Galia Lahav

Photographed By Shoji Fujii (Left: In-House Designer, Sharon Sever)

WHERE ARE YOU RIGHT NOW AND HAVE YOU ALWAYS LIVED THERE?
I'm in Tel-Aviv, our term of a large and hectic metropolitan. But I have lived a major part of my life in Ashdod, in south Israel. I have flagshipstores in both cities.

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND RAISED?
I was born in Russia, and immigrated with my family to Israel as a young girl.

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR PRESENT CITY OR HOMETOWN?
Tel-Aviv is one of the best cities in the world! It's a city that contains a diversity of cultures, nationalities, genders, political views, families, where generations meet and work together through high and low tech practices. You can find many art galleries, museums, fashion shows, music concerts, fine restaurants and opposed the best street food, art and other features. You can go to the beach in the morning and go out to great night clubs at night. At the same time, you also have traditional and sacred places where you can set your mind and rest.

WHAT WERE YOUR ASPIRATIONS GROWING UP?
My mother was a seamstress, and we would sew our cloth together. I guess i always wanted to be a seamstress as she was, but at first I wasn't courageous enough so I became an arts and crafts teacher. Only in my late 30's I became what I always dreamt of and since them I'm holding on to it with all my heart.

WHY DESIGNER AND WHY HAUTE COUTURE?
Designer. Because I tried different things, and this is what chose me as much as I wanted it to. Couture, haute couture, are like an ode to old times, when people connected between traditions and trends, between cultures and notions, it's the best way for a designer to fulfill his true artistic ambitions, and meet an appreciative clientele.

WHAT HAS BEEN A SEMINAL MOMENT?
Each moment holds a lesson. Be prepared and open to new ideas and growth. You have to be persistence. You also have to learn how to move forward without losing your identity.

WHERE DO YOU FIND INSPIRATION?
Everywhere. All the time. As I said before, each moment holds a lesson. Each moment through life teaches you something. But then, there is also culture, art and Pinterest obviously!

WHAT MOMENT ARE YOU HAVING?
I'm constantly on the move. We recently came back from Paris HCFW and it was overwhelming. Now, we're working hectically on two of our bridal lines for October. It's all pretty exciting. It has been for 30 years now, and it stills makes me so happy when we work on new creative designs.

HOW DOES YOUR AESTHETIC TRANSLATE IN OTHER AREAS OF YOUR LIFE?
I can't really tell much about my self. I just hope that I'm timeless, elegant, and aesthetic as much as I hope for our designs to be.

WHAT DO YOU GET UP TO WHEN YOU'RE NOT CRAFTING?
Not much time for leisure and I love to be in a constant creative flow,

AND HOW DO YOU UNWIND?
During the weekends, I babysit my grandsons, or meet with close friends, for lunch/dinner or go for long strolls on the beach. We also travel abroad from time to time, My husband and I.