Batsheva Hay

Batsheva Hay, founder of the fashion brand Batsheva, is quietly redefining what it means to succeed in fashion. Batsheva grew up in Kew Gardens, Queens. She started as a lawyer, but after experiencing burnout, she turned to fashion and began designing vintage-inspired dresses as a personal creative outlet, drawing on childhood memories of her mother’s flowing, hippie-style clothes. Though she was raised in a more secular household, she became more practicing through her marriage to Alexei Hay. Now, Hay’s deep Jewish observance is central to how she runs her business, embracing Shabbat and holidays as a sacred time to disconnect, even when it means stepping away at critical professional moments. 

Hay’s distinct brand has captured the attention of major outlets like Vogue, Town & Country Magazine, and WWD, and earned her a spot as a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist. Her designs have been worn by celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Nara Smith. Recently, she worked with Dianna Von Furstenberg to design a Torah cover that was gifted to Hersh Goldberg Polen’s parents, an Israeli-American hostage, who was tragically murdered by Hamas. I had the honor of speaking to Batsheva about how she uses her faith as the foundation for her brand. 

Photo from Hay's Instagram, demonstrating her authenticity.

 For a bit of context, it’s crucial to understand that the New York Fashion industry is a melting pot of several different cultures, communities, and movements. One that has been particularly influential is the Jewish community. When the Jews first fled to NYC in large numbers post the Holocaust, they founded many of the city’s first garment factories, worked as tailors and pattern-makers, and played a central role in building the Garment District. Jewish immigrants helped launch major fashion houses and clothing businesses like Liz Claiborne, Calvin Klein, and Ralph Lauren. Now, NYC is the fashion capital of the world, hosting events like the iconic September Fashion Week. However, this event conflicts with Rosh Hashanah, one of the biggest Jewish holidays. Batsheva Hay experienced the firsthand consequences of this when the fashion week organizers tried to hire her for her fashion show, but it was on Rosh Hashanah, so she had to ask for them to change it, which was a very difficult process. “It’s interesting that such an important event in an industry where there are so many Jews that they wouldn't consider that in it, and it’s something I have had a lot of experience working around,” Hay explains.’ 

This lack of sensitivity in the fashion industry extends beyond just the timing of events to the fashion designs themselves. Although there has been so much recent innovation in fashion, it hasn't been catered towards diverse religious and cultural communities. “I remember thinking as I was going to Shabbat dinners before I started my brand, wishing I had something that felt appropriate, covered up, and modest and fancy, but also felt like me in terms of my personality, that felt fun and interesting. I felt that so much clothing that was modest in Judaism just wasn’t exciting, and so that was my first creation, to design things that fulfilled that for me.” 

Now Hay is trying to cultivate this crucial sense of cultural sensitivity in her kids. Although she didn’t grow up observant, she understood through her struggles in the fashion industry how important it is to shine a light on Jewish festivals. “It’s really nice to be raising my kids with all the Jewish mitzvot I didn't do growing up,” Hay comments. “One thing I did have while growing up was a big Passover Seder; it was always my favorite holiday. We would take a really long time and sing all the songs, and that goes very deep when I do it with my kids, because I remember it from my childhood!”

Picture from Town & Country Magazine

As a young girl myself, Hay’s sensitivity to Jewish cultures has inspired me deeply. I feel that young Jewish orthodox girls' fashions are constantly changing: some girls wear more revealing clothes, dress more modestly after they come back from Israel seminary. However, I feel really supported knowing that no matter how I choose to dress or express myself, there will be creative and culturally conscious brands like Batsheva. One aspect of Batsheva's designs that I really like is how she combines vintage patterns and silhouettes with modern editorials.

Picture from The Bare Magazine

It's fitting that this blog is called Queen Esther and Batsheva’s mother chose to name her after another strong Jewish woman known for her beauty and strength. When I asked Batsheva Hay who her Queen Esther was she said, “The ones who inspire me the most are the ones that I know personally, my mother, my mother in law, my sister in law, my rebbetzin. But in terms of fashion, there are so many strong Jewish women, whether it's Donna Karen, DVF, or Jill Steurt. There's just so many in the business, and I like how they all just do their own things and just have the strength in them.”

If you would like to support Batsheva or learn more about her brand, visit: https://batsheva.com/