I think I like this, although I expect some cat lovers won’t.
The photograph is, of course, copyright protected so I admit to being naughty in publishing it here but…it is interesting (complaint?: please comment). The is one of a series of photos in the Sunday Times Style magazine of last weekend. They don’t give the photographer a credit so I can’t pass it on.
The cats were provided by an agency: Animal Ambassadors. The photographer’s assistant was Jamie Bowering.
In this photo the cat is Jaffa a domestic shorthaired British red tabby cat (I am pleased they mentioned his name). I am sure he is male because orange tabbies usually are, and, anyway, he looks very male. He also looks pretty calm and is behaving nicely looking at the camera. In fact, Jaffa looks very intelligent, almost knowing.
I expect James, the assistant was messing around with a cat tease of some sort to get Jaffa’s attention. The model is either Hannah Hardy or Hannah Kern from Elite. I guess the agency made sure the ladies were cat lovers and non-allergic.
So, what do you think? Is it OK to market jewellry with domestic cats as a central part of the process? Is it exploitation?
My gut feeling is that it is OK because I am sure these cats are rarely called upon to participate like this. Provided it is done sensitively and a cat is not used or abused then on a limited basis this is OK for me.
I think it is a very different situation to Grumpy Cat. Grumpy Cats jaw malformation is being laughed at and exploited while these beautiful random bred cats are in some way being celebrated. They are mixing it with top-end jewellry.
For those interested, Hannah is wearing:
- Satin top £600 (Chloé)
- Trousers £1,750 (Chloé)
- Diamond earrings by Promes at £14,800
- Diamond snake bracelet by Messika at £5,170 (sold at Harrods)
- Cushion-cut sapphire ring (the top one) at £22,300
Top end jewellry and top end cat. You see, they go together. How many cats could be saved and cared for instead of buying a pair of trousers from Chloé?
I like that, Marc. There are so many treasures in charity shops. The things people discard are amazing.
I get my clothes from charity shops. I got most my kitchen and bedroom from charity shops and I give them my unused things too.
The high prices along with the fact that people actually buy it reflects what’s wrong in the world.
Can’t say as I’m impressed by anything in the pic except the gorgeous cat, however the male members of POC might think differently LOL 😉
Yes, the real heroes. It does give purpose to life though.
Yes there are lots of unsung heros and heroines who are passionately kind and generous and I admire them too.
You are right Dee, people who think expensive clothes and fancy jewellery make them look superior are very wrong. Maybe they feel superior but as you say they don’t know the satisfaction of sharing what they have.
I admire people in charity shop clothes like you, doing good things. Babz and I are proud to wear our bargain outfits and to eventually pass them on for Kays Hill jumble sales, or if they are not decent enough to sell they go to Joyce in our Children in Distress charity shop here who has ‘rag bags’ and weighs them in for money for her charity.
I love how people who care about charities usually help the others like them if they can, Joyce always gives us a raffle prize for our charity Coffee Mornings, no matter if it’s for animals or for people.