Black Chandelier

Welcome to Utah.  We have salt. A lot of it. And snow. Mormon temples to rival Seattle’s Starbucks infestation, and, believe it or not, Fashion! That’s right, a growing army of couture hungry, thread covered, camera slinging fashion/creative types are becoming too strong and large a force to stay concealed even by the towering Wasatch mountains that define the valley. Jake Garn, a Utah native, has worked non-stop for years practicing his passion for photography, focusing particularly on unique conceptual fashion editorial layouts. His creative images depict everything from food-based fashion to 90% bald beauties with lightning and metal mesh emerging from stormy waters. His works have gained him a sizable international following. My fist experience working with Jake was on one of his public photography workshops held in the historic Trolley Square mall in downtown Salt Lake in 2010. I was thrilled to be asked to style wardrobe using four of my original designs, along side stylist/designer Michelle Boucher, hair designers Steven Robertson, Chade Seale and Janae Johnson and make up artist Sherri Curtis. I found Jake Garn to be very likable. His easy going nature, non-stop humor and chatting kept his fans and followers at ease as they watched him work with spontaneous creativity that is visible in all his images. I have since had the opportunity to work on several other fashion collaborations with Jake and I look forward to more. Above is a video from the live photo workshop we did together. To learn more about Jake Garn and browse his gallery, visit his website: http://www.jakegarn.com/ . Enjoy!

Mason Fetzer creating Houndstooth Peacock for the Utah Arts Festival.

The infamous  Roach Brooch  which is a live jeweled madagascar hissing cockroache that attatches to your clothing by way of pendant and chain, was first introduced to the fashion sceen by the Black Chandeleir team in 2005; A small unconventional, avant garde fashion company shocking the rather mainstream SLC at the time, we were proud to introduce our latest invention. In 2006 Jared Gold and the BLack Chandelier were invited to be featured on America’s Next Top Model  cycle 6, and guess who we brought along  with us to Smashbox Studios in LA?…Indeed our exotic friends were presented to the models as a surprise during the episode and fashionistas from around the globe watched in misbelief as our now infamous jeweled roaches crawled about the neck and shoulders of the models during the catwalk competition! With the international television release of the roaches on America’s Next Top Model came a swarm of media attention. Fashion magazine editors, news reporters, bloggers and fashion critics of all kinds had to know what on earth we were up to with our new live hissing fashion accessorie. Our stores were trampled and the orders piled up for our mind bending fashion creatures. 

Now the infamous roach broaches have been currently discontinued by Black Chandelier due to the ethical debate concerning animal rights and the roache’s inability to communicate their position in the matter.

take a minute to read about our Roach Brooches and let us know what you think?  As an Animal lover myself, I am torn because I have had first hand experience with these creatures and have found them to be quite friendly and content in captivity. I do feel being jeweled and given a good home is more than most roaches could bargin for, I have yet to reach clarity on this one.