The expression takes on an entirely new meaning with Reid Pepard’s RP/ENCORE line of accessories…
Ah, but wait! Before you hit PETA on speed-dial, her website does provide the following disclaimer:
“Every effort has been made to see that the creatures used in RP/ENCORE are victims of road kill, pest control, or natural death.”
Controversy set aside for other ‘Great Debates,’ I’ll give her this: the prize ribbons from my collaboration with Jared Gold make a tame statement when juxtaposed with Pepard’s Swarovski-encrusted medallion:
a more detailed view…
While I’ll be the first to admit it’s a challenge to find killer* clothing and accessories designed for the gents, Peppard seems to earmark her creations evenly between the xy and the xx. Here’s a bowtie certain to incite a response at—oh, just about any formal event:
*(double entendre un/intentional? a tricky thing, this ‘subconscious’ we possess)
Based in London, Peppard keeps a personal blog, in which she chronicles her works-in-progress, road kill later to be fashioned into found art objects, et cetera. A detail you might find interesting? She’s vegetarian. About her company, she states:
“RP/ENCORE challenges our attitudes towards fur, leather and waste. In a world where leather is worn without question by most, and replaced by un-biodegradable plastics by the rest, it is ironic that the image of an animal preserved using taxidermy is still enough to cause widespread outrage and fist-banging. It is for this reason I taxidermy the prolific, consequential vermin result of London’s excess. A member of the UK’s Guild of Taxidermists, I use both traditional and alternative methods of taxidermy to preserve and embellish creatures that are widely thought disgusting and unnecessary. When they become sculptural headpieces, necklaces and cuff-links, the specimens cease to be waste and become objects to behold. RP/ENCORE makes use of the city’s leftovers.”
Thoughts?
9:10 am, June 15, 2012Saffron /
Girl, I’m SOS for your RSS. Where you hiding that shit, BB? ♥ Give. It. To. Me…
9:34 pm, April 28, 2012Bisous /
I’m impressed, I have to say. Really not often do I encounter a weblog that’s each educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. Your idea is excellent; the difficulty is something that not sufficient individuals are talking intelligently about. I’m very joyful that I stumbled throughout this in my seek for something relating to this.
11:41 pm, April 23, 2012wes /
i dig the bowtie, just sayin…
1:33 am, April 22, 2012Vulnavia /
LOVE when I scroll through the archives and find stuff like this!! Fvcking dead sexy creations ♥ I WANT ♥
3:41 am, February 9, 2010Vivienne /
Hmmm… if I hadn’t read what the creator had to say, I’d think it was just sensationalism, another attempt to be ‘avant garde’ and original…. but it sure is interesting. I have a fondness for rodents, but in a way, it seems a fond treatment of them. Certainly not the same as the slaughter of mink. I don’t wear fur myself, and if I ever did it would have to be vintage. I still find it melancholy… the purse seems tragic, and a little disrespectful.
And Clint, if my home was infested with mice…. I have no idea what I’d do. I’d hate to kill them, but hate to have them roaming about. I’d probably have a pest man come and then cry when they were dead. Someone has to cry for the ‘vermin’.
P.s, thanks for the fascinating blog, as usual.
XX
2:38 am, February 3, 2010Stace /
Ohmy. So you would be wearing the halves that didn’t get hit by cars?
I don’t believe I could handle having tea across from someone who has half a still life peeking out of their attire, but each to their own!
xxo
8:44 pm, January 31, 2010Alanja /
That is fascinating, even more so after reading the disclaimer.
4:35 pm, January 31, 2010Tallulah /
I think I have seen this somewhere before, I like it though!
Well, the purse rat anyway. Not wild about the bows.
I also love that little stuffed Chihuahua you mentioned, all decked out in costume even. The whole thing with freeze drying animals fascinates me a bit. Not sure if I would do it to my own pet, but who knows. http://www.perpetualpet.net/ has some precious photos of preserved companions.
And as for furs, I am not up in arms about rodents of this nature. I also would not buy new fur, but if it’s been dead for at least 20 years I have no problem with it at all. Vintage furs & leather are for me to die for
xo
3:58 pm, January 31, 2010Winter Rosebudd /
Amazing and adorable. I’ve always wanted a dead cat purse…I think it would fit more stuff in it. haahaa.
I do feel the same way as you about furs and such. Never buy new, always by vintage, if you must have it at all and as far as my taxidermy collection, I never paid for a piece, they where all gifts…I think my friends know my house is a taxidermy rescue these days.
The new art and fashion taxidermy craze is very cool. Most of the people I’ve spoken to, that make the stuff are getting the deceased animals from labs, shelters, universities or right off the road. So in a way, it’s kinda cool that they are resurrecting these little creatures into something that can live on in a new light.
3:36 pm, January 31, 2010Clint Catalyst /
Aww, maing! Audrey posted about RP/Encore already? (That little bee-yatch!) And to think I was concerned it’d be a dupe of Haute Macabre’s coverage!
At any rate, Yade (Alcy as well, actually): Totally know where you guys are coming from, but then on the other hand? If my home were infested with mice (or—& I shudder to think—RATS)?
I *know* I’d set traps.
Peppard’s quote made me think: I mean, if I’m not vegetarian/vegan—and she works mainly with roadkill and vermin…?
Then there’s a close friend of mine, who had her 20 year old chihuahua “stuffed” when she left this world of ours.
This is a dialogue I could have for hours–when at the end of the day, it’s like this: I wouldn’t shoot a deer. I wouldn’t buy a new rabbit coat (or chinchilla, or mink), and after discovering what emotional creatures they are, I can no longer eat octopi.
However, (quoting Samantha): “a tea party with rodent accessories”? Wouldn’t affect me the same way. I know this is a *really* controversial topic, but… to be honest? That’s my ‘take’ on the whole thing.
It might change tomorrow; it might not. It just “is what it is” (if you’ll excuse the cliché).
Gotta jump in the shower now, but thanks for cruisin’ by my little URL… & though it should go without saying: totally respect & appreciate your opinions.
x o x
C
2:40 pm, January 31, 2010Samantha /
Oh.Mhay.Gawd.
I want to have a tea party with the little rodent accessories.
2:14 pm, January 31, 2010Alcy /
I’m not sure what else to say, but…whoa.
I’m picturing a grand cape with deer heads at the shoulders and tire marks aplenty. <3
2:13 pm, January 31, 2010Yade /
When I first saw this on Audrey’s I just didn’t know what to think about. And I still concern… the purse-mouse looks kinda (because she’s a mouse and not a purse) cute but i’m highly hit emotionally thinking about respect to mind and body I highly distance myself from this (how I define it) disrespect
xoxo yade