Adi Yair: Slow Fashion, Sharp Vision
For Adi Yair, the essence of design has always been found in textiles. Whether she’s weaving fabrics by hand or showcasing her work on the global stage, her designs bridge the gap between artistry and function. Based in Jerusalem, Adi has continually pushed the boundaries of how textiles can be utilized in both artistic and functional contexts. From studying at the prestigious Bezalel Academy of Art and Design to showcasing her work at New York Fashion Week and Jerusalem Design Week, she’s established herself as a trailblazer in the industry.
“I am passionate about developing new tools and techniques for creating original patterns in unconventional ways. My work combines scientific technologies and anthropological research, resulting in artistic yet functional objects.”
Adi's deep passion for textiles was ignited during her undergraduate studies in fashion and jewelry. However, it was a brief modeling stint for a friend’s project that sparked her realization that creativity was the path she wanted to pursue. This transformative experience motivated her to build a portfolio and establish her own brand after graduation. During the growth of her brand, Adi gained diverse experience, working as a prop and costume supervisor at the Khan Theater and managing a boutique where she honed her weaving skills on a loom. This four-month immersion in loom work proved pivotal, allowing her to refine her technique, dedicate time to weaving prayer shawls, and draw deep inspiration from the craft. Following a brief hiatus to become a mother, Adi further enriched her creative practice and technical expertise by pursuing a master's degree in industrial design, a move that allowed her to explore new avenues for her textile-based art.
Designs influenced by her experience weaving prayer shawls.
Taking great pride in her identity as a slow fashion designer, Adi carved out a space where creativity thrives free from the constraints of retail pressure. She was never content producing the same pieces repeatedly, which acted as the key catalyst in starting her own brand. Each garment she creates is a one-of-a-kind piece, from weaving her own textiles, digitizing them, and printing them onto her designs. Her commitment to slow fashion and high quality craftsmanship is further evident in the personal touches she adds, such as incorporating her own handwriting into shirt designs, and her deliberate use of contrasting textures and layered elements.
While rooted in slow fashion, Adi has not shied away from international platforms, showcasing her collections at both New York and Paris Fashion Week. Adi relished the opportunity to present her collections on the international stage, with the Paris experience being particularly formative. Reflecting on her Paris experience, she recalls, "It was the first time I worked with a concept on a professional level. I really pushed myself to the edge and was able to fully immerse myself in the field. It was incredibly rewarding, and I was very pleased with the outcome." Her time in New York was less hands-on than she had hoped, but Adi still valued the opportunity to debut her collection to a new audience.
New York Fashion Week, 2018
One of the most unique opportunities for Adi came when she returned to her childhood passion for dance. Having studied ballet and other forms of dance from a young age, she rekindled her interest as an adult through a collaboration with choreographer Amir Kolben of KolbenDance. This partnership led to her designing costumes for the company, including her notable work on the reimagining of Swan Lake. Adi also crafted designs for the Halelu Orthodox Dance Group, further expanding her involvement in the world of dance. Reflecting on her experience, Adi shares,
“Every project is unique; it’s an incredibly artistic and creative process. I engage with the choreographer to understand the emotions they want to evoke in the audience, and I attend rehearsals to immerse myself in the performance, determining how to translate that energy into the costumes. The costumes are vital to the success of the show.”
Halelu Orthodox Dance Group captured by Efrat Mazor
This creative process also provides Adi with a rich learning experience. By carefully studying the materials and colors used on stage and observing how they move, she gains a deeper understanding of what visually resonates in a performance setting. This ability to observe and interpret how visuals communicate extends to her work in exhibitions.
In 2021, she embarked on a deeply personal exhibition project titled “The One Year Carpet,” a woven “infographic” that chronicled her daily routines during the post-pandemic transition. “It became an obsessive documentation of the day-to-day parameters of my life, transformed through real-time, laborious weaving practices that created an infographic of my existence,” she explains.
“The carpet uses color as a tool to mark different segments of my day and the days of the week. For example, pink and red are used to signify moments before and after 6 PM. Other colors represent when I stayed at home or ventured out, who I interacted with, and other key daily details, all woven into the fabric of the artwork.”
Looking ahead, Adi envisions more exhibitions but is determined not to limit herself to just one medium. At the moment, she is particularly drawn to fashion and redesign, finding significance in deconstructing old garments—such as her father’s 1970s army uniform—and transforming them into something new as a tribute. She is steadfast in wanting to continue to stand out and do what she loves, using different mediums to take her designs to new heights. With her passion for blending creativity and function, her pieces will continue to meaningfully resonate on both a personal and global scale.
