Gender Blender

Introducing the work of  Sari Räthel – a recent graduate from the Royal College of Art in Jewellery&Metal. With the degree collection Sari Räthel have just won the ITS JEWELRY award and the Theo Fennell award for best work in jewellery. The concept of the collection questions existing gender stereotypes and deconstructs male and female bodies using had cut gemstones (agate) rose gold and silver plated metal, leather and silicone. 

SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-3

GENDER BLENDER: Gender theorist Judith Butler claims that gender is a social construction we are born into and copy form our parents and surroundings, but not something we necessarily have a choice about how we enact in life. This project is interrogating this idea by enabling the wearer to ‘try on’ their gender in a fictional wardrobe full of jewellery items, which embody stereotypically gendered body parts. Offering them the accessories to change it or enhance it, depending on how they feel or want to appear. The pieces are inspired by breasts, hips, balls, broad shoulder and the Adam’s apple but also adorn areas which normally get cosmetically modified to fit into social expectations like the armpit, the nails and the ear canal.
SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-4 SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-10 SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-9 SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-8 SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-7new SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-6 SARI RATHEL by Eliska Kyselkova-5
Credits:
Photography: Eliška Kyselková
Model: Jika Edström, Niall Reynolds
Hair & Make-up: Roro Cuenca
Assistants: Desirée Slabik, Phoebe Argent, Isla Macer Law
Technical Assistant: Simon Ward