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Wrought-iron gates, cathedral windows, an ornamental fleur-de-lis: this could be a description of a crumbling heritage site. Instead, it is the reference list behind the work of Bitter000000, who translate ancient architectural motifs into polished silver grillz sets. Made up of Ava and Anton, the Brooklyn-based studio has been gaining attention online for its intricate work. “We’re both currently and always obsessed with ancient artefacts,” say the pair, adding gothic architecture, industrial design, armour and fine jewellery to their list of inspirations.

While they never set out to become a grillz studio, it is a craft they have developed over time. “Making grillz is mostly just grit and figuring things out until they feel right. It’s easy to learn the basics, but hard to actually get good at it,” they tell Dazed. “That just comes from time and obsession.” That obsession plays out in the work emerging from their Bushwick studio, where weathered references are translated through moulds and casts before ending up as the polished silver pieces we see on the timeline.

Underpinning Bitter000000 is a strong technical foundation. “Every piece is basically a collaboration between art and function,” they explain. “We’re drawn to the technical side: the mechanics of fitting, the materials, the engineering of how a piece sits in the mouth, and balancing comfort with aesthetics.”

Below, we talk to the pair about their studio setup, dream sets, and advice for anyone starting out.

Can you tell us a bit about yourselves and where you grew up?

Ava and Anton: Ava grew up in a rural town in western NC. Her parents had a farm and made wine. She moved to the Pacific Northwest for college and majored in art history. Anton grew up in Kyiv, then moved to South Carolina when he was 17. He studied accounting in college, then dropped out to move to New York. 

How did you get into making grillz?

Ava and Anton: It was totally random for us to get into this; we didn’t really have any experience or know anyone to help us. Making grillz is mostly just grit and figuring things out until they feel right. It’s easy to learn the basics, but hard to actually get good at it. That just comes from time and obsession. 

Who would you like to make a set for, dead or alive?

Ava and Anton: Vlad the Impaler, Mary Shelley, or H.R. Giger.

Where’s the best location to find inspiration for your designs?

Ava and Anton: As cliché as it sounds, living in NYC is the biggest source of inspiration. There’s just so much you see every day, you have no choice but to intake and interact with your surroundings. 

If you could design the wildest dream set with no budget, what would it look like?

Ava and Anton: A dream set would be something made out of unconditional or impossible materials, like horn, carved pearls, or fossils. We’d love to make grillz that feel ceremonial, more like relics than wearable objects. We’ve been planning a set that incorporates Victorian mourning jewellery, maybe hairwork and a small lover’s eye painting.

What do you listen to in the studio when you’re making sets?

Ava and Anton: We’ve been listening to this album called Saman by Hildur Guõnadóttir. It’s a bit creepy, so we have to change it when clients come so they don’t think we’re freaks. When clients are here, we listen to something more upbeat like NIN. In addition to music, Anton listens to history podcasts, and Ava watches documentaries and MTV. 

What advice would you give someone wanting to start in this industry?

Ava and Anton: For someone who wants to start making grillz, you should learn wax and CAD. Not one or the other. There’s upside and downside for both. Also, learning how to do everything yourself is important, so you know what quality looks like. Be picky with your work.