KINGSTON, R.I. – November 10, 2022 — Fashion speaks volumes about a nation and society. Liraz Cohen, a fashion designer from Israel, will speak at the University of Rhode Island Thursday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

Cohen’s talk will be held in the Hope Room of the Higgins Welcome Center, 45 Upper College Road on the Kingston Campus. Cohen’s presentation, which is free and open to the public, will feature glimpses of Israeli culture illustrated with fashions modeled by URI students.

A fashion blogger and stylist, Cohen is being brought to campus by the University of Rhode Island Hillel with support from the URI College of Business, the URI Multicultural Student Services Center, Congregation Beth David of Narragansett, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, and the Consulate General of Israel to New England.

Cohen studied at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.  She has spoken at universities around the globe on topics such as Israeli politics, religion, technology and fashion. At URI, she will take the audience on a journey through the decades of Israeli couture with the use of props, video, audio, still photography and live models. Cohen will discuss the influence of immigrants on Israeli fashion and the role that feminism and kibbutz life have played in creating a signature style. 

Katelyn Luster, a textiles, fashion merchandising and design major, who will be one of the student models, is excited about Cohen’s visit. “Liraz is also coming to speak in my ‘Culture, Dress, and Appearance’ class. This is a phenomenal opportunity for my fellow students to hear from someone working in the industry and to learn about how a country’s culture influences its fashion.”

Visit the URI Events Calendar to find the event and registration link.