For
this Summer’s collection, we have about 8 different litters of treadknot
“cha-CHING!” coin purses, each born of several different tire pedigrees- a few
tried and true studs in our bull pen, as well as a few new comer/old timers –
(vintage specialty treats…)
As
a whole, this year’s collection features a typical and distinctive Reptire
blend. Of course, the sharp-shooters/strikers of this ‘team’ are those which
flaunt a New World “hip” urbanism, betrayed by edgy black rubber, and accented
by flanking pin stripes of
reflective silver and chrome. These represent “the new
breed”, and their force as vehicles to convey hyperactive speed and stealth are
formidable.
However,
as older epicurians might enjoy, this urban lust evident in the collection is
also tempered by a wholly different set of sensibilities. You might say
recognize this as a reoccuring strand of Old World charm. This aura has enigmatically
poked its head up like a wisened old turtle throughout the winding river of
Reptire’s history, and more and more so these days…like the wisened uncle who
shadows his nephew on his first date.
While
we are honoring family history, likewise, we will revisit two pedigree of coin
purse that were first shown in the Reptire Designs’ very first batch of
tredknot “cha-CHING!”s, when they made their debut exhibition at the Scrap
Exchange in 2006.
We
will also visit some reoccurring strands of orientalism found in Reptire
Designs’ forms and patterns.
And
finally, we will finish with a tire who’s charms are all American.
Well then,…
To
begin with, we have a Reptire classic- a richly glowing yellowy orange
coinpurse, hailing from a fresh but aging gumwall. These coinpurses are
generally petit, and absolutely shimmer like gold with a brass snap, chain and
clasp.
I tend to think of these as the queens treasure, kidnapped
by pirates as it were, its still the Queen’s as far as she’s concerned!
Ironically, a pair of Cheng-Shin tires yielded six of these cute kittens!
Thusly, a young ladies delight, but also a touch of the Samuri!, especially
when the tread dictate a dioganal end cut..
Another
cute, but less successful batch was a set of three red treadknots from an
Armadillo tire. This was somewhat of an experiment, as the last batch of
Armadillo’s I tried about 8 years ago, at the opening of Reptire Designs, where
kind of a dissapointment. Well, they are still red, and I still want them to
work, and they still don’t want to work as tredknots, but fortunately, I am
told by my friend Kat, they still do perform marvelously as tires!
Far more successful were a set of 4 coin purses made from a
yellow BELL STREETSTER tire with a nice band of reflective silver running
around the edge.
And EVEN MORE successful as another set of 3 black STREETSTER tires, which with their silver strip,
edging along that angular pattern of black embossed rubber, I have to say look
preTTy urban chic, and BADASS!
In a similarly modern and urban vein, next we have a tight
collection of 3 jumbo tredknots, who have a broad and angular tread pattern,
and sort of pale yellow skin along the sidewalls. This coolness is accented by
a piercing silver snap and chain hardware, and completed by the word “METRO”
embossed along the edge, making it the epitome of New York edge, mixed with
European chic. In human terms- think a Russian teenager in New York City,
wearing a formfitting tightknit synthetic black sweather, and sterling silver
stud in his ear.
Next we have a group of 6 scaly, greeny, swampy coin purses,
yielded from two Kenda tires (Japanese).
These also harken back to the original line of “cha-CHING’s” which
debuted in their exhibition at the Scrap Exchange’s Green Gallery back in
Septmember, 2006. In fact, I believe it was one of these that Director Ann
Woodward placed a hold on herself! (though I’m not sure if she got one!). Set
with a brass snap and hardware, this brood has a certain old mystery to it,
somewhat reminiscent of a race of French-Japanese reptile pirates, hiding out
in the murky swamps of the South East….
Our Very Close Runner Up Star Of The Show, excudes a similar
old world charm. In fact, so much so is this richly distressed brown rubber,
that this collection of six is fashioned from, that I am calling this line “Old
World Book Leather”!.. Age and love for the traffic of the roads hands has
stained this ancient and worn brown rubber deep and unremmitful hues of
chestnut and mahogany. This woven book’s binding is a matrix of cross cut
grooves on the diagonal, crested with a supine spine of angular backwards
“S’s”.
And finally, the real Bell Of The Ball are these cute petit
tredknots that were born of an old Shwinn tire. The sidewalls have a really
sort of dusty, dreamy look to them, a sort of light dusting of pale lavender
pixy dust, glazed over a buttery salmon that just melts in your eye!
Yum, deliscious.
Another part of this particular rubber’s charm is its
perpetual plump and perk. The profile maintains its cup effortlessly, and its
sure body responds/performs smoothly and effortlessly.
The farmer’s frisky daughter, a boy’s dream come true!
So that concludes Reptire Designs Summer 2012 “cha-CHING!”
Collection.
In a nutshell- New World Stealth and Urbanism, matched by Old
World Charm.
A perfect mating of the time testing with the time tested.
