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Gottexis an Israeli goods designerswimwearmanufacturer based inTel Aviv.
History
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Gottex was founded inTel Aviv, Israel,in 1956 byLea Gottlieb,who headed the design team until 1998. She adapted her expertise as araincoatmanufacturer to create a pioneeringswimsuitcompany.[1]
She sold her wedding ring for capital, bought fabric, borrowed a sewing machine and began to design swimsuits that were unique to Israel, inspired by the local Middle-Eastern light and colors: "the aqua of theMediterranean,the golden yellow of the desert, the blue ofLake Tiberias,the pink ofJerusalem stoneand the greens of theGalilee."[1]
During theGerman occupation of Hungary,Gottliebwas forced to move with her husband and daughters from one hiding place to another. To avoid being recognized as a Jew when passing through checkpoints, she used to tuck her head in a bouquet of flowers. She said that the flower motifs in her designs were a tribute to the flowers that saved her life.[2]
In Gottlieb's vision, Gottex collections can be worn "from pool to the bar", and then to a restaurant or cocktail parties. In addition to swimsuits, Gottex produces caftans, tunics and trousers, combining swimwear and beachwear.[1]Gottex is a pioneer of swimsuits with hard-cup bras.[3]Gottex is known for using innovative fabrics. It was the first manufacturer to introducespandex.[4]
In 1975, she was contacted by the fashion houses ofYves St. LaurentandPierre Cardin,which sought to manufacture her swimsuits under their names. Instead, she expanded into men's and children's swimwear, bed linens, towels and drapes.[5]
By the 1980s, Gottex swimsuits were being worn byDiana, Princess of Wales,Spain'sQueen Sofia,Elizabeth Taylor,andBrooke Shields.[6]
In 1997, Gottex was acquired by theLev Levievof theAfrica-Israel Group.Lea Gottlieb ran the design department for another year and then left to start another fashion company under her own name at the age of 85, where she worked until she was 90.[5]
In 1993, Gottex was America's top swimsuit import.[3]According to theIsrael Export Institute,exports of Israeli swimwear totaled $44 million in 1999.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abcFashion windows: GottexArchived26 July 2011 at theWayback Machine
- ^"'My Homeland: Holocaust Survivors in Israel': new exhibition opens at Yad Vashem ".Archived fromthe originalon 1 June 2012.Retrieved21 December2013.
- ^abHeiman, Andrea (23 April 1993)."Good Gottex!: Women Seeking Bold, Slimming Swimwear Make Israeli Company No. 1 in America".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved4 April2018.
- ^"60 years of Israeli design, art and achievement".designistdream.Archived fromthe originalon 2 August 2008.Retrieved4 April2018.
- ^abAtwan, Shachar (19 November 2012)."Death of Israel's High Priestess of Fashion".Haaretz.Retrieved4 April2018.
- ^Rudolph, Barbara (3 June 1985). "Israel's Place in the Sun".Time.Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^"Israel: Retailing, The Wholesale Way".bharat-apparel.Archived fromthe originalon 20 July 2012.Retrieved4 April2018.