< Back to all entries & Profiles
User dvir profile image

dvir rubinshtein

Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design Jerusalem

My name is Dvir Rubinstein, I am 28 years old. Born in a small village surrounded by fields, my early connection to the earth and to a simple, natural environment sparked a lifelong urge to explore my inner self, my emotions, and the secrets of existence. Throughout my life, I have searched for connections—between people and between diverse materials—driven by a desire to breathe new life into my surroundings and the raw elements I work with. Today, living in the city, I strive to build a bridge: between my childhood memories in the village and my adult life in the city, and between the world of spirit and the world of craft and matter.

Lightbox zoom button
← →
x

THE QUEST FOR TOGETHERNESS

Category: Apparel

Competitions: Fashion Competition 2026

The Secret of the One and the Together Driven by an intense visceral and structural exploration, this avant-garde fashion piece manifests the human soul's eternal quest and its most profound, aching longing to escape loneliness and discover an absolute, deep connection. The dramatic, organic silhouette draws its direct inspiration from the architectural and fluid form of the Calla Lily, a romantic flower traditionally gifted in weddings to symbolize pure devotion. In terms of design, I sought to closely mimic the spilling, cascading nature of the Calla lily, as if it is desperately calling for its surroundings to notice it, to approach, and to connect. The soul itself spills outward, deeply yearning for solace, sanctuary, and healing in the 'Other'. Structurally, the garment represents a rigorous dialogue between hybrid engineering and time-honored leather craftsmanship. The design process began with an intense physical exploration, where a custom female torso was hand-sculpted from raw clay to capture fluid, biological anatomy. To preserve this fragile form, a permanent internal matrix was engineered by fusing woven fiberglass fibers with high-tensile epoxy resin directly over the structure. Once cured, this lightweight yet indestructible exoskeleton served as the absolute foundation for the leather manipulation. Premium vegetable-tanned cattle leather, responsibly sourced as a certified natural food industry by-product, was wet-molded, stretched, and sculpted directly over the rigid substrate. All major panels were then meticulously hand-sewn using a traditional heavy-duty Saddle Stitch to ensure structural integrity. Finally, thick Cropon butt leather back panels were hand-punched to support the reinforced lacing system. This honest and deliberate combination of natural hide and synthetic substrate creates an archival garment engineered for generational longevity.

In association with Arts Thread

Working with our partners at Arts Thread to develop lifelong learning and career opportunities for students of fashion and design. Our partnership provides the opportunity to compete on a world stage, participate in industry led workshops, set up an outstanding portfolio and gain access to the resources that will kickstart careers in fashion and design.