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.
From the article: "
Vogue spoke with Rivers McCall, the designer of this look. The 20-year-old McCall recently moved to New York to pursue her dreams in the fashion world. Her designs are particularly characterized by the materials she uses: rope and chains. Rivers: “My parents are kayakers and climbers, so I grew up with a lot of outdoor gear . My mother also used to make my baby clothes out of her old Patagonia and The North Face clothing. My father worked as an electrician, and I spent hours playing in his workshop with all the materials.
In her work as a designer, McCall decided to play with the contrast between heavy materials and high-fashion designs. She regularly showcases the process and results on TikTok. Yet, she is not afraid that her work will be copied through her videos. In fact, she finds it a comforting thought that she might be able to make the fashion scene a little more accessible with her videos: “Honestly, I want everyone to experiment and create their own art, and if I can serve as a blueprint or starting point for someone, then I consider that a victory.
In the future, McCall hopes to work with even more artists and like-minded people. Mass production of her designs is therefore certainly not in the cards. “There is so much beauty in handmade pieces. I want to do more custom work and involve the people I work with in the process to make each piece unique to their style and ethos."
