“Managing the sewing workshop is beyond sewing clothes, it’s about inventing solutions and finding whatever will fit. For a couple of years I ran the sewing workshop across from today’s ice cream parlor, in the entrance to Suzanne Dellal. It was crowded, fun, and we did everything there. I took Shoshi, who still works, and Nirit, they were the dressers, and there were two seamstresses, Olga and Ekaterina. Later they built Varda Studio, the sewing workshop moved there and the wardrobe moved downstairs. When Mira Eidels left they brought Ben Ami Einav who split the sewing workshop and the wardrobe.
Some designers come with sketches, usually those who’ve already done the piece abroad, and then the work is all about finding the materials and sewing. Some know what they want, and some have a basic idea. In the first years I worked mostly with Rakefet Levi, we had a very special connection. We worked extremely well together, even though we fought a lot, and to this day we keep in touch and have mutual appreciation. In the first years she’d bring sketches, later Ohad changed the concept and wanted ‘humans’ on stage, so Rakefet started working with ideas. She didn’t prepare sketches anymore, but would come with an abstract idea, and the sewing workshop would prepare samples. There were fights, experiments and sets thrown away. It’s a completely different work method. And a completely different result on stage.”
Dalia Lider, Head of Sewing Workshop and Wardrobe Manager, 1993-2008