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Fashion icon Elie Tahari presented a runway show at St. Thomas University that honors female soldiers in the Israeli Defense Forces while launching an initiative directing online sales proceeds to support IDF women veterans.
The event, organized in collaboration with St. Thomas University and Soireee Events and hosted by Tobi Rubinstein, marks an unprecedented moment in Tahari’s five-decade career, blending high fashion with humanitarian purpose. Yedidim is collaborating with Soireee Events on the launch of Elie Tahari’s initiative to help the women of the IDF. Fourteen models will walk the runway, including university students, professional models and two IDF soldiers, wearing Tahari’s couture designs.
“Fashion has the power to inspire change and honor courage,” Tahari said. “Through this event, we celebrate women whose bravery reminds us that beauty is also strength.”
The 73-year-old designer, who was born in Jerusalem, said his commitment to supporting Israeli soldiers stems from personal experience. In an interview, he recalled his own military service and the financial hardships soldiers face.
“I remember when I was a soldier, we had no pocket money, we had nothing,” Tahari said. “And that’s why I think it’s so important for the soldiers to have clothes.”
Tahari’s connection to the cause intensified after he began working with an advocate who asked him to provide clothing for female IDF soldiers. What started as a simple request evolved into a deeply personal mission that moves the designer to tears.
“I learned a lot about women” in combat, Tahari said, his voice growing emotional. “They’re all sending me videos, some of them sending me in the dark, unfortunately, because they’re embarrassed to show their limbs. Some of them, no arm, no legs, no eyes.”
The images and stories of these wounded soldiers have profoundly affected Tahari, who pauses repeatedly during the interview to compose himself. “It makes me emotional every time I talk about it,” he said, his voice breaking with the weight of what these women have sacrificed.
Yet from that emotion comes determination. The fashion show aims to raise awareness for causes supporting IDF veterans and their families, transforming Tahari’s signature elegance into a powerful statement of solidarity. Proceeds from Tahari’s online sales support female IDF soldiers, according to the designer—a commitment born not from marketing strategy but from a place of deep personal conviction.
Rubinstein, founder of The House of Faith & Fashion and co-organizer of the event, said the show represents a broader shift in the fashion industry.
“We live in an era where fashion brands can no longer depend solely on creativity; they are challenged to reflect and respond to the world’s social and moral climate,” Rubinstein said. “I’m honored to represent a brand like Elie Tahari, one that leads with integrity, purpose, and heart, standing firmly on the right side of history.”
Tahari’s journey from immigrant to fashion mogul is well-documented. He arrived in New York in 1971 with less than $100 and initially slept in Central Park and a YMCA. He washed cars in a parking lot on the same Manhattan block where he now lives.
His career in fashion began by chance when he met Hebrew-speaking men who offered him housing and helped him secure a job at a boutique. That opportunity led to his breakthrough success popularizing tube tops in the 1970s, which launched his wholesale business and eponymous brand in 1974.
Today, the Elie Tahari brand operates in over 800 retailers across 40 countries, with more than $1 billion in gross revenue. The company has expanded beyond fashion into real estate and private equity.
Despite his success, Tahari said the violence affecting Israel remains deeply personal and close to his heart.
“I was born in Jerusalem, and I’m 73 and I’ve seen violence all my life and for no reason,” he said, referencing U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about regional tensions. “Until they stop teaching their kids to hate Israel and themselves, there’s never going to be peace.”
Tahari plans to visit Israel in December, his first trip since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks. A previous visit was canceled due to flight disruptions.
The Miami event combines Tahari’s signature aesthetic—timeless elegance, modern sophistication and impeccable craftsmanship—with a humanitarian mission that channels the designer’s profound emotional connection to Israel’s defenders. The show features a blend of stylish and innovative fashion, including the designer’s renowned women’s suit designs, which have earned him widespread acclaim for sophisticated and classic styles.
Now with Tahari’s son Jeremey at the helm, the brand continues to evolve, redefining power dressing by blending sharp tailoring with fluid movement.
For Tahari, the initiative represents more than a business venture—it’s a personal mission rooted in his identity and history, one that stirs emotions he doesn’t attempt to hide. The event will help provide women with clothing and funds through sales and donations, highlighting the intersection of fashion and social responsibility.
“All profit goes directly to the soldier,” he emphasized, his commitment unwavering despite the emotional toll of hearing their stories.
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