Alma Shpigler

My name is Alma Shpigler. I was born in New York in 2000, and when I was 5 years old our family moved to Israel. I have always been passionate about art and design, as growing up I was surrounded by artists, musicians and culture. I loved drawing by hand from a young age, but when I was 12 I taught myself to use Adobe Photoshop and dreamt of becoming a graphic designer. I was constantly creating new designs and experimenting with concepts and color that had a social commentary. I began to print my designs on T-shirts, selling them at pop up markets and online. When the Covid pandemic hit, I could no longer do this and had to experiment at home, so I began repairing and upcycling my own wardrobe. I ended up participating in events and fairs where I sold my redesigned clothing, discovering my passion for fashion design and the community that came with it. I enrolled in Shenkar College and began my degree, despite not having much knowledge of designer names or fashion but very much involved with the unique fashion community Tel Aviv had to offer. During the first two years of my studies, I discovered a whole new world, learning and experimenting with pattern making, womenswear, kidswear and menswear. I participated in a digital fashion collaboration between my university and the US Embassy, the United Arab Emirates and India where we created a digital garment as part as a group assignment. Most recently, I collaborated with Israeli musician Noga Erez, designing a sustainable outfit made from upcycled army uniforms for her worldwide tour that she recently wore. I am inspired by the complexities and shapes of the human body and the complex relationship between body and soul, exploring how that affects the way we feel in what we wear. I love incorporating delicate fabrics, distinctive textures and raw edges in my designs. In particular, I concentrate on the imperfections of a garment and make sure to show that in the detailing. During my studies I worked for a local sustainable brand, MATNAS, by designer Gal Yakobovich. She creates new sheets of fabric from leftover cuts to create new garments, inspiring me to be even more mindful with my use of material and the importance of sustainability in a world of fast fashion.