Ynet | Doron Ashkenazi Designed New Clothes for Patients in Abarbanel

Respected veteran Israeli fashion designer and lecturer in the Department of Jewelry and Fashion at Bezalel Doron Ashkenazi volunteered to design new leisurewear for patients at Abarbanel Mental Health Center. During a conversation with Ynet, Ashkenazi explained how fashion and design can influence mood, boost confidence and contribute to a sense of self-worth by its wearers. “When Abarbanel contacted me, I didn’t think twice. I am a firm believer that not everything is measured just in terms of money, and I have no doubt that the clothes will contribute to bettering the moods of the patients  as well as of those who come into contact with them: the treatment team, visitors, family members. Visibility has a direct effect.”

The collaboration between the designer and “Friends of Abarbanel” association was part of a series of upgrades introduced in the center by the association with the aim of improving conditions for in-house patients. The understanding of a holistic approach to mental health care, where even seemingly routine details in the daily lives of patients have therapeutic value, led to the redesign of the leisure clothing. The sports-inspired clothes are genderless, making them suitable for women and men of all ages and sizes. Whereas the old design included the hospital name, Ashkenazi decided to use a nonspecific graphic logo, and created 45 new designs from high-quality cotton fabrics in pleasing neutral colors.

Read the full article on the Ynet website