So my cuckoo idea of Drones and Wives (which is what I’ve now decided to call it) needed props to make it come to life. I am rubbish with making magic with my hands. Well I can make things happen – but I’m no artiste. Would you say a stylist is an artist? Most wouldn’t. I’d say I’m a creative though… that mainly is because I don’t have a desk job.

I digress. In Window 1 – as seen in my delicious rendering below I mentioned a poster which would tell of the “Coming of the Drones”. In essence, a propaganda poster. I wanted it to be wry, and tongue in cheek, but not offensive. I turned to Abigail Daker whom I have never met but is a Twitter friend of mine. We would have met – except she lives in Cyprus. I recommend you follow her – she always has great tweets about sun, being barefoot, swimming in the marina, gypsies lurking (I’m not jealous I swear).

She’s also an incredible illustrator and cartographer. I highly recommend her – please check out her site for her portfolio. And living in Cyprus, she draws all her London scenes from photos with an impressive amount of detail and care. Londonist have recently run a piece on her.

Being cheeky, I asked if she would like to get involved in the project. Everybody loves doing free work! (SARCASM INTENDED). But readily she accepted, cos she is the knees of a bee. She also designed the logo for my blog.

The conversation went something like this:

Me: ABI I NEED YOUR HELP ARRRGH I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO.
Abi: So chill brah. What is it you need?
Me: WILL YOU DO ME A PROPAGANDA POSTER FOR MY ROKIT PROJECT? I AM RUBBISH, I HAVE NO MONIEZ. *SOB* *WAIL*
Abi: Perfect, I’ve just been working on some pieces in a similar style acksherly (see attached) If you could give me a slogan to start with then it’ll be quite easy.
Me: YOU ARE A DIAMOND.

Some slogans:

-”Your local customisation station” above the Rokit Vintage Logo
- “If you abstain, you will be plain – a public service announcement” Rokit Vintage logo
- “Dress to Clash to have Panache” – a public service announcement” Rokit Vintage logo

no swastikas please

AND THEN THE NEXT DAY:

Abi: Here you go – needs a little more work but I must sleep now,

Let me know what you think

(I have taken some artistic licence with our conversation. To my knowledge, no-one I know says “So chill brah” and I’m not imaging Abi’s smoking up some reefer whilst doing so. The CAPS and panicky language is very representative of me however.)

And here it is.

Inspired by ration queues and clothing vouchers during the Second World War – Abi designed a faceless crowd going to their local Rokit – which was their ‘customisation’ station – to receive their customisation ration to prevent themselves from becoming drones. A secret underground movement so to speak. The orange lady at the front has just individualised her attire. SHE HAS CUSTOMISED.

You can see Abi’s work in the Rokit Covent Garden store until the 2nd September.