The collaboration between McCall and experimental pop icon Eartheater (Alexandra Drewchin), and Lola Lourdes was born entirely out of pure, serendipitous timing.
Summer of 2022, Rivers was invited by a friend to showcase her work at a tiny pop-up market in Williamsburg, packing a single roller suitcase completely stuffed with her funky, industrial textile designs. By a stroke of fate, her market table happened to be set up directly next to one of Eartheater’s close friends.
As the sun was setting and Rivers was packing up her things to head home, Eartheater arrived at the market. She picked up bikini made from recycled climbing rope and piercing's and asked if she could visit Riv's tiny Brooklyn apartment the very next day.
Eartheater showed up at Riv McCall's tiny brooklyn apartment with a bottle of wine and a vision. Inside that apartment, the two began aggressively experimenting with various raw rope finishes, seeking the perfect weight and texture for a video directed by Eartheater under her label, Chemical X. Over the next few days, the creative ecosystem expanded to include visionary NYC stylist Lee Xmas, with final garment fittings taking place at Eartheater’s house.
McCall’s creation for the video represents the ultimate translation of her "upcycled utility" ethos. By stripping down and unraveling retired rock-climbing ropes, she methodically attached loops with silver body piercings to create a web-like second skin that conformed to, yet aggressively altered, the wearer's silhouette. On screen, the heavy cords perfectly matched the track's bondage-inspired, club-ready atmosphere.
A few months later, the "Lock&Key" video went live, sending shockwaves through both the underground music and mainstream style circuits. The visual impact was so undeniable that it caught the attention of international publishing houses. Renowned journalist Lois Laverne reached out to the young designer, resulting in a prominent interview feature for Vogue Netherlands documenting the creation of the iconic rope set.
