Batsheva

Founded in 2016 by Batsheva Hay, Batsheva plays with American styles of feminine dress ranging from Victorian to Pioneer; from Housewife to Hippie. Batsheva takes elements symbolic of restraint and repression, such as high collars, voluminous sleeves and skirts, and gives them a modern inflection. By retooling historical looks, Batsheva explores how to extract the strong and beautiful aspects of those styles while rejecting antiquated notions of womanhood. Former lawyer Batsheva Hay began designing as a hobby, creating matching dresses for herself and her daughter. Her pieces quickly caught the attention of the fashion industry, and in 2016 she launched her eponymous label. Inspired by vintage Laura Ashley and Gunne Sax dresses, her collections are infused with an unapologetically feminine aesthetic – think demure silhouettes, exaggerated frills, ditzy florals to punchy leopard print. Each design is a nod to an historical American piece, from prairie styles to 1970s boho dresses.