Grace Tame x House of Whitty: Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women Earrings - Silver

Grace Tame x House of Whitty: Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women Earrings

• Just 100 pairs gold-plated stainless steel pairs
• Presented in custom Grace Tame x House of Whitty box
• All orders include a tiny metallic foil Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women print
• First 50 orders receive a Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women temporary tattoo
• WIN! One lucky customer will discover a tiny Swinging Side Eyes For Difficult Women lenticular included in their order, winning a standard edition Swinging Side Eyes For Difficult Women screen print
  

TOM: I’m excited to announce Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women, a limited edition collaboration with former Australian of the Year, Grace Tame.

The title of these earrings references both the iconic moment Grace gave side-eye in a show of contempt to former Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, on her final day as Australian of the Year, as well as the more recent moment current Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Grace “difficult.”

Like millions of Australians, I deeply admire Grace. She is brilliantly intelligent, relentlessly dedicated to justice for all, and punk as hell. And in an era where the status quo is to support, or condone, or at best ignore a genocide, while persecuting and policing those who call out this ongoing violence against the Palestinian people, I believe we need to celebrate and support those brave enough to be “difficult.”

We need “difficult” voices willing to risk their own safety and comfort to speak on behalf of those who are denied a voice at all. Just like she did for survivors of sexual assault, Grace has bravely advocated for those in Gaza (and now the West Bank), and protested against the Australian government’s complicity in Israel’s genocidal campaign. In return, Grace has been targeted by lobby groups, attacked across mainstream and social media, and lost her primary source of income (speaking opportunities and sponsorships). Her advocacy has been criticised, her language policed, and her integrity questioned. But Grace remains “difficult”, and I am proud to collaborate with her and stand by her side in this moment.

Each pair of Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women is beautifully presented in a custom Grace Tame x House of Whitty jewellery box. They also include a limited edition tiny print of Grace, using metallic foil on matt heavy stock. The first 50 pairs will include a small temporary tattoo of Grace. And one lucky customer will discover a special Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women lenticular, winning themselves a standard edition Swinging Side-Eyes For Difficult Women screen print. All earrings arrive carefully protected and fully insured. 

Like all of my jewellery, this work is crafted from environmentally-conscious stainless steel. These earrings are extremely lightweight, balanced beautifully to allow them to swing naturally without pulling on your lobes. There are two finishes, 14k gold plating or stainless steel silver. While no metal is scratch-proof, stainless steel is more resistant to scratches and tarnishing than other metals, so these earrings will hopefully retain their striking beauty for the life of the metal. I’m thinking heirloom, never landfill. All packaging is made from recycled and recyclable materials, reflecting my commitment to a greener planet. Hypoallergenic and environmentally conscious, they’re a thoughtful choice for those with sensitive skin, as well as anyone who values sustainability. 

It’s my hope that these earrings will start necessary conversations and encourage more “difficult” voices to rise up and demand an end to Australia’s support of Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. 

Free Palestine.

Tom

GRACE: “Difficult” is a badge of honour that I wear with pride. Much as I hope everyone who buys these stunning earrings and prints is buoyed by the message of solidarity they carry.

In such a fraught geopolitical climate, being called “difficult” for speaking the truth by the powers that be is simply a sign that dissent threatens them. It also shows their growing desperation. Out of fear alone, the establishment has resorted to name-calling, censorship, obstruction and other cynical systems abuses to wear us down. 

I know that speaking out is terrifying, and comes with great risk, but the consequences of doing nothing should terrify us more. It doesn’t have to look like addressing crowds of thousands, or publicly criticising the government. It can look like boycotting newspapers, peacefully protesting, or wearing a defiant pair of earrings. 

Six years ago, I suddenly found myself in a strange position. A gilded cage of sorts, that has become more confounding with time. It seems the more I give, the more others feel entitled to take. Media outlets, brands and individual bad faith actors have repeatedly traded off and monetised my suffering without my permission. Very few have stopped to ask how I might feel about it all. Tom, however, has shown nothing but deep empathy, patience and concern throughout this project. I cannot thank him enough. His vision is trumped only by his heart. 

Truly, Tom is a genius. He knows the power, and indeed responsibility, of the artist. What he has created here is more than a singular beautiful image. He has immortalised a continuing story of collective resistance. One that is detailed, dynamic and alive; that literally and figuratively moves with each of us who wears it. He has done so with distinctive flair, and a sparkling spirit that pierces every corner of darkness. 

Grace

xx