Romance Was Born’s Luke Sales and Anna Plunkett have collaborated with artist Paul Yore on their latest collection.
Their show coincided with Yore’s new exhibition at Sydney’s Carriageworks, and was held there as well.
Yore’s provocative work explores sexuality, power, and queer identity. The Asia-Pacific area has a surfeit of countries still don’t recognize LGBTQ rights, or outlaw same-sex relations all together.
Sales said of their signature (and best-selling) palette,
We’ve always loved a rainbow. Anna and I have always laughed and said
‘where’s the gay rainbow in this?’
But it’s also who I am and my identity and my story.”
The collection is the duo’s most political one so far.
A 100% queer cast of models wore attitude-laden phrases lifted from Yore’s work, and some of his tapestries were used as fabric, on contrastingly demure silhouettes. Up-cycled army jackets were given a fierce rework in drag-worthy floating plumage.
Sales said,
We’re confident as designers doing our thing, but I guess we’ve always been a little reluctant to be too political.
Drawing on domestic kinds of traditions and elevating them into these kinds of works, I think there’s a politics that’s inherent to that.”
From the looks of the collection, I’d say so…
(Photos, Lexi Laphor/ courtesy Romance Was Born; via Vogue)
