London's first festival for Jewish women in fashion, arts and culture kicks off next month
In early March London plays host to the first ever HerSpace festival. This one-day event is a celebration of creative British Jewish women in the worlds of fashion, arts and culture. It's not about business acumen or learning entrepreneurial skills, Michelle Stimler Morris tells us, HerSpace founder – or "driving force" behind the project, as she puts it. "HerSpace is about appreciating what other people are doing," she explains. "If it inspires you to do your own thing, that's great too, but it's about discovering what other people are doing in a creative way." Throughout the day there will be talks by accomplished and talented Jewish women, a fine art exhibition and The Marketplace, where artisans will be able to showcase and sell their clothing, accessories, beauty products, books, food and art.
HerSpace began one night when Michelle went to a childrenswear sale at somebody's house. "It's a house I'd walked past hundreds of times, but had never known that there was a great business inside," she reveals. "It was a lightbulb moment: I thought, how many other Jewish women are doing amazing things that we don't know about? I wanted to do something about it. I don't know why, because I'm not an events planner, I've never done anything like this before, but it just hit me and I decided to make it happen." After teaming up with her good friend Shoshana Gertner (the brains behind YUM! Artisanal Chocolate, pictured below), the pair recruited a core team of around 10 women, who all volunteered their time for the cause.
Split into two halves, discussions of the day will cover a wide range of topics, from ways fashion can impact your self-esteem to a challah design demonstration in the morning, and good vs the ugly sides of social media to the power of meditation in the afternoon, plus much more besides (check out the full schedule here). Attendees with an 'all-inclusive' ticket will receive a tote bag containing products from Cano Water, Pop Corners, Diptyque and other companies. There will also be a raffle on the day, prizes of which include a piece by Israeli artist Nir Segal, Condé Nast luxury products gift bag and a year-long subscription to any Condé Nast title, Stella McCartney sunglasses, and a cut and style at Nicky Clarke in Mayfair. All proceeds will be donated to the Noa Girls charity, a confidential service that provides practical, emotional and therapeutic support for adolescent girls in the Orthodox Jewish community.
Vegan challah loaves by @ChallahMummy, host of the challah design demonstration
"There's no emphasis on business," Michelle says, "there are already things out there for that purpose, like the Jewish Women's Business Network or Work Avenue, which does a 'women in the workplace' type event. HerSpace is all about people designing their own products. It's about Jewish female creativity."
By Danielle Goldstein
HerSpace: The Jewish Woman’s Fashion, Arts & Culture Festival takes place Wednesday 4 March. 9.30am-2.30pm & 7-10pm. £45, £20 (marketplace only), £15 ages 16-19. The Pillar Hotel, NW4 2EU. www.herspace.me