| One On One Break | Reason To Be Pretty | Blossom Moment |
| Nophar Haimovitz aka “Reason To Be Pretty” goes by the saying “there is always a reason to be pretty”. Don’t know what about you, but I definitely buy that! When Nophar first wrote me, it was long after I tried to reach her… I guess she sensed me looking for her from the other side of the world ;) I fell in love with her colorful and extra sophisticated world. Then again, I’m a sucker for statement pieces. You know I am! Give it up for Nophar and her dreamy neck pieces. I’m sure you gonna enjoy the ride! www.reasontobepretty.com |
| I’d love to hear about you, your journey, how it all began. | |
| As every average Israeli, I came out of the army with very little knowledge about what I wanted to do with myself. I went to study interior design, hoping I’ll end up in building restoration. I didn’t like it, took a year off and started doing mosaic. Than, I decided to study jewelry and accessory design, I signed in to Bezalel, where I actually wanted to study, and to Shenkar “just in case”. By than I was 25. I got into both, and it suddenly hit me that I really want to study fashion at Shenkar, as it is one of the best in the world. To be honest, the only one surprised about me going to study fashion design was… me. Everyone else always thought that’s what I should do (but neglected to tell me). During my Shenkar years I have met a really cute and talented student in the industrial design department. We got married while I was still in school. So Shenkar ended up to be a VERY smart decision… Right after I graduated, we followed our dream and took a plane to ‘America’. We ended up in NYC (“Concrete jungle where dreams are made of”), that was 4 years ago and we’re still in love with this city. During that time, I interned and worked in the fashion industry. I took classes in embroideries, embellishments and different couture techniques, participated in international embroidery competition and started my own line. | NopharHaimovitz |
| Can you describe your work process for me? | |
| It varies by collection (my neck pieces collection has a 3 sub-collections). With my floral collection (which is a “one of a kind”), I start by looking at my materials, deciding on a color and take out everything within this color combination, laying it all on my table, than I dye fringe or flowers, sculpt the silk flowers, embroider and sew all the components together. I don’t have a specific order in mind, I have an idea about what I want and play with the materials, but usually everything just somehow comes together. Than there are the fringe and chain necklaces, these are more simplified version of the floral necklaces. In general, I create from an eclectic array of materials and color and my desk is a mess at the end of the day… | NopharHaimovitz |
| Which materials do you work with? | |
| I work with everything; fringe, silk flowers, crystals, metal chains and components, beads, fabrics, ribbon, wool… However, I would never work with leather or real fur. | NopharHaimovitz |
| What is the most unusual piece you have ever designed? | |
| I participated in an international embroidery contest in which embroidered a whole army style jacket (made from real army shirts), it took me 4 months. That was crazy! I also have another piece, its an embroidered top that I have made for one of my projects during my school year. It was inspired by Kawaii and the whole Japanese cuteness culture. It’s just a basic wife-beater top, completely covered with bits and pieces of fabrics, crystals, toys and more. I think this item was the one that opened my eyes and mind, made me realize who I am as a designer and what I’d really like to do, which is fabulously pretty things. | NopharHaimovitz |
| What’s next? What is your dream? | |
| I just launched my website with the new neck pieces and a brand new line of feminine and graceful silk dress. Lately I also began selling my designs in boutiques around the world and will be opening my own online store soon. The dream is the usual dream, to be able to sell my line in more stores, see a celebrity wear one of my pieces, be featured on Vogue. But basically, my dream is to have people share my love for absolutely pretty things, get my vision by wearing my pieces and to be able to keep doing what I love, where I love to do it. | NopharHaimovitz |
| I’m curious to know where does your inspiration come from? | |
| I’m obsessed with the color Pink and with flowers, everything blooming fascinates me. I’m trying to recreate for my clients that same feeling I have when I go to the botanical gardens and see a magnificent Magnolia tree or look at my rose bush (pink of course). Also, I collect materials such as interesting beads, flowers, buttons, fabrics, bows and lots of embroidery books. By looking at them I get inspired. | NopharHaimovitz |
| Can you tell me which designers inspire you? | |
| Well, of course the houses of Chanel and Lanvin, they know pretty, grace, feminine, fabrics, I want to cry when I see Chanel’s Haute Couture Collections. The fabrication and embellishments are to die for! I’m also obsessed with Christian Lacroix. All the embroideries and couture embellishments, the shape of the garments and layering… His sketches are insane, so simple and intense, so beautiful and full of color. | NopharHaimovitz |
| What about some web sites and blogs that you visit regularly? | |
| I go through many, I’m a google fanatic. I like all the street style blogs such as The Sartorialist or Street Peeper . I go over the items at NotCouture, where you see the new and cool stuff. I love Style Bubble, Susie Bubble has excellent style, I adore everything she wears! But basically, since I live in NYC, my best bet is just to walk down the street, look at the people and get inspired. | NopharHaimovitz |
| What is the best advice you’ve ever received? | |
| I never actually heard it as an advice but my parents made sure we (my brothers and I) will always follow our dreams. They always say “you should follow your dreams and everything else will work itself out.” | NopharHaimovitz |
| If you had an extra hour each day what would you do with it? | |
| To be honest, I have a very good time management skills. Before meeting my husband, I used to give up sleeping and work 24/7. He taught me how to do everything during the day and still get my beauty sleep at night. But, if and when I have more time on my hands, I would definitely learn how to knit and learn Spanish and Arabic. | NopharHaimovitz |
