Culture Meets Fashion At The Canada Israel Fashion Week 2025
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Picadilly's clothing caters to the modern woman, crafted for home, travel, or formal occasions. | Photo By Arline Malakian -
Striking a pose with purpose, Rock 'N Karma lit up the runway at the Canada Israel Fashion Show, merging art, fashion, and global inspiration. | Photo By Jenn Jevons -
Picadilly has been successfully reinventing its styles year after year, with over 90% of its pieces being made in Canada at their headquarters in Toronto, Ontario. | Photo By Jenn Jevons -
Neil Dombrowsky, CEO Of Picadilly | Photo Courtesy Of Neil Dombrowsky -
Naomi Shapiro, Founder Of Rock ’n Karma | Photo By Tom Sandler
Canadian Jewish designers showcased their incredible collections at Canada Israel Fashion Week.
Culture defines fashion, and fashion expresses culture. Celebrating both, the first-ever Canada Israel Fashion Week was held in Vaughan, Ont., on Thursday, April 3, and Sunday, April 6, 2025. The two-day event was organized to recognize Canada’s thriving Jewish creative communities.
The event showcased the collections of many talented designers, including Neil Dombrowsky, CEO of Picadilly, and Naomi Shapiro, founder of Rock ’N Karma. Sharing their thoughts on the relevance of this event, Dombrowsky noted that this was an incredible opportunity to showcase the abilities of Jewish designers in the world.
Shapiro, who founded Rock ’N Karma with her sister Devorah Shapiro, added that people invited to the event projected Israel’s fashion culture in the most fascinating manner. She believes that people in Israel have great style, and that it comes naturally to them.
When asked about their initial reactions to being invited to the fashion week, Dombrowsky shared that he was excited and proud to reflect on his culture and share it with everyone. For Shapiro, it was all about using her passion for fashion as a symbol of solidarity.
Speaking of his foray into fashion, Dombrowsky said that he comes from a family with a strong fashion background, a fact that has already motivated him to be in this business for so many years. However, the brand’s aesthetics have changed, just as fashion itself does. He added, “We kept on rebuilding ourselves. Picadilly is more of a casual lifestyle brand that targets the 40-to-80 age group. We exclusively sell to boutiques across Canada, the United States, Japan and Australia. We strive to bring novelty and depth into our collection.”
At Rock ’N Karma, the focus is to build collections for everyone. Shapiro shared how everything she does is naturally happy, and, therefore, her pieces put a smile on people’s faces. Her mantra for building a strong fashion brand: “Loving what I do and also loving the people I work with.”
Explaining the name she chose for the brand, she pointed out that most of the collection has a rock-and-roll edge. Not just that, though — she views herself as rock-hard, while her sister stands for karma. Both sisters believe in the idea of karma and putting forward unique work that celebrates longevity and inclusivity.
The collection at Rock ’N Karma appeals to people who are looking for good quality. The Shapiro sisters put together the collection with hand- painted and hand-beaded designs.
At the centre of all these collections is the responsibility of acknowledging one’s community and spotlighting talent across borders. The Canada Israel Fashion Week was undoubtedly a beautiful example of how fashion and culture intertwine to celebrate communities that thrive on purpose and passion.
INTERVIEW BY MARC CASTALDO
