COUNTER-COUTURE:::RENE' BRETON MAKEOVER

AHOY MATIES! Welcome aboard! We have set a voyage before you in this installment of ART-ECO in which you shall be introduced to uncharted territories. The images you shall take with you are from the movement in Re-Created fashions termed, "COUNTER-COUTURE". As well, you shall be a witness to the transformation of a band...RENE' BRETON!

The deck has been swabbed, the bridge is at ready position, your accommodations are prepared, the band is assembled and the ballroom floor is open..."Shall we dance?" BON VOYAGE!

COUTURE- The high-fashion clothing created by designers; designing, making and selling of highly fashionable, usually custom made clothing.

What you are witnessing is "Couture for the Counter-Culture's New Renaissance Kids"!

This journey begins with our honored guests, RENE' BRETON, the muse currently based in Nashville, TN...but not for long! Our subjects are Ryan Hurtgen (composer), Tobin Sio (drums), and Nicole Taher (manager). What we have overcome is the challenge of a makeover. The garments featured are COUNTER-COUTURE by :::donovan:::swick::: of ART-ECO. The offering presented before you each have a life all their own and a story to tell. Each of the ensembles represented here include the recreation process of high-fashion vintage pieces with embellishments of reclaimed high -end fabrics, leathers and jewelry orchestrated into individual requiems of style. All are hand-made, hand-sewn and personally chosen to reveal the hidden person inside of each member of RENE' BRETON.

Enjoy?! CHEERS!

...all photos by Carie Thompson...
cariephoto@gmail.com

before...Tobin/Ryan/Nicole

after: Tobin/Nicole/Ryan

before: Tobin

after: Tobin (front)

after: Tobin (rear)

before: Ryan

after: Ryan (front)

after: Ryan (rear)

after: Ryan (front)

after: Ryan (rear)

before: Nicole

after: Nicole

THANK YOU RENE' BRETON!

"I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS"

You may be wondering, "What in the @#+% is ART-ECO?" Simply put it is a movement in Art and Ecology where, based on their relationship to one another, the two become one flesh. In last month’s feature you were introduced to this concept in the art-form of jewelry made from repurposed objects. Well, that medium only scratches the surface of this unlimited form of expression. I intend to take you on an adventurous journey through the lands of the highest peaks, most glorious shores, serenest valleys, and most mysterious terrains of this art-form. However, for now, let us start here in good ol’ Knoxville, Tennessee!
The objet d’ art featured here tells a story all its own…This first in a series of tables is crafted from 100% recycled materials cultivated from the heart of Downtown Knoxville. If you look closely at the base of this table you should notice that there is what looks like very old floor trusses. You are correct! As a matter of fact this wood was being thrown away during the remodel of the old JFG Factory on West Jackson Avenue in the Old City. I simply asked the foreman if I could haul off the trash for him and save him the extra expense of several trips of full construction site dumpsters. He said, "Certainly!" and Bada Bing, I was halfway home on my design. So, I call my buddy Chris Horton and say, "please get your flatbed down here now, I’ll explain later!" He did. "I get by with a little help from my friends." Unbelievable, because this wood was over 300 years old Heart of Pine cut into solid planks measuring over 3 inches thick, close to 2 feet wide and spanning up to 30 feet long, just being thrown away! I held on to this wood for two years due to its scarcity.
The quest was not complete as I wanted to mix 2 types of wood for this particular design. I was in search of two oversized solid wood doors from the turn of the century to be the icing on the cake (top of the table). Lo and behold as I found help from another friend, Daniel Schuh, who had such doors left over from one of his Historic North Knoxville Homes. Ahhh…now to the drawing board! So next is the design. This is the part I personally enjoy the most. I execute the drawing, call another friend, Terry Martin, and show him the design. He takes over and in a few days we have what you see below. Note that Terry built the piece and also did the faux crocodile finish based on my specifications. I simply love this process and hope you at least appreciate it as well. Just like a symphony…many distinct pieces and players coming together in harmony. ENCORE!

"FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK..."

We salute you! My apologies for the delay as I have been in an artistic hurricane of activity. However, I am grateful and humbled by your support. Thank You for your patience. Now back to the news; uninterrupted coverage with no commercial breaks. Have you ever wondered where all of those wonderful iconic fashion ensembles came from that adorned the likes of the "Rat Pack", Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson and Johnny Cash (among multiple others)? Well, the answer is simply, MANUEL. http://www.manuelcouture.com/ If you cherish a favorite iconic celebrity outfit, chances are MANUEL did it!



The man is the modern day Da Vinci when it comes to fashion in the entertainment world. His nickname is aptly "The Rhinestone Rembrandt" and the inventor of "Cowboy Couture". He is quite simply a living legend. He still works every day with his son, Manuel Jr. aka "Manny" in their couture boutique and factory on Broadway in Nashville. Even the building itself has a story to tell as it was originally a brothel.To this day, the legend continues through his son who began sewing at the age of eight and almost thirty years later, the father and son dynamic duo still "rock" the worlds of fashion for clients like Kid Rock, Keith Urban and on and on and on.



Be on the lookout for Wear It Out Manuel http://www.wearitoutmanuel.com/, the next generation of product that could literally end up on your toothbrush as the MANUEL Lifestyle broadens it reach. That's all I can tell you kids right now so, sleep tight; don't let the bed bugs bite! Shalom Y'all!