Profile: Mor Elfassy – Only Natural Design Competitions

Mor Elfassy

Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art

Hi, Nice to meet you! My name is Mor Elfassy, and I’m a fourth-year fashion design student at Shenkar – Engineering, Design and Art in Tel-Aviv. My work explores the intersection of materiality, sustainability, and philosophical reflection, aiming to raise awareness of our relationship with the natural world through design. I was born and raised in a small, green village in central Israel. From an early age, I was immersed in the world of natural materials through my father, a carpenter. Every summer, I joined him in his workshop-building, crafting, and decorating wooden objects by hand. These moments instilled in me a deep connection to tactile creation and to timeless, raw materials-a connection that continues to shape my practice today. I design textiles and garments that bridge tradition and modernity. I work with materials like wood, wool, and leather, using techniques such as carving, weaving, and hand-knitted leather. My silhouettes often begin with classic tailoring and gradually break away from it, incorporating fluid, organic forms. Through this process, I offer a personal interpretation of material-bringing it to the forefront of design and allowing it to speak. This tension between structure and softness, continuity and change, lies at the heart of my visual language. In 2023, I collaborated with international musician Noga Erez, designing a recycled denim look for her world tour. In 2024, I won the global competition “Real Leather. Stay Different.” in the Apparel category. Curious, hands-on, and driven by a love for materials and meaning, I aim to create fashion that inspires dialogue, honors craft, and contributes to a more thoughtful and sustainable future.

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TOUCH WOOD

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2025

My project explores the deep connection I have with my father and the tension between continuity and change. As one of four daughters to a carpenter, the question of who would carry on his path was always present. This work contrasts two creative spaces: my father’s workshop-defined by structure, straight lines, strength, and emotional restraint-and my own, shaped by softness, sensitivity, transparency, and organic movement. This contrast creates a dialogue not only between us but also between tradition and innovation. Continuity is also reflected in my choice of materials. I’m drawn to traditional natural elements such as wood, leather, and wool, yet I aim to reinterpret them through a contemporary lens. By shifting their context, I hope to bring these materials into modern design. I created a womenswear collection that blends classic tailoring with transformation. The garments explore continuity and change through revealing and concealing the body, pushing beyond conventional silhouettes. Techniques like wood carving and leather weave-knitting express the tension between softness and rigidity. The color palette is inspired by the tones of wood and my father’s studio. Between continuity and change, I shape a language rooted in what I was given-and what I choose to carry forward.