Yotam Solomon

Yotam Solomon (born March 28, 1987) is a Los Angeles-based, Israeli-born fashion designer.

Personal life
Solomon's grandparents migrated from Austria and Hungary to Israel after the Holocaust. A son of Israeli-born parents, Yotam grew up in Israel and attended art school through his teen years. A viola prodigy since he was young, Solomon moved to Los Angeles in 2003. He attended Beverly Hills High School and graduated from Santa Susana High School, where he received the National Orchestra Award in 2005. After Santa Susana High School, Yotam attended FIDM for Fashion Design and graduated with honors. After graduation, Solomon acquired a pattern-making position for a men’s label. This job opportunity inspired him to start his own label, presenting his first Spring-Summer 2008 Ready to Wear and Footwear Collection during LA Fashion Week, October 2007. Since, Yotam has showcased successful collections in LA and New York fashion weeks.

As a supporter of the arts, Yotam explained his thoughts about the art world from a fashion perspective. In March 2010, Yotam had an interview with KiptonArt where he talked about how whatever artists are doing affects designers and whatever designers are doing affects artists, as designers and artists draw inspiration from one another.

Company
Yotam Solomon started his eponymous label in July 2007. It is focused on the environmentally friendly avant garde lifestyle, producing ready-to-wear, footwear and fashion accessories using natural materials. The brand's motto is 'Slip into the extraordinary', and its priorities are to inspire, empower and encourage people to show awareness of social and ecological issues while maintaining a healthy lifestyle and personal comfort. British Vogue wrote: "Although not simple nor classic, Solomon's first real design collection reminds audiences that showmanship and high-fashion are in fact still intact in California."

In Fall 2010, Yotam Solomon launched a diffusion footwear line titled YOTAM SOLOMON II, which was announced by Women's Wear Daily.

Career
Yotam Solomon's clients have included the Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin, who he dressed for the premiere of Dancing With the Stars. She wore his "Lila" dress and stylist Niki Shadrow said: " Natalie looked chic and glamorous in it." Along with other TV and actor-related projects that include LA mag editorial of "All of My Children" Solomon's designs also featured in a challenge of America's Next Top Model, Cycle 13, with Jay Manuel telling the contestants "You are all wearing designs by YOTAM SOLOMON who is the youngest designer to show in L.A. fashion week; and just like him, one of you is going to make fashion history as one of America's next top petite model."

Yotam has been featured in many magazines including LA Magazine, Bello Magazine, Cliche Magazine, etc. VOGUE wrote an article on Yotam's collection in 2008, stating "Even more impressive, Solomon's knack for the avant-garde and a wise-beyond-his years understanding for colour combine that which designers twice his age often lack." As part of his different showcases L.A. Magazine wrote an article on Yotam's Spring-Summer 2010 Collection that has taken place in L.A.'s landmark Chateau Marmont.

During the first night of NY Fashion's Night Out 2009, Yotam Solomon was selected for a presentation hosted by Tribeca. Design Within Reach collaborated with Yotam and Preston Lee, from Bravo's Top Design to celebrate "fashion and interior design". In the same year he was named "L.A.'s Top Young Designer" by AOL's Stylelist.

Yotam Solomon presented his Fall 2010 collection, titled Native American Collection, at a private event in the Hollywood Hills on March 2010.

On May 2010 Yotam became a spokesperson for LG Electronics, teaming up with Victoria Beckham and Eva Longoria, who represented two different phones. He was chosen by Beckham to create a capsule collection inspired by the LG Lotus Elite, and appeared with her in the commercial that aired on MTV. At the end of the campaign, LG hosted the "LG Fashion Touch event", hosted by Beckham and Longoria at Soho House in West Hollywood.

On September 2010 Yotam created a collection inspired by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in order to raise awareness and funds. Receiving accolades from the media and fashion industry, Yotam was said to be "cleaning it up" by Refinery29, and received attention from Style.com, Perez Hilton and the international media.

As part of his commitment to bettering the environment and improving sustainable ethics, Yotam was approached by Dasani (Coca-Cola) to create a collection inspired by their plant-inspired bottle for Dasani, which was designed to use less petroleum in manufacture. Yotam's collection featured handmade dresses made of live plants and florals. They were presented by Matthew Morrison on Earth Day 2011. The designs were unveiled during a live fashion show at The Grove in Los Angeles, CA. The plant based collection received international media coverage, with E! Entertainment proclaiming Yotam a 'super-star designer'.

On March 2012 Yotam took part in BREATHE LA’s Attire to Inspire fashion fundraiser at the L.A. Live Conga Room. He showcased his luxury brand designs along with a custom-designed dress intended to encapsulate the spirit of BREATHE LA’s mission for clean air and healthy lungs in Los Angeles County. Its sky-blue fabric was intended to change color when exposed to heat, reflecting the environmental impact of climate change.