Sruli Recht was born in Israel, moved to Australia, and built a design studio in Iceland where he has produced a line of beautiful men’s shoes made from whale foreskins, and so much more!
“For his first complete collection of menswear, dubbed “When Gravity Fails,” Recht’s particular futuristic aesthetic can best be described as boasting an ethereal masculinity.”
“Icarus, post-crash,” for example, is a sheath made up of blackbird feathers sourced by local marksmen. By contrast, the white wondrous woolly creation entitled “Born out of this,” is derived from 27 still born lambs, giving purpose to the lost souls that were not meant to be.”*
Did you get that? That’s 27 still born lambs. Here is an older piece:
The Binding of Isaac is a four-cornered shawl of German flannel, dyed twice with the blood of a ram and left to cure for ten months. The hand-sewn binding is resurrected golden military dead-stock satin, and has twined and knotted tzitzit [tassels] attached to its four corners with 613 tight knots.
This designer has been at it for a long time. His work is the kind of thing I usually scoff at but there’s something about Sruli Recht that projects integrity as well as genuine artistry. His descriptions of his products are witty and often poetic.
Google him if you want to know more. Or see him on video here.
Do you find him pretentious or fascinating? Would you even have sex with him?
Hmmm. I find his work interesting though the material is a bit…ick. He is not hard on the eyes either plus I find the fact his studio is in Iceland to be cool.
Considering your distaste for taxidermy I’m quite surprised you’re into this!
Going to watch the interview later – thanks for sharing!
I went to Iceland last year and found their fashion asthetic to be really raw and powerful (but sexy!). I did see jackets in iceland made from still born lambs when I was there – they don’t like to waste anything! But I can’t say I know a bloke that would wear the German flannel soaked in rams blood … but whatevers. Sruli’s photos are amazing and beautiful.
Brie – Okay, so you’re in.
Alicia – Taxidermy, ugh. I do love fur. And I love a man who commits so ardently as this one. Watch the video or look at the shoes!
I’m so excited you posted this! I find Sruli to be one of the most poignant artists to come out of Israel in a while…
Layers&Swathes – I wonder what the hebrew letters on his arm mean?
I WOULD SHAG HIM
When i first saw this post i was immediately reminded of crazy mad artists portrayed in comedies (like Jemaine Clement’s characte “Kieran” in Dinner With Schmucks . . . worse movie ever. do not watch.) But after reading more about Sruli online i’m gonna go with he’s totally legit. and a definite babe. (great write up -with a money shot of his profile – here: http://www.yatzer.com/The-ARMOURY-of-Sruli-Recht) I think experimental fashion is always exciting and am a fan of unusual materials myself (moleskin, horse tail, starling wings. . . ) If i had access to stillborn sheep, sharkskin, and ram’s blood who knows what i would create. j/k.
Thanks so much for introducing me to his work. gonna go do a post about him now.
One blind Isaac for me please.
Although he makes me a bit uncomfortable inside with his work, I do find him brilliant and fascinating. The 10 months of curing is a lot of determination and patience for a single piece of artwork
Love. It. (and him….)
I like that you get this:
this site is not here. do not look at it.
it has been deconstructed
and all The Kings horses are putting it back together.
painfully.
then you will have more non-product,
charicouture and robo-coco accidents to look at
for
design is a contact sport
and then directly under it – get this:
IT IS SALE TIME
In The Webstore
40% off selected items
THAT made me laugh.
The photos are beautiful.
I wonder if some of his choice in materials (being a little odd to most) is inspired by the resourcefulness of the Icelandic people. Whaleskin penis shoes, I get the feeling when I tell my close friend who lives in Iceland, she won’t be surprised at all.
I don’t know about his work as such, but he is super hot, and to stay in iceland, means you love it and I find it endearing.
(Lurking reader who doesnt comment.)
I typically like unconventional materials. I once made two “shirts” out of hog guts. (If you want to see them, search for “hog guts” on my blog). Maybe I’m getting soft in my old age though. The still born lambs make me sad. Nonetheless, it IS interesting work.
Written before seeing the video- Sounds like one of those pompous blowhards that have been seen in several Woody Allen movies. They know that they are being assholes and so does everyone else, but they all pretend that they “get it”. After all, it’s art.
