Imitation Of Christ - new fashion collection

Interview, Nov, 2000 by Joanna Bober

OLD CLOTHES FIND NEW SALVATION

Lately, it's been hard to miss the buzz surrounding L.A. design duo Tara Subkoff and Mall Damhave and their quirky fashion collection, imitation of Christ. Not only have they graced the pages of numerous fashion magazines, they've also managed to anger a few Catholic groups with their "blasphemous" moniker. For now, celebrities don't seem to mind: Milla Jovovich, Lenny Kravitz, and James King, not to mention their patron saint Chloe Sevigny, have all been taking up the cloth.

"We hope our clothes are being accepted virally," says Damhave. "Our act of terror is getting our clothes into stores and infecting people, critiquing fashion on its own ground. When you're in the public arena, it's stupid to keep your mouth shut. Given that opportunity, why miss it?"

Actually, they created their own opportunity. Or recreated it. Sick of thrift store knockoffs that have been crowding designer runways only to become "compost for peoples' closets," Subkoff and Damhave put together a collection of hand-sewn clothes using The Real Thing-that is, garments unearthed from the Salvation Army and Goodwill. With scissors, needles and thread (no sewing machines), markers, and paint, they have deconstructed and reconstructed these discarded pieces, giving them life anew. Call it resurrection. Call it Imitation of Christ.

Joanna Bober is a freelance writer in New York City.