Luxury Toad Accessories, VERMIN
Luxe Pink Toad Clutch, VERMIN, 2019 Photo credit: Tobias Titz
Luxe Black Toad Bag With Gold Heads, VERMIN, 2019 Photo credit: Jasmine Fisher
Luxe Black Toad Bag With Gold Heads, VERMIN, 2019 Photo credit: Jasmine Fisher
Luxe Toad Bumbg, VERMIN 2017 Photo credit: Jasmine Fisher
Toad Purses for MONA Museum, Eat the Problem, 2019, VERMIN
Toad Purses for MONA Museum, Eat the Problem, 2019, VERMIN
Luxe Pink Toad Clutch, VERMIN, 2019 Photo credit: Jasmine Fisher
ABOUT THE PIECE
Luxury Toad Accessories was a collaboration between designer, Lia Tabrah from VERMIN, and Morgane Pinet — a French born and trained, Melbourne-based shoe designer and maker who has previously worked for the luxury brand Christian Louboutin in France.
The cane toad leather is sourced from Cairns, Queensland. The embellishments on the accessories are 24ct gold-plated and chrome plated cane toad heads, legs and feet adorned with Swarovski crystal eyes. Lia has developed this specialised technique during her years as a Gold and Silversmith.
The designs are a play on luxury fashion accessories. Both the use of cane toad leather (as what is traditionally thought of as grotesque), and the metal embellishments take the design concept to a new perception of luxury.
In 2017 Lia Tabrah was approached by Kirsha Kaechele (Mrs MONA Museum) to publish her designs in Eat the Problem publication and sell toad purses at the MONA Museum exhibition pop up shop and online store.
DETAILS
Luxe Pink Toad Clutch, VERMIN, 2019
Luxe Black Toad Bag With Gold Heads, VERMIN, 2019
Luxe Toad Bumbg, VERMIN 2017
Toad Purses for MONA Museum, Eat the Problem VERMIN, 2019
Toad Purses for MONA Museum, Eat the Problem, VERMIN, 2019
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MORGANE PINET
MATERIALS
cane toad leather, chrome and 24ct gold plated cane toad heads and legs
PRICE
NFS
ARTIST BIO
Founder of VERMIN the Label, Lia Tabrah, commenced working with cane toad leather in 2017. Lia is a Melbourne based designer, artist and curator operating under the brand O.T.T. by Lia.T since 2008.
Lia Tabrah is a Melbourne based artist and curator working in design, sculpture, and installation. In her art and design practice O.T.T by Lia .T, she revels in the colourful spectacle of Australiana, kitsch, vernacular forms and wearable art. Lia’s flamboyant work blurs the lines between the natural and the artificial in unexpected ways, bringing together a wide range of references including pop culture, tourism iconography, Australian folklore, and the environment. She uses various techniques such as metalsmithing to redefine notions of beauty, luxury, and high and low culture.
Lia has collaborated with many leading cultural organisations including National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Melbourne Fashion Festival, and Melbourne Design Week.
As a regular artist showcased in Melbourne’s art and fashion scene, Lia met Perina Drummond and formed a friendship that led to creating the now partnership that is VERMIN.
Perina is a proud Indigenous woman from northern Australia. Her mob is Daureb, Wuthathi and Yadhaigana. She moved to Melbourne in 2015 to continue her styling career in the fashion industry where she was taught and guided by one of Australia’s leading fashion stylist in runway, curated exhibitions and photography.
Her former career in modelling resurfaced in 2017 where she founded modelling agency Jira. Jira Models solely represents First Nations people of Australia. It is a platform where talents can enter the industry in a culturally safe environment.
As VERMIN transitions to become 100% Australian owned and made, Lia and Perina are travelling around the country to engage with Indigenous communities to turning this elusive pest into luxury leather.