Galit Levi

Galit Levi (Hebrew: גלית לוי‎; born December 26, 1971) is a fashion designer, artist, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of her eponymous brand and is known for her work in couture, high fashion, art, and lifestyle design. Levi has gained international recognition for her fashion designs
Galit Levi is recognized for her contributions to haute couture evening and bridal fashion, noted for incorporating fashion motifs, sheer fabrics, and corsets into wedding dress designs. She has developed a corset aimed at body shaping and has pioneered a sewing technique that has been adopted in some wedding and evening dress designs. 
Galit Levi has expanded her design work beyond couture and bridal fashion, also working in areas such as underwear, swimwear, home fashion, and wearable art.
Levi launched her 'Galit Levi' brand in 1995 at the age of 22. She gained significant attention in 1998 when singer Dana International wore a dress designed by Levi during her winning performance of the song 'Diva' at the Eurovision Song Contest. Dana International chose Levi's design at the last minute, opting not to wear a dress prepared by fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier.
Levi has had her dresses twice awarded the title of 'The Most Beautiful Dress in the World,' first in 1999 at Miss World and again in 2009 at Miss International.
In 2008, Levi was named on Forbes' list of '40 under 40,' where she was placed 27th and ranked 1st in the fashion category.
Since the late 1990s, Levi's designs have been frequently featured as clothing for participants in television programs, beauty pageants, and various international competitions.
==Early life==
Galit Levi was born as Galit Greenstein, in Tel Aviv, Israel. Both of her grandmothers were both Holocaust survivors. Her great-grandmother, Masha Schuster, also a Holocaust survivor, owned a factory in Poland with her husband that produced uniforms during World War II.
Levi aspired to be a gymnast like Nadia Comăneci in her childhood and engaged in gymnastics. Her participation in the sport influenced her clothing needs, as she found it challenging to find attire that suited her frame and style preferences. At 14, she discovered a discarded sewing machine at her home and began creating her own garments without formal training. She crafted designs directly on fabric and constructed the pieces using both the sewing machine and hand stitching. She started sewing for family friends, receiving payment for her work. 
Levi's parents, viewing fashion as a career without prospects, encouraged her to pursue a medical profession instead. Consequently, she focused on biology and science during her high school years in Tel Aviv. Despite this, Levi maintained her passion for fashion by sewing clothes for herself and her friends. 
At the age of 18, Levi joined the Israeli army, where she decided to pursue a career in fashion. After completing her military service in the Israel Defense Forces, Levi began studying fashion design at the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Ramat Gan. During her studies, she participated in the Young Designer Competition in Paris. Levi's participation in the competition provided her with significant exposure to the global fashion and haute couture scene. Inspired by Paris, she chose to extend her stay, pursuing further education through additional courses and internships that focused on haute couture and advanced sewing techniques.
==Career==
===Early career===
At 21, Levi returned to Israel from Paris and set up an informal studio on her parents' house's roof to design evening and bridal dresses. Unable to find a wedding dress aligning with her tastes, she crafted her own, incorporating classic lace, pink studs, and gold wire. The distinctiveness of her design attracted attention, leading to an increase in requests for custom-made dresses. Encouraged by this response, Levi opened her first official business at 22.
The Galit Levi House of Design was founded in Tel Aviv in 1994 and initially focused on bespoke bridal gowns, but also created high-fashion evening wear and a range of fashion accessories. Throughout its operation, the studio has provided bridal gown designs for over 50,000 brides and their families.
As demand for Levi's designs grew, she moved to a larger studio on Dizengoff Street in 1995, which continued to expand over the years. 
===International breakthrough===
In March 1998, Galit Levi designed the outfits for Israel Beauty pageant, including a black net dress for Leading model Galit Guttmann. In April 1998, Israel celebrated 50 years in a special fashion show, and Levi designed the outfits, including a dress made from 1000 crystals worn by local singer Michal Amdursky, that art dress appeared on the cover of a major Israeli magazine
Galit gained widespread recognition after designing the dress worn by Dana International, the Israeli representative at the Eurovision Song Contest 1998, who won first place with the song "Diva". The original dress, designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier, was replaced last-minute by Levi's creation due to concerns about its suitability for the performance. The press and media called Levi's dresses "The dresses that brought the luck".
In the same year, Levi also designed attire for participants in the Miss World pageant This included the gown for Linor Abargil, who won the pageant. The gown, called 'The Peace Dress,' featured images of late Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton. The dress attracted international media attention.
In the same year, Levi created the evening gown for Miss Israel, Jenny Chervony, for the Miss World competition. Her design won first place in 'The Most Beautiful Evening Gown' category, marking the first occasion an Israeli designer achieved this distinction among entries from 100 countries. The hand-sewn gown featured special lace decorated with rose and leaf patterns, adorned with 45,000 small Swarovski diamonds, lending it a distinctive silver hue.
In March 1999, Rana Raslan, the first Arab-Israeli winner of Miss Israel, represented Israel in Miss Universe 1999, while wearing Levi's "Star of David" dress designed by Levi. The dress received criticism in the Arab world. 
In 1999, Nofit Shevach, Israel's representative at the Miss International pageant in Japan, wore a dress by Galit Levi designed with an olive branch motif, symbolizing peace and the state of Israel. In the same year, to mark the transition into the new century, Levi created a 'Millennium Dress. Additionally, she introduced the 'WWW Dress,' inspired by the burgeoning Internet age, which was worn by Dana International.
In 2001, amid the Second Intifada, Galit Levi designed a dress for Ilanit Levy, Miss Israel, for her participation in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico. The design incorporated a bulletproof vestadorned with diamonds, aiming to make a statement on the ongoing conflict. This choice garnered significant media coverage, including by CNN, and contributed to Levi's international recognition.
In 2002, Galit Levi designed a white dress featuring the map of Israel on the front and the Israeli flag on the back, encrusted with glittering stones. The dress, named 'The Map of Israel' dress, was worn by Israeli beauty queen Yamit Har Noy at the Miss Universe pageant. In 2017, the dress was selected for display in the Eretz Israel Museum as part of an exhibition titled 'Israel - The Map'.
In 2004, the Galit Levi brand extended its reach internationally, showcasing in fashion shows beyond Israel. Levi's collections were introduced to boutiques and high-end department stores across Europe and North America, including Harrods in the UK and Harvey Nichols. Levi expanded her market to include boutiques in Saudi Arabia, reportedly making her the only Israeli designer to export to Arab countries prior to the peace agreements of 2021. Additionally, she established a bridal showroom in New York and partnered locally to open a showroom for evening gowns in Los Angeles.
In 2006, during the New York Bridal Fashion Week (NYBFW), Galit Levi presented a fashion show at the Waldorf Astoria New York Hotel. Actress and model Moran Atias opened and closed the show, with Atias wearing one of Levi's wearable art pieces, the 'Pigeon of Peace' dress, for the closing.
In 2008, Galit Levi participated in the Haute Couture Fashion Week in Rome, known as Alta Roma,. Her presence placed her alongside internationally renowned designers and brands such as Valentino, Chanel, and Lacroix. Following her show, her designs were featured in 'Collezioni', a fashion publication. The Rome's Haute Couture Fashion Week led to further invitations for Levi, including participation in the Tashkent Art Fashion Week in 2009, an event organized by Gulnara Karimova. There, Levi was showcased among a select group of European designers, highlighting her international standing in the fashion industry with the singer Sting sitting in the front row of her show. 
In 2009, for an exhibition commemorating the 100th anniversary of Tel Aviv, Galit Levi designed a dress that incorporated imagery of Tel Aviv Beach alongside scenes from the old town of Tel Aviv.
===2010 - present===
In 2010, Galit Levi was selected to do a fashion show with Palestinian designer Jamal Taslaq for "Fashion for Peace" in Sorrento, Italy. For this occasion, Levi created a dress that combined the flags of Israel and Palestine, dubbed 'The Two Flags Dress', symbolizing a message of unity and peace. 
In 2011, the Israeli Embassy in Azerbaijan invited Levi to the capital Baku for a special show. She presented 50 Haute Couture models at the fashion show. This event reportedly initiated discussions for establishing a sales channel with Caspian Sea region countries.
In 2013, for a Vanity Fair photoshoot by Howard Schatz, American actress Brooke Shields was photographed wearing a dress designed by Galit Levi.
For the 2013 season of 'Big Brother,' Galit Levi designed a 'spider dress' worn by top model Or Daniel during her entrance to the show.
In 2014, Galit Levi created a bridal dress constructed entirely from recycled paper, which was showcased by model Yael Goldman at a paper fashion show.
In 2014, to commemorate the 90th birthday of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, Galit Levi designed a dress adorned with the faces of all Israeli presidents, positioning Peres at the center. Following Peres's death in September 2016, Levi donated the dress to The Peres Centre for Peace in his memory.
In May 2019, Galit Levi was invited to showcase her designs at the Plaza Hotel in New York City for an event organized by Batsheva, a nonprofit organization focused on women's issues.
In July 2019, Galit Levi was recognized at the Miss International Competition in the USA, where a dress she designed won the title 'The most beautiful dress in the world.' The white evening gown was created for Luisa Diaz, former Miss Puerto Rico and Miss New York, who represented the State of New York at the event.
In September 2023, Galit Levi took part in New York Fashion Week (NYFW), collaborating with Israeli artist Yigal Ozeri to present a couture collection. This collection featured dresses made from fabrics printed with Ozeri's paintings.
In March 2024, in the aftermath of the events of October 7th in Israel, Jewish influencer Lizzy Savetsky wore a Star of David corset designed by Galit Levi in 1999. This corset was first worn by Rana Raslan, the first Arab-Israeli winner of Miss Israel.
In early 2024, Galit Levi designed two wedding dresses for actress Gabby Kono-Abdy, founder of Little Fishy Films, for the movie adaptation of the bestseller "Wish You Were Here" by Renee Carlino. The film features Isabelle Fuhrman and Mena Massoud, as well as Jennifer Grey and Kelsey Grammer. Directed by actress Julia Stiles, the film marks her directorial debut and is set to premiere in the new year.
In September 2024, Galit Levi participated in New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in collaboration with a hat company from Panama. The event took place at the Angel Orensanz Center.
===The corset===
In the 1990s, Levi introduced an approach to incorporate corset structures into the design of wedding and evening dresses, shifting their role from undergarments to integral design elements of formal attire. This innovation led to the adoption of corsetry in dressmaking beyond traditional uses. Her technique, notable for its distinctive construction, has been referenced and utilized by various fashion designers internationally.
Levi's corset construction method combines various materials that are designed to shape and support the chest area. The stiff skeleton of the corset is applied with inflexible bones.
Levi's dream dress designs are made freely on mannequins, combining hand-crafted weaving and threading of gems, pearls, beads, crystals, and other ornaments.
===Galit Levi Design===
Galit Levi Design offers a range of products across various apparel categories, including bridal wear, haute couture, ready-to-wear, lingerie and underwear, accessories, swimwear, home fashion, and casual/resort wear. The company operates under multiple brand names such as 'Galit Levi,' 'GL,' and 'Galit Levi Beach Couture.
The brand has opened haute couture boutiques in New York, LA, and London.
In 2005, Levi initiated collaborations to create mass-market retail collections. A year later, in 2006, she designed a swimwear collection for a major company, branded as 'Galit Levi Beach Couture'. This collection is distributed through roughly 250 retail points of sale, both within Israel and internationally.
In 2008, Levi entered into a partnership with H&O to retail a line of ready-to-wear apparel and handbags named 'Galit Levi for H&O.' The collection was released in the fall of 2009.
In 2010, Galit Levi introduced a lingerie and sleepwear line, marketed as 'Galit Levi Underwear.' This collection, which included items specifically designed for wedding nights and honeymoons, was made available in retail stores both in Israel and internationally. Additionally, a collection of shapewears was launched under the same brand.
In 2012, the Galit Levi brand expanded to include a line of home design products named 'Galit Levi Home Fashion,' which featured bedsheets and towels. Subsequently, in 2014, a second line within the home design category was introduced, titled 'GL – Home Fashion.
The collections designed by Galit Levi are available at retail outlets and department stores both within Israel and internationally. Notable locations include Harvey Nichols and Harrods, as well as specialized bridal shops like Designer Loft Bridal, among others.
===Public image===
Galit Levi has transitioned from a design-focused role to a more public persona, engaging in various promotional efforts for fashion brands. She has been featured in numerous advertising campaigns. In 2008, Levi entered into an agreement with H&O to be featured in their fall advertising and to contribute to the design of the collection. The partnership drew public commentary regarding the alignment of Levi's image with the traditionally non-luxury positioning of H&O. 
Between 2010 and 2017, Levi was featured in promotional campaigns for several fashion and lifestyle brands in Israel. Her presence extended to television, where she made guest appearances in series, was cast as herself in certain shows and films, and took part in an Israeli reality show. Levi's expertise in fashion and lifestyle topics led to frequent invitations to appear on television programs as an interviewee, as well as to serve as a judge in various competitions and beauty pageants. Additionally, Levi was named among the '50 most beautiful women in Israel' on a compiled list. 
==In the media==
Galit Levi's media presence began in 1995 at the start of her career. Initially, her visibility was focused on television and print media before the rise of the internet and social media. Levi's work, including custom designs for prominent Israeli TV shows, attracted media attention. Over time, her role expanded to include public appearances as a judge in beauty pageants, as an interview subject on television and in magazines, and as a commentator on various topics.
She made her first television appearance in 1995 during "The Lucky Wheel Girl Selection Contest", a competition where six contestants, not publicly identified, showcased colorful dresses designed by her. Two years later, in 1997, she was featured on 'Dan Shilon,' a leading and pioneering talk show in Israel, where she presented a fashion show and participated in an interview.
From 1998 to 2002, Galit Levi became known for designing outfits for Israel's beauty pageants. She was responsible for creating numerous outfits for presenters, contestants, and performers involved in these events, typically starting the design process six months prior to each pageant. In addition to her role as a designer, Levi also served on the judging panel and occasionally had the privilege of crowning the winner. Furthermore, she designed dresses for the winners of the Israeli pageants to wear at the Miss World and Miss Universe competitions.
In 2001-2002, Levi wrote a personal column for the fashion magazine "People".
===Television===
In 2004, Levi was responsible for designing the attire for the finalists of the first season of 'The Apprentice,' a reality show created by Donald Trump.
In an episode of the television series 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey,' aired on Bravo TV, two cast members wore bridal dresses designed by Galit Levi.
Galit Levi has contributed to the fashion of television entertainment by designing dresses and costumes for several shows. In 2006 and 2007, she designed dresses for contestants on 'Born to Dance' and 'Dancing with the Stars.' Earlier, in 2005 and 2006, Levi created costumes for Moran Atias, Eden Harel, and Yael Bar Zohar for their performances associated with the Eurovision Song Contest, in addition to designing attire for seventy backup dancers. In 2012, Levi was responsible for costume design in the Israeli TV series 'Ha-borer,' featuring Ania Bukstien and Neta Gerti, a series that was subsequently made available on Netflix. That same year, she also designed costumes for 'The Beauty and the Geek'.
In 2018, a gown designed by Galit Levi was featured on the MTV show 'Wild 'N Out,' with host Nick Cannon. Actress Erica Thom wore the gown during her appearance on the show.
In 2019, a wedding dress designed by Galit Levi was showcased on the Showtime program 'Desus & Mero,' worn by actress and comedian Julia Young.
===Theatre===
In 1998, Galit created 300 costumes for a musical that was performed in Germany as part of the celebrations for Israel's 50th anniversary, with its premiere in Munich. Later, in 2012, Levi designed dresses for performers in the 'Festival' musical. 
In 2013, Galit Levi designed 100 costumes for the 'Tchaikovsky Show,' a musical featuring songs by Mirit Shem Or. The musical made its debut on Broadway in New York in 2021 under the name Swan Lake Rock Opera.
For Hanukkah in 2014, Galit Levi was responsible for designing costumes for the Israeli musical titled 'Fantasy'.
==Personal life==
Levi, who was previously married and is now divorced, has a daughter named Saar Lively, born in 1996. After her divorce, Levi chose to retain her last name, citing marketing reasons. In her personal time, she engages in yoga, painting, and is pursuing a law degree. Levi splits her time between Tel Aviv and New York City.
==Recognition==
Galit Levi has been recognized in Forbes' list of Young Promising Entrepreneurs and was also featured in the Forbes '40 under 40,' securing the 27th position overall and ranking 1st in the fashion sector.
Levi has been awarded Fashion Award five times and has received the title of 'Designer of the Year' on several occasions. 
Levi's dresses have twice won the title of "The most beautiful dress in the world", in 1999 at Miss World and in 2009 at Miss International. Levi has also been the recipient of industry awards, including being named 'Designer of the Year' by Maariv in 1999 and receiving the 'Fashion Designer' recognition by Yedioth Ahronoth annually from 2006 to 2009. 
Category:1971 births
Category:Fashion designers
Category:Artists
Category:Entrepreneurs
Category:Israeli people