Jasper’s Tea Leaf Boutique owner, Roben Nurgitz was among 39 Jewish fashion industry mavens from around the world recently selected for the trip of a lifetime. The group was invited to see Israel beyond mainstream media headlines and dive into the country’s cutting-edge world of fashion.
“The country has so much incredible talent. The fashion there is very European, but created for the desert heat. There’s so much embroidery and beadwork,” Nurgitz said. “I think that’s why they had this trip—to get away from all the war talk and to allow people to see the country’s positive side.”
The trip, from July 25 to Aug. 3, was organized by the Israel-based organization, the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project (JWRP), something Nurgitz hadn’t even heard of until a few months ago.
Last winter, one of Nurgitz’s friends sent her a link to the organization’s website.
“I was just scrolling through and I saw that they were offering this amazing all-expenses paid fashion trip,” Nurgitz said. “It really struck my interest so I thought I would apply but I didn’t think much of it at the time.”
For the application process, Nurgitz had to submit an essay explaining why she thought she was a “fashionista.”
“I don’t really know what being a fashionista means or why exactly I stood out among 300 applications,” Nurgitz said. “I like to think that maybe they sensed my passion for the industry.”
In her winning essay, Nurgitz stated that her love affair with fashion started as far back as she could remember. As a small child growing up in the 1960s, she spent many hours watching her grandfather—a tailor by trade—finely stitching together vibrant patterned dresses, glamorous pant suits, perfectly fitted hats accompanied by large pompoms, and of course, matching purses for all.
“He was my original inspiration, but I’ve always appreciated how someone can have an image in their head and put it down on paper and create this beautiful piece with different fabrics and textures and colours,” Nurgitz said.
Nurgitz’s essay also highlighted her degrees in clothing and textiles.
It wasn’t until six months later that she finally heard back from the organization.
“I just couldn’t believe it. I was so excited to experience all this fashion and to make all these connections and also reconnect with my own heritage,” said Nurgitz, adding that as one of only a handful of Jewish people in Jasper it has been difficult to keep in touch with her faith.
According to JWRP, the organization’s goal is to empower and inspire women about the rich beauty of their Jewish heritage.
“I think that I was the only woman in the whole group that doesn’t come from a community with Jewish people,” Nurgitz said. “I think the organizers thought it would be special for me to meet with other Jewish women because I don’t get a lot of opportunities.
“It was really empowering to be able to connect with all these women that I have so much in common with and who understand me.”
During the nine-day trip, Nurgitz and the other fashion designers, consultants, and bloggers toured Tel Aviv, Israel’s fashion capital, taking in various fashion shows, exploring art collectives and listening to numerous style-savvy speakers.
“The whole trip was really about opening up to the idea that Israel has this huge up-and-coming industry and that they want to expose that to people that will share it with communities all over the world,” Nurgitz said.
After meeting with various local designers, Nurgitz said she’ll carry four new Israel-based fashion lines at her shop in Jasper.
Kayla Byrne
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