tattoo chic

Hi all, I'm a reporter from the Columbia News Service, a wire service distributed by the New York Times news wire. I'm currently writing a story about very high-end merchandise that incorporates tattoo-inspired art or designs. For example, a US company called Lucien Pellat-Finet sells cashmere sweatshirts for $1000 embroidered with art that's traditionally used in tattoos and a Dutch company called Skinover sells flesh-toned gloves painted to look like they have tattoos on them for about $800. I'm wondering tattoo afficianados see these products as co-opting tattoo culture, especially since they certainly aren't priced for the market that has traditionally been associated with tattoos, or whether they're embraced as an extension of a growing mainstream fascination with tattoos. I'd love to get feedback from anyone on this site, so let me know what you think. You can either just respond to this post, or feel free to email me at [email removed]. Thanks, Erica

Hi I am TAz from Painted Angel Tattooing in St Joseph Mo I'd like to comment on the high end tattoo related clothing designs I don't think these designs "co-opt " the ancient art of tattooing at all...if anything they help bring our art into the mainstream, which may or may not be an altogether good thing!. As for high end items not being associated with the typical tattoo clientele ...man are you way off base on that one!..We are no longer in a world where the only people that sport tattoos are sailors, criminals and lowlifes! On the contrary our clientele in this day and age consists of a high percentage of people who have a fairly impressive disposable income...it is not unusual for us to tattoo doctors, lawyers,and high paid corporate executives! Things are not as there were even 10 years ago...look at the tattoos displayed on this site alone...you simply do not see a lot of small inexpensive work, instead you see an amazing amount of skin art done by some of the best in the business and that work does not come cheap!! Hope this helps...TAz

Erica, I can't believe I'm saying this, but now that I'm part of this culture, on some level, I actually feel some type of disdain for these type of clothes. Idon't exactly know why... I don't think it's the "If you wanna look this way you have to bleed for it" mentality... because I'm not really that way. I also don't think it has anything to do with financial status per se, I think it's more of a question of dedication. Getting an actual tattoo, especially a really decent sized piece of art (as opposed to a little grateful dead bear) is a really personal process. Maybe the key word is process. It's a bit of a statement about yourself on some level. For example, it took me 20 years to find the right design. Then, I had a custom artist work it up specifically for me. Then, I sat for 3.5 hours for the outline to the tune of $350. Then I sat for my first color to the tune of another 3.5 hours and $350 more bucks. Finally, i will have it finished up to the tune of another $350 or so. Maybe that's what still makes a tattoo something special. Because not everyone has what it takes to go through what you have to do to have a really great piece of art. And, ultimately, maybe that's the whole point... it's not for everyone. I kind of feel like I earned it. It's beautiful, it's all mine, and it's a statement about me. To take tattoo designs and put them on clothes so that wealthy, affluent people can "play" like they are part of this culture for a while while they are out clubbing on Friday night (and then take it off) hits me about the same way that some rich guy's "trophy wife" putting on a "Naughty Nurse" outfit for a little extracirricular activity does. Not only is she not naughty, or a nurse, but has no idea what sacrifices nurses make for their patients, or how difficult their job is. But after her husband's 35 seconds of bliss, and a few sips of champagne, she can cut the shit, put the Fendi back on, and get back to being who she really is. Escapism is great, but I don't feel like tattoos should be a source of escapism for people who aren't committed enough to show their individualism permanently. So, I guess if you follow that arguement, I'm not too hot on temporary tattoos either. I guess I feel that people who have the guts to be different have earned the reward of the mystique that comes with being different. Ultimately, I just think it would be a shame to see something as personal as a tattoo reduced to the level of a fashion statement by the Paris Hilton's of the world. Am I on a crusade about this? No. Not really. Can I take a joke? Yes. Definitely. And even though it's a little late, I just think there are some things that shouldn't end up on a t-shirt at Hot Topic. Anyway, that's just one guy's opinion. Thanks!

Greetings, Much of the imagery of tattoos comes from cultural icons and symbology, particularly in traditional tattooing. You cannot fairly say that the world of tattoos "owns" these images, so if someone feels the need to embroider them on a cashmere sweater, I don't think it's realistic for the tattoo community to take offense. It's silly, sure, b/c once pop culture moves on, the person who bought the sweater has no real connection to the image or the symbol, and off to the salvation army it goes, whereas someone with the same image tattooed on them has it for life, and hopefully has a deeper connection to the image than a passing fad (although that's not always true). You can' t really blame someone for cashing in on the latest fad by making it accessible to the fashion victims of the world. The culture of the tattooed community is not being usurped by this; we were here getting these tattoos before it became chic, and we'll be here after it's passe. Pop culture can't take away a form of self expression as timeless as tattooing, no matter how much they try to bastardize it with couture clothing. just my .02

GOOD answer !! Thanks for that post!...TAz