APRIL 2018 32 | Sparkle Bar co-owners Leiah Scheibel and Alex Bradberry believe every woman deserves a chance to sparkle. THE REBIRTH OF I S R A E L I FA S H I O N H O U S E , MASKIT

APRIL 2018 | 33 Like a lightning bolt illuminating the sky, Sharon Tol’s mind lit up after seeing Kate Middleton’s wedding gown. Tol was in awe as she realized that the design house she had formally called home, Alexander McQueen, was the same one that had dressed the duchess for her biggest occasion. After three years of leading the embroidery team for the Alexander McQueen brand, Tol had taken a break to return to her homeland to start her family in Israel. Having learned from McQueen and designed for the likes of Cate Blanchett, Scarlett Johansson and Lady Gaga, Tol was beckoned by her passion for fashion design after seeing the McQueen gown at the royal wedding. Tol began researching opportunities in Israel. To her dismay, she found that all that existed were mass market or youth-based brands. She could find nothing like the luxury and quality she had become accustomed to working at Alexander McQueen. It was then that she stumbled on Maskit, a historic Israeli fashion house that had been silent for 20 years. In its heyday, Maskit (pronounced “mahs- KEET,” a biblical word for an ornamental object) was sold by retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue. It was worn by models and showcased on the cover of Vogue and on runways in collaborations with the likes of Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent and Dior. Founded in 1954, Maskit had gone dark after its change from a government-run company selling luxury women’s wear incorporating Israel’s melting pot of ethnic styles to a privately run company. After meeting with Maskit founder Ruth Dayan, Tol knew her purpose: to revive this treasured brand while contributing to her homeland in a meaningful way. Together, Tol and Dayan strategized about how to rejuvenate the brand. By joining forces with many other talented designers, they did just that. One component that remained from the original iteration of Maskit was its commitment to social impact. The new Maskit, like its predecessor, recognizes the need for the brand to take a lead on social and humanitarian issues. It is this dedication to philanthropy that recently brought Tol to Phoenix for a speaking engagement and trunk show. The Greater Phoenix Jewish Federation is focused on engaging and strengthening the Jewish community while providing for Jews in need locally, in Israel and around the world. This affiliate is one of many throughout the United States and Tol has GIVING IN STYLE {fashion in the philanthropy lane} Tyler Butler | FASHION WRITER Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Welcomes Designer of Iconic Brand