Artist and activist Chella Man has collaborated with NY-based Jewellery label Private Policy to honour the deaf and hard of hearing.
Chella Man was given his first hearing aid at the age of four years old. The actor, artist and activist has faced a life-long struggle with acceptance. He has always felt conflicted about the machinery which has never felt like a part of him.
“I always found myself brainstorming ways to reclaim the machinery that had become a part of me.”
Source: Dazed
At the age of 17, he became the first trans masculine and deaf person to sign with IMG models. In 2020, he made history again as the first trans masculine acts to be cast in a DC superhero series.
Speaking to Dazed in 2020, Man said,
“The discrimination I face as a Deaf, Jewish, genderqueer, trans, masculine person of colour powers my work.”
Private Policy
Man met Private Policy designers Siying Qu and Haoran Li at NYFW 2020. Recently, the trans-activist has creatively collaborated with the pair on a brand new collection of ear cuffs which signify his lifelong relationship with hearing. Qu explains to Vogue,
“The earpiece really stood out for us from a fashion perspective,
“We were intrigued by how we can use jewelry to be educational.”
New York-based genderless streetwear brand Private Policy has recently unveiled the collection. The pieces display Man‘s unique artworks, translated into earring designs. They truly highlight the beauty of being deaf.
The limited edition sculptural pieces cost between $330 – $620, with 50 per cent of the profits being donated to Deaf Queer Resource Center.
The collection pays respect to National Deaf History Month and celebrates the beauty within the deaf and hard of hearing communities.
A Dynamic Perspective of Life
To accompany the release of the jewellery line, Man wrote, edited, directed and starred in a campaign video accompanied by model Rayly Aquino and dancer Raven Sutton, both of whom are deaf.
Watch the video below:
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