Delta Galil, a leading manufacturer and marketer of branded and private label apparel products, has collaborated with The Shenkar College of Engineering and Design to present a special course in the field of activewear design, offered to second year fashion students at Shenkar college.

Shenkar College, a leading school in Israel for fashion and textile studies, has opened a special course for second year students in the fashion design tract. The course ran through the second semester of the school year and was supported by Delta Galil in many different ways; from supplying materials to the sharing of information, introducing students to textile technologies by Delta Galil and a tour of the manufacturing facility in Israel.

This initiative, and academic course, were closely followed by Osnat Leon, VP of purchasing and Natalie Ravhon, senior designer at Delta Israel. “The two are also graduates of the Shenkar College and so it was only natural for Delta to make the connection with the prestigious school,” the company explains.

Key goals

The key goals were to introduce students to current trends, technologies and manufacturing processes in today’s industry. In addition, in the spirit of Delta Galil there was a strong emphasis on innovation, and students were encouraged to develop their own designs and materials.

Students experienced printing techniques using fabrics designed for activewear and offered their own prints and designs. Also, students were hosted by Delta Galil at a tour of a factory where Delta introduced some of the more advanced machinery like seamless knitting and sewing.

As part of the participation in the class, students also designed activewear items under the guidance of Osnat Leon and Natalie Ravhon. “The products from students were surprisingly very good, in quality and in the level of understanding the active fashion world as well. Participants produced prints and fabrics we were very impressed by, and some could even have commercial value,” commented Osnat Leon.

Two sides of industry

“By involving young designers and fashion students with real-life processes and our own production environment, we helped expose a side of the industry that is not taught at school,” Osnat Leon explained.

“What makes this course so special is that we combined two sides of the industry where they do not usually meet. On one hand, activewear is a very technological and utilitarian market, and on the other we paired it with high fashion and fashion design students. The combination is a new direction in the approach towards activewear, no more just black pants but fashionable clothes, unique designer items that offer more.”

The final products from the course were presented by the students at a fashion showcase, including ready items worn by models and background information given by each student about special features in their work and their design process.

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