Tobi’s House

Tobi Rubinstein, CEO and founder of The House Of Faith & Fashion is our Contributing Fashion Editor from New York.

“Thinking Outside the Lines”

When the past meets the future: Ronen Chen returns to Shenkar, Israel’s most noted design school, in a festive, personal, and inspiring collaboration.

One of Shenkar’s most beloved and well-known alumni celebrates 30 years of work by returning to where it all began.  Designer Ronen Chen, who built a distinctive, elegant, and accessible Israeli fashion brand, joined forces with the Shenkar Fashion Design Department in a special project marking the brand’s 30th anniversary — and the magic wasn’t long in coming.

As part of the collaboration, a course titled “Thinking Outside the Lines” was created, led by Ira Goldman and Jacqueline Sofer. Students were invited to literally step outside the familiar lines of the Ronen Chen brand and propose new and personal interpretations of the world he built. Each student explored the brand’s DNA from a unique, creative, and contemporary perspective — incorporating research, material exploration, and a deep design process.

Throughout the semester, the students entered Ronen’s studio — both literally and metaphorically. They learned firsthand about design and production processes, deciphered Chen’s refined aesthetic, and didn’t hesitate to challenge it. The result? Intelligent, personal collections that blend a precise commercial language with a fresh and expressive statement.

The course concluded with a selection of outstanding projects, awarded prizes by the fashion house. Thirteen selected designs will be presented — and sold — for the first time at Ronen Chen’s stores and on the website.

Chen says: “The students at Shenkar’s Fashion Design Department are the future of design and fashion in Israel.”

“As someone who believes in strengthening the local industry, nurturing creativity, and supporting the fashion sector, my connection with the students is especially important to me. This collaboration is particularly close to my heart because an open dialogue, curiosity, and engaging with the present moment are the tools I’ve always worked with — being curious about the world, never resting on my laurels, and together imagining a better future.”

Chen, a Shenkar Fashion Design Department graduate and member of the institution’s board of trustees, regularly visits student critiques, donates his time and resources, and is involved in the department’s future initiatives.

Ilan Bezha, Head of the Fashion Design Department at Shenkar, adds:

“Ronen, a graduate of the department, returned to us not just as a guest, but as a true partner and friend. He supports the department with genuine care and great love, contributing his time, experience, and resources. He saw a real opportunity to connect, share his knowledge, and provide a platform for the next generation of Israeli fashion designers. It’s a touching connection between past, present, and future — and in many ways, a deeply inspiring personal full-circle moment.”

All images by Ronen Chen at Shenkar via Tobi Rubinstein