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When you add into the mix all the lovely accessories, what you end up with is a clear indication that Gottex’s future, under Michael Shafir’s leadership, is as bright as its past

   If Rosa Cha is overripe, out-of-control sex, then Gottex’s spring 2004 collection was all about the "good" girl on the road to being "bad". Gottex, Israel’s leading swimwear-manufacturing company, was founded in 1949 by Leah and Ermine Gottleib, and quickly achieved worldwide acclaim and success, in no small part thanks to its unique, durable, and original fabrics and samples, and its early embrace of the use of the revolutionary Spandex in the 1960s, progressing to innovative ultra-light materials in-house at the company. Gottex consistently utilized advanced production technology and developed innovative, fashionable, and exciting swimsuit collections, earning it high esteem among fashion industry professionals and consumers alike in Israel and around the globe. The company, since its inception, has won numerous, prestigious industry awards; and later acquired by Africa Israel, a multinational conglomerate in 1977.
   Michal Shafir, the head designer for the company, with this collection, celebrated the ‘spirit of the sexy divas of the ’80s … the glam-goddesses of the ’70s … and the mod girls on-the-go of the ’60s … the fun of being a woman.’ And his designs cover the spectrum accordingly.
   In the first section, ‘Sexy Diva’, his animal- and graphic-print pieces were just that: sexy diva-esque suits with a metallic edge. Stand-out pieces here included a (leather?) basket-weave bikini with crystal accents and an Op-Art twisted halter cover-up that could also serve double duty as a sun dress. In the ‘Sport Chic’ section, the stand-out designs there were the silver and linen bikini combo that had a decidedly gladiator flavour and a silver croc printed foil suit that I am sure will never touch chlorinated water. The other sections of the show, ‘Boogie Night’ and ’Mod Squad’, continued the parade of inventively designed suits and cover-ups. High on my recommended list of must-buy for the upcoming summer season is Mr Shafir’s bandeau bikini top paired with a sexy cha-cha swim skirt, an "illusion" suit with hand silk-screened appliqués, and a very mod white vinyl Capri pant (topped by a white bandeau bikini top) and its equally alluring sister design, a white vinyl and cable-knit halter suit.

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