8 Ed Hardy designs you'll want to wear on your shirt and body
Don Ed Hardy. You may have heard of him thanks to the clothing brand that bears his name. Or maybe you've come across a vodka or wine bottle somewhere with a brightly coloured wrapper, full of different designs, on which that name was prominently displayed. What you may not know, however, is that the name belongs to one of the most influential American tattoo artists of the last century. We'll show you 8 designs that will take you through the career of this legend.
The mascara on your neighbour's back
Ed Hardy's story began in Costa Mesa, California. Then just 10 years old, Ed got his first "tattoo" on the body of one of his neighbor's children using his mother's mascara and colored pencils. The harbor in his hometown was his most frequent inspiration, and it was during this time that many of the boat-themed tattoo designs that would later make him famous were created.
"Moke studio burn!"
His interest in tattooing did not leave him even later. At a time when there were only 500 tattoo artists in the entire United States and tattooing was illegal in several states, Ed gave up his studies at Yale. He switched to print studies so he could perfect his tattooing skills.
In 1969, he and his colleague Mike Malone became apprentices to Jerry Collins, a tattoo legend in his own time, and began working full time in his studio. After only 4 years, however, Jerry died, and in his will he left a bequest that "either they give the studio to Mike and Ed, or they should burn it all to the ground".
From Japan he brought the revolution
After the death of his teacher, Hardy embarked on a journey to Japan, where he studied for 5 months under the Japanese master Kazuo Ogui, also known as Horihide.
This trip was a real turning point in his career. He returned to America with a new style of drawing and many new ideas.
In his Tattoo City, he was the first in the US to do tattoos based on client designs and not just from pre-drawn designs. He also brought the Japanese tradition of full-body tattoos