Tamara Efrat
Senior Lecturer, Department of Fashion Design
School of Design
Field of Research:
Fashion Design, Craft and Technology
Ancient Embroidery, Algorithms, and Innovation
“The ancient craft of sewing is a key technique in many industries, shaping not just materials but entire structures. The goal of this project is not to replace the craft with new technology, but to use technology as a way to amplify, preserve, and help it evolve.”
– Tamara Efrat
The Project
We are working to expand the technological capabilities of the Fashion Design Department at the University of Haifa – currently the most technologically advanced program in Israel. In light of the rapid global technological revolution, today’s designers must not only excel in fashion design, but also understand and engage with emerging technologies.
To achieve this, we are developing an innovative design lab that will:
- Integrate traditional craft with advanced technological tools.
- Equip graduates to lead and innovate in the global design industry.
- Establish the Department as one of the most progressive and forward-thinking fashion design programs in the world.
Fundraising Goals
Philanthropic support will extend the reach of craft and design into new frontiers.
- Amplifying traditional craft through technology – strengthening it, preserving it, and allowing it to evolve.
- Providing advanced design tools with applications in fields from architecture to nanotechnology and biomedical design.
Meet Tamara Efrat
I am a multidisciplinary designer, researcher, and senior lecturer at the Department of Fashion Design at the University of Haifa. My work explores the intersection between traditional craft and emerging technologies, with a focus on how these dialogues can open new pathways in design, sustainability, and material innovation.
My projects have been exhibited internationally in museums and galleries, and I’ve participated in leading residencies and fellowships, including at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Weizmann Institute of Science, where I initiated collaborations that connect artistic practice with scientific research.
Alongside my academic and studio practice, I consult for startups and companies, particularly in the fields of wearable technologies and smart textiles. My current research focuses on reviving ancient craft techniques and reinterpreting them through technologies such as 3D printing, algorithmic design, and bio-based material development. For me, preserving the craft process is essential for maintaining the cultural and social values it carries, such as intergenerational knowledge-sharing, community, and visual language preservation.
By bridging historical techniques with contemporary innovation, I offer new perspectives on sustainability, material intelligence, and cultural heritage.
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