Wearing his signature sunglasses and black tailored suit Roberto Cavalli waved to crowds of fans lining the catwalk.
The Italian designer joined his models on stage as he kicked off Tel Aviv's Fashion Week - the city's first in over 30 years.
Thousands attended the three-day extravaganza which is said to have put Israel back on the fashion map.
Wearing his signature sunglasses and dressed in black Roberto Cavalli waved to crowds of fans lining the catwalk as he kicked off Tel Aviv's fashion week - the city's first since the Eighties
Taking almost two years to organise, Cavalli was heavily involved in the project as Tel Aviv and Milan are sister cities.
The 71-year-old was greeted with rapturous applause after unveiling his spring 2012 collection at the gala show on Monday evening.
Long gowns, adorned with shimmering sequins, in shades of black, gold and cream provided a dazzling display and models wore natural make-up, with their hair classically styled with jewelled tiaras.
Overwhelmed with the crowd reaction Cavalli gave an encore performance of his line which was originally unveiled in Milan.
Cavalli with his models at the backstage before the beginning of his fashion show
Elegant touch: Models wore natural make-up, with their hair classically styled with jewelled tiaras
He said: 'I feel that fashion today... is international because all of you read the same magazines, we watch the same movies and fashion is there. From there you get an idea what to buy.'
Great care was taken to avoid clashes with fashion week dates with other major countries.
Three decades ago, Israel used to host internationally successful fashion weeks often held in hotels – primarily in Tel Aviv, but also in Jerusalem and Eilat.
On this occasion organisers picked a restored railway station as the venue for the opening reception and catwalk shows.
A model stands on a podium during a reception held to celebrate Fashion Week in Tel Aviv
Mario Boselli, the president of Milan Fashion Week's organising body 'Camera Nazionale della Moda' said that he was impressed by the creativity of Israeli designers and wanted to encourage a new generation of talent.
Following an agreement Israeli designers will be given the opportunity to showcase their designs as part of a guest collective at Milan Fashion Week which is held semi-annually. Israel will suggest 10 young designers and five will be selected.
Cavalli, who has visited Israel many times, was swamped by media, and Italian military guards had to keep people at bay as he attended a press conference, where he claimed 'Israel is in my heart'.
There will be now be two Tel Aviv Fashion Weeks each year - one spring / summer and the other autumn / winter.
Plans are already underway the April 2012 event with guest designers yet to be announced.
