Refugee models

September 5, 2009 - 7:50 PM by

Image0067Interesting item in Ha’aretz Gallery this week: The Tees Factory brand has put together a photography project/marketing campaign for its latest catalog, using African migrant workers from Tel Aviv in order to promote awareness of the campaign to deport them.

The catalog depicts four Africans, all of whom were found on Chelnov Street in South Tel Aviv, wearing items designed by Tees Factory. Of course, as the article points out, there’s something of a gap between a fashion catalog selling several-hundred shekel tee-shirts and an issue that is supposedly being exposed. Particularly when you find out that the ‘models’ were paid NIS 50 and a tee-shirt, a common barter system among professional models in Israel, according to Ayala Amit, the Tees Factory founder.

The label ‘Tees Factory’ is based in Tel Aviv and sold at several stores and clothing fairs. Made in Israel, the design motifs “are a mixture of Jamaican street culture, 50′s [sic] and 70′ [sic] Americana and our very own local Tel Aviv chic,” according to their Facebook page. The company also

“holds a strong dialogue with the local music and nightlife scene. Through working with local musicians on joint projects, supporting live shows from abroad, endorsing music events with local artists and dressing local DJs and musicians for whose work we have respect for.”

Well, you can’t say they didn’t have their heart in the right place. Just a slightly flawed method for publicizing the issue.

Tags: , , • Category: Business, design, General, Israeliness, Politics 

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