Private: Blog

Many months ago while I was in treatment I had a very *uncomfortable* business/life  idea. It was uncomfortable because I had kept my news/ disease from a lot of people (not only in FB but in real life). I wore a wig 12 hours a day and I could barely look at my naked head in the mirror.

Apart from my non-hair issue, I was doing extremely well; getting to know a new strength inside of me that I never knew of before. I laugh (ed) *often* at cancer and I told my body that we would be alright and that we were lucky of having found that lump on time and even luckier to be able to be treated. So  I said: screw the what ifs! Go for it. And so I did.

It took me a month before I could gather the guts to call my great friend Oriane who worked in Public Relations in the US. She helped me arrange the messy puzzle of ideas and answer my many questions about how to go about it. Thanks to her I focused on one design: I designed it, made the patterns, then made the purse.

When I got two of the purses in different colors I gave myself the mission of finding a fashion photographer.  I found him and I got a total crush on his work. Nir  had the exact taste that I was looking for and to be truthful I was afraid he was going to be a douche and not care about my project just because his work was too good. BUT I contacted him and explained my project and not only was he a humble sweetheart, he was thrilled and touched by my cause.

Later on I thought I needed make up (LOTS OF IT!) Even my freaking eyebrows were gone by then! If I was going to pose with my head bald I had to get someone who understood what I wanted to accomplish. I got a lot of recommendations for an amazing make-up artist called Daniella and oh! They were so right! She was so awesome that she came to Tel Aviv all the way from Jerusalem and she gave me my awesome make up: one dramatic look and a more serious look.

The day of the photo shoot I was overwhelmed with excitement and nerves! Some of my hair had grown but it was so ugly and weak that I preferred to shave it again so I asked my husband to do it. He did and then he asked me to shave the lower part of his head and I was so out of it that I actually shaved part of his hair. It took me a second to realize what I was doing but the damage was done. He had to shave his whole head and just like that we became a bald couple.

I was excited and confident through the whole process until I got in front of the camera… Oh boy! I was scared shit-less! I was afraid I was going to have one of my chemo related hot flashes and then ruin my make up! But my team was one of a kind and we managed to test, laugh and enjoy the whole process. Along with these two lovely, friendly and super pro team of collaborators we created more than just another ordinary fashion statement; we managed to capture a beautiful journey of uncertainty that speaks the reality that affects many women today: Breast cancer.  We created other gorgeous photos that I can’t share yet.

That is the story of Hope; the most meaningful purse I have ever designed and made. Because of this gorgeous purse (and the help of my friends/team) I have finally signed a contract to partner up with the National Breast Cancer Foundation in the US.

5% of each Hope purse sold goes to this wonderful foundation. I know that I’d like to live to hear the news of a cure (a real cure) and I’m thrilled to be an active fighter in the search of it through my passion.