The Clothes Make the Mensch: Jewish Fashion Designers

Guest speaker: Phillip Silver, award-winning set, lighting and costume designer

When we think of ‘fashion’, we usually think of names like Dior, Yves St. Laurent, Chanel, Armani – not Lifshitz! Yet, many seminal designers, entrepreneurs and innovators in the world of fashion have been Jewish. In this three-part multi-access series, learn about famous and lesser-known fashion icons of Jewish heritage who have had a significant effect on women’s and men’s fashion in the past, the present and with a hint to the future. Join us in-person at the Miles Nadal JCC or virtually!

Phillip Silver is a designer of scenery, costume, and lighting for opera, theatre, and dance, with close to 300 productions to his credit.  His work has been seen across Canada, in the U.S., and in London’s West End.  He taught at York University in Toronto and served there as Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts.  In 2008, he was honored with induction to the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts.  His interest in clothing was born from studying clothing styles throughout history as the inspiration for his production costume designs, whether authentic or fantastical. He has presented courses on design for the Instituto Allende in San Miguel Allende, the Ryerson Life Learning Program and the Miles Nadal JCC, where he has taught the virtual series All The World’s A Stage: The Theatre Designer’s Canvas and From Gilgamesh to Gucci: The What, Why And Wear Of Clothing Through History. We are delighted to welcome him to our building this fall!