Sold Out

Vintage 1960s Caftan Dress Designer Israel Fashion - Rikma - Rozi Ben Yosef NWT Unused

$405.00

Brand Poppy's Vintage Clothing

This product is unavailable

This is a rare unused example of a caftan dress made by Israeli fashion pioneer Rozi Ben Yosef under her “Rikma” brand name.  The fabric is woven in colourful striping in tones of blue, ochre, yellow, orange, red, magenta, green and black.  The piece is made with a hood and is cut wide at the upper body with dolman style sleeves.  The lower body is more fitted and flares slightly to the hemline.  The piece does up the front with a nylon zipper and is unlined.  It still retains its original Rikma hang tag although the bottom part appears to be cut off.  I believe that this piece dates to the late 1960s or very early 1970s.

Makers Label: Rikma Made in Israel S 100% Cotton

Hang tag:  Designed by Rojy Ben Joseph Hand Wash Slight Shrinkage is to be expected after first washing. Easy Ironing. 100% Cotton. Article 7180

Sizing: Size small is indicated, but, being a loose fitting garment, please rely on the following measurements for fit:

Sleeves:  27” taken from the neckline

Sleeve inseam:  22”

Bust:  Difficult to ascertain due to dolman sleeves

Waist: 38” around

Hips:  42” around

Length:  58”, measured flat

Condition:  It is in excellent condition with no wear, tear, stains or odours - this caftan saw no use and was well stored over the years.

This is a beautiful example of Rozi Ben Yosef fashion design - only now becoming more appreciated and sure to increase in value!

About Rozi Ben Yosef:

Ben Yosef was born in 1929 in Bulgaria to tailor Shlomo Chananel, who was the chief fabric supplier to the Bulgarian Royal Family.  In 1948 she married Yosef ben Yosef and immigrated to Israel.  She began producing lingerie in 1950 and, in 1954, discovered “Molidor” a cheap towel cloth produced through a technique involving both weaving and knitting, which she began producing in colourful stripes.  She introduced her first collection in 1962, which consisted mostly of beach wear produced with Molidor fabric. In 1972, the “Silema” dress was chosen to represent Israel fashion in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.  It was a hooded long beach dress, like this one, inspired by clothes worn by desert nomads and meant to be worn by the women of the world as a sign of peace and solidarity with the Arab people.  Ben Yosef retired from the fashion industry during the early 1980s after selling her production facility.  Her role in shaping the Israel fashion industry is now being recognized with a book documenting her life and work.