The Big Cover-Up: Modest Fashion (Leo Baeck Institute Lecture Series)
Event Information
About this event
LEO BAECK INSTITUTE LONDON LECTURE SERIES, 2019-20
A lecture series organised by the Leo Baeck Institute London in cooperation with the German Historical Institute London.
The proposed lecture series investigates the complex nature of what it means to act or appear Jewish and for whom this appearance is important. Examples are drawn from a wide range of performative settings: on stage, on screen, in daily life. Under which conditions do certain elements of fashion and attire appear as “Jewish”? How do Jews consciously showcase or hide their identity by way of ‘acting’ and dressing in certain ways? And how were these elements conceptualised in the wider discourse: as ‘natural’- self-expressions of an ethnical identity, as attire communicating a social role, or ‘prejudiced’ – as a ’costume’ hiding the wearer’s true identity?
The Big Cover-Up: Modest Fashion
Ms Adi Heyman, 'Modest Fashion' blogger and founder of the 'Jewish Fashion Council', USA
What started out as religious niche has matured into a 250 billion-dollar industry largely pioneered by a group of diverse women embracing unique identities on social media. Fashion stylist turned blogger, Adi Heyman’s inspiration behind launching a Jewish fashion and lifestyle blog in 2010 stemmed from her personal and professional experience as an Orthodox Jew working in the fashion industry.
In her talk, Heyman explores the possibility of being an ‘Orthodox Fashion Influencer’, and reflects on the lack of authentic content highlighting modest fashion and the underrepresentation of women from minority cultures. As one of the leading religion-focused Jewish influencers she promotes conservative silhouettes with a contemporary twist that resonates with the religiously observant consumer. Her work interprets Western identities alongside religious belief in a way that enables women to feel empowered by personal fashion and lifestyle choices. In 2019, Heyman founded the Jewish Fashion Council (JFC) to build a global community of Jewish fashion professionals and to provide funding and support for the Jewish student life at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the Parson’s School of Design.
For more information please refer to the leaflet here.
Organiser Leo Baeck Institute London
Organiser of The Big Cover-Up: Modest Fashion (Leo Baeck Institute Lecture Series)
The Leo Baeck Institute London, founded in 1955, was named after the last public representative of the Jewish community in Nazi Germany. Its members conduct and support research into the history and culture of German-speaking Jewry from the 17th century to the present day. The Institute aims to facilitate academic exchange among all of those engaged in understanding the history and culture of German-speaking Jews in Europe and throughout its diaspora. The LBI London also encourages the study of the German and European Jewish experience from the 17th to the 21st centuries to help understand contemporary socio-political debates concerning immigration, minorities, integration, and civil rights. Teaching and research capacities expanded significantly with the move in 2011 from its historic home in central London to Queen Mary, University of London. Since then the LBI London has established German- and European-Jewish History and Culture as a teaching and research field at the School of History at Queen Mary. The LBI London remains an independent institute and is a registered charity under English law.
