When we chanced upon the beautifully illustrated new London label Queendom of Oeuf's 'Busted Nipple' t-shirt, we were immediately intrigued. A t-shirt featuring a woman with a nipple hanging from her breast - like a springy coil - it emphasised the mechanical and problematic connotations of a woman's body in the 21st century. There were other controversial and thrillingly saucy designs, too; like 'Arrow Cock' and '3 Is Good Company'.
So we got in touch with Queendom's founder Elena Samspon for a chat about freeing nipples, allowing women to have more than two faces and the politics of threesomes - all shown through the medium of a t-shirt.
The Debrief: Hi Elena, thanks for chatting with us! Talk to us about Queendom of Oeuf.
**Elena Sampson: **I don't come from a fashion background - I studied anthropology and psychology, but have always loved illustrating. I worked at hospitals and psychiatric wards and drew a lot of inspiraiton from those work environments when I decided to set up the Queendom. My aim as Queen (of the Oeuf) is not to be didactic, but show issues of varying severity in a humorous, arty and edgy manner. I wanted to show that women's bodies are under scrunity at all times (and increasingly men's, to be fair) and I wanted to show that the human shape is beautiful, even in its grotesqueness.
DB: So what's woman with 'busted nipple' about? That's our favourite.
**ES: **The 'girl with the busted nipple' has a nonchalant demeanour despite her busted nipple. How did she get the busted nipple? That's anyone's guess. It's not relevant though. What is relevant is that she is at ease with herself and doesn't care that she isn't 'perfect'. Women's breasts come in various shapes and sizes and are not symmetrical. To feel ashamed about this is a burden. The girl feels free.
Busted Nipple Tee and 3 Is Good Company Tee, Both £95
DB: So do you support free the nipple, as part of a woman being free?
ES: Well, there is so much violence in films and television that people finding a woman's breast offensive, or a woman breastfeeding in public outrageous, are puzzling and ridiculous to say the least!
DB: You address sexuality too, don't you.
**ES: **Yes. My 'women on heads' basically shows the complex relationships that women and men have, be it biological, emotional and/or sexual. With the Regis scarf, you have a man who is secretive about his sexuality - he is unable to come out and feels alone in life. Or take the threesome. For some, 3 is good company as long as it is a fantasy; whereas for others, the reality suits best. My design '3 is good company' depicts the fluidity of sexuality and sexual experiences. Also, it highlights the importance of fantasy and play in sex. Be and let be!
DB: Talk to us about some of the other things that you are trying to address through your range.
ES: I am also interested in the modern problem of not respecting one another, or our boundaries. 'Poach me, scramble me, boil me, fry me but please, drop me not' on the Little Oeufs scarf is about respecting the boundaries and wishes of others. The 'multi-faceted woman' is reperesentative of the many sides to a woman. Beauty is more than skin deep; she is not 'two-faced' she is multi-faceted, like all women are.
DB: So true. The whole two-faced thing also calls to mind the 'Madonna And The Whore' concept.
ES: Exactly. None of my designs are put there to provoke or cause noise, just for the sake of it. They are there because it's what I see and what I feel. I am sure that many people will look at 'busted nipple' for example and think it's about the shock factor. But if you dig deeper, you will see that there is a story behind every design. People's reactions will say much more about themselves and their views, than they will my t-shirts.
Arrow Cock Tee, £95 and Please Drop Me Not Little Oeufs Scarf, £155
DB: What's next from Queendom?
ES: We would like to make swimsuits and other items... we have many ideas down the line, not just clothing. It's all very exciting! As for who I want to dress? Everyone.
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.