of this show, Maital last reported: “My family is safe for now. Difficult times. Really unbelievable. A true horror movie.”
We would like to dedicate her space in this show in memory and respect of people of all cultures and identities being able to peacefully coexist on this planet without fear and to condemn all acts of genocide and violence against innocent people.
Culture Osmosis – Photography: Simone Ammendola, Stylist: Stefania Pelliccioni, MUA and Hair: Cosimo Bellomo, Model: Martina J for Nur Model Management.
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