Written after seeing the video- He really seems sincere, and not an asshole at all. His draping technique reminds me of Rick Owens. And he’s really good looking (especially in the safely glasses) and he wears a wedding band. He’s a nice Jewish boy!
andrea – How dare you! That’s not a wedding band. You must be hallucinating.
i am pretty sure he would not want to have sex with me. pretty sure.
i would have sex with this man, yes. (sorry)
you’re right though, there’s something about him that transcends pretentiousness even though in theory he would be the perfect candidate. i guess there are some genuine artists that the actual pretentious assholes need to copy, and sruli recht would be one of them!
No problem with using skins of stillborn lambs. Problem with killing unborn lambs for stupid furs.
I read the write up that rackk and ruin posted and also listened to the interview and think that the authenticity in his work shines through. He rejuvenates my idea of what a designer and artist can be. I know that is a lot of flamboyant talk but it is how I feel.
I too and surprised you like him because of the materials he uses.
Kirsten – No apology, we will share him. And glad we feel the same about him.
Joy D – I am so moved by artistic integrity…it seems so rare. But when I do perceive it, I am literally thrilled. If he were using his own skin to make a map or something, it would be a challenge for me. ANy kind of self-maiming art seems like a cry for help (or attention.)
Stillborn sheep, ram’s blood seem like biblical symbols that come from his heart. I am down with him, and only want more.
Epicurme – YES, I think you’re right about Icelandic resourcefulness. Thank you for pointing that out. xo
“Icarus post-crash” sounds a little too teenage moleskine, but I dig his line, even though I couldn’t give two figs about menswear. His accent is sexy, and I will take pretentious and creative over modest and boring.
I do not want to have sex with him. He’s a little doughy. He has a good profile, but full frontal face is not so good at all. His shoes are a little boring as well. I’m not so into shoes with built in wrinkles.. any more than i’m into pre-faded and ripped jeans. He does seem to take himself very very seriously.
Dear Privacy
You are a fussy cow, aren’t you?
tartandtreacly – I love your arrogance!
I appreciate Privacy – Hahahahahahahahahahahaha. Okay.
Andra – HAHAHAHA, our replies to Privacy were literally simultaneous. Yours is better.
Andra – Still laughing!
Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. This is one of those times.
Perhaps Mr Recht should also be ‘sourced’ by a local marksman.
Jay – I’m being sincere. I’m sorry.
Dave C – So I guess sex is out for you?
Haha Dave C, I think I’m with you on this one!
I bet he calls a room a space.
This Recht-um scores very highly on my wank-o-meter
The ladies want him,
the guys want to be him
he makes shoes out of whale dick.
Who wouldn’t have sex with him! Does he have a sexy voice? I can’t be bothered listening to the video atm.. I hope his penis doesn’t look like a still born lamb! Although you could smear faeces on linen and deem it experimental fashion. I like plastic 90’s logo mania designers now, because they are technically the most genuine and resonate with our universal vacuousness. I just finished reading John Waters “Role Models” and he writes about how it is contemporary arts’ job to make us angry and frustrated; to inflame our sense of injustice and provoke aggravation. P.s. Hope someone buys that Ann Demuelemeester jacket, it’s a wonderful piece! I would buy it if i wasn’t Beth Ditto.
james – BOOM! I just fell in love with you.
I woud want to probably sleep with him as his intensity would be intriguing but I am afraid he would think I was silly or stupid. My fantasies tend to crash and burn, hard.
I’m very bored these days. So yeah, I’d have secs with him.
Did that Andra woman call me a “fussy cow” because I don’t want to get dirty with a pudgy, redheaded, overly earnest, jewish fashion designer? Andra must be man.. trying to convince women here that ANY standards when it comes to selecting a sexual partner are signs that one is a “fussy cow.” Nice try “Andra.”
Erika – You found the word I must have been looking for: intensity. Maybe that’s what makes him so attractive.
Privacy – Please don’t start. You did sound fussy. Pudgy?! Most women don’t require a lean six-pack from their lovers. And why use “redhead” as a pejorative term? Just relax, okay? I have enough problems right now.
Im completely intrigued, giving life to the still born lambs is a gorgeous sentiment. as for the rams blood dye, if i remember correctly from one of those travel channel shows, there are traditional dishes in Iceland made from blood (blood pudding?). soo blood dye… not so bad. 😉