We've seen some crazy fashion presentations by avant-garde designers, but we must say that Brooklyn designer Bradley Callahan's BCALLA collaboration with hipster porn company CockyBoys is about the wildest thing we've ever encountered. Porn stars dressed as stuffed animals, fornicating? Yep, that's original. The juxtaposition of raw sex and pink and baby blue plushy separates is simultaneously hot, ridiculous and alarming. This isn't Callahan's first time breaking the established rules of fashion presentations, either -- he's a veteran of three collections all tinged with a tongue-in-cheek queer sensibility. We chatted with Callahan about how he hooked up with CockyBoys and his history of pushing the fashion envelope.This is your third collection -- what made you want to incporporate porn this time around?
Last season I presented on Instagram with the model Melanie Gaydos, shot by Fred Attenborough, and the season before that I had a presentation at the Macie Gransion gallery with models including DE SE, Juliana Huxtable, Hari Nef and Bailey Stiles, shot by Michael Burk. This season the inspiration was more autobiographical than anything and is a reflection of my time in the Brooklyn queer nightlife world.
How did the collaboration with CockyBoys come about?
I had a studio visit with Colby Keller who proposed I contribute to his "Colby Does America" project [in which he makes a porn in every state] and he linked me with the Cocky boys, who were a complete godsend and joy to work with.
Were the clothes designed specifically to be sex-friendly?
Yes -- the play suits are crotchless and all the pieces are filled with sexual intention, my favorite being the "MORE PLEASE" bondage top.
It seems like animation is an influence on your work. What were your favorite cartoons growing up?
I'm a big cartoon freak, especially anime, but this season the art direction came from Michael Burk and our shared childhood love of Nickelodeon and Pee Wee's Playhouse.
And finally -- are you a plushy?
I don't identify as a plushy but I love the aesthetics of fetish culture, which has always been an inspiration to my brand.
Watch the extremely NSFW video lookbook and a making-of documentary below and see more at CockyBoys.com