The Milk & Honey Blog

A friend came back from Israel with the best leather bag ever! it was big and beautiful with plenty of room for a laptop, gym clothes and had a ton of compartments for a wallet, cell, keys and more.

it took me three months to track this designer down (the stores she sells to in Israel wouldn’t give me her info) but i got it; her name is Yael Finkelstein, she is 28 and has been an artist her entire life. She started her handbag line under the name Fineschmecker (good smell in German and Yiddish) four years ago while making bag linings out of vintage neck tie fabrics from her grandfathers old factory.  Her bags are made out of fine Italian leathers and are manufactured 100% in Israel.

I got the first set of samples in last week and sold them already to a bunch of stores in NY and CT so i am expecting that by the time the merchindise hits stores in fall 2008 you will find them in many many stores. but for now - enjoy the photos!

The Technion, Israel’s institute of technology in Haifa, is world renowned for significant accomplishments in the fields of technology and the sciences made on its campus every day. Gurfil and doctoral student, Yossie Corie, developed a technique of generating electricity using helium filled balloons covered with solar energy cells. One cable will be responsible both for carrying the helium to the balloon from the ground as well as carrying the electricity to the ground from the balloon. The Technion’s researchers estimate home would need only two balloons. Production on a mass scale would cost bout $700 (US) per square foot of balloon material.

The helium balloons could be used to supply electricity remote locations such as ships, jungles, and deserts. Gurfil and Corrie hope that cities around the world will begin to seek out alternative sources for their electricity supply.

O.K., so i know this has nothing to do with Israeli fashion, but i got such a kick out of this that i had to post it: In Barcelona fall ‘08 fashion shows a Korean designer by the name of Gunhyo Kim, presented his men’s label ”Il Galantuomo”, Gunhyo Kim, a graduate of Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Arts and a design assistant of Dries Van Noten was Inspired by Antwerp’s Hasidic Jewish community, designing chic, tailored ensembles of suit jackets, v-neck T-shirts, long tunics and loose pants.

This “inspiration” is not totally new, the most famous one is the 1993 Jean Paul Gaultier hassidic-inspired fashion show, which caused an uproar in the hassidic community. 

plus i found this really cool American Apparel ad

An unlikely material for accessories and gift items, polymeric clay is what Sami and Adi use to create their line of gorgeous creations called Adina Plastalina. Sami and Adi lovingly describe their collection as an inspired smile. The collection boasts inspired elements and bold imaginative colors. The items are perfect for those of us with a joie de vivre and a naughty charm. For more from Sami and Adi check out the Adina Plastalina website.

While living in Israel I found the way people express themselves through their clothing interesting. The freedom of fashion allows the individualists to truly look like one of a kind. Being in New York I am so far away from the fashion forward street fashion of Tel Aviv.  Recently, I had the pleasure of corresponding with Nimrod, a very hip guy with a chic sense of style. Nimrod that lives in Israel and has his own street fashion blog.  The photos posted here are from him as well as Yael Saloma of the StreetWalker blog.

3/20/2008

Karin, Tel-Aviv (By Nemrod)

Gadi, Tel-Aviv (by Nimrod)

3/12/2008

Tamar, Tel Aviv (by The Street Walker)

Bar, Tel-Aviv (By Nimrod)

3/8/2008

Jessie, Tel-Aviv (by Nimrod)

3/7/2008

Ofri, Tel Aviv (by the street walker)

Keren, Tel-Aviv (by The Street Walker)

3/2/2008

Alon, Tel-Aviv (by Nimrod)

2/29/2008

Iris, Tel-Aviv (by The Street Walker)

2/26/2008

Karina, Tel-Aviv (by The Street Walker)

Michal, Tel-Aviv (by The Street Walker)

Michal, Tel-Aviv (by Nimrod)

Israeli artist, David Gerstein, created this large metal, painted sculpture, Momentum, for the heart of the business district in Singapore. Momentum measures nearly 61 feet (18.5 meters) high and weighs over 97,000 lbs (44 tons). There was an initial investment of over $2 million to develop the sculpture. Momentum depicts an upward cycle of progress, symbolizing the energy and momentum of the district, Singapore and its people. To best illustrate the title of the piece, one layer of the sculpture was revealed every Friday until the final figure was revealed at 7:00pm New Year’s Eve 2007. The spiral like sculpture has 175 colorful figures ascending to the top where one figure holds the spiral.

Israel, like many European countries, is working feverishly to go green.  Last Friday a group students from Jerusalem’s Bezalel Design School went to the open market in the center of the city to sell their handmade, multi-purpose fabric garbage bags for one Shekel per bag, about $0.25.  The bags, made from left over factory fabrics and scraps,  are part of a joint project of Israeli fashion designer Bagir and the jewelry and fashion students of Bezalel.  The project was created in an effort to help end the use of plastic bags that are so hazardous to our environment.

This is quickly becoming a trend around the globe, a trend that we feel is a harbinger of good things to come!

Naama’s Fall-Winter 08-09 collection lets the chic and modern woman have fun create a playful, flirtatious and classic style.

50’s fashion was designer Naama Bezalel’s inspiration in building this season’s collection. With Ms. Bezalel’s unique vision, the collection evokes the classicism and femininity of this iconic era through a modern and innovative lens that brings the past into the present. The pieces are composed of soft, lush comfortable fabrics all in serene, earthy tones with flashes of bright contrasting hues. As always, Ms. Bezalel has paid attention to every detail - vintage buttons, buckles, and bows true to the hippest of 50’s fashion.

Ms. Bezalel designs her clothes with a close fit and a tailored, feminine look that compliments any body type. This season’s collection features a-line skirts, dropped waist dresses, bow-tie blouses, and high waist skirts. Hip and sophisticated, Ms. Bezalel’s collection is perfect for the woman who looks to the past for inspiration in creating her own individual style.

In this blog you will find lots of information about our fashion lines and designers. We will also post news, events and other interesting information relating to fashion and our designers. Feel free to comment on any posting and let us know your thoughts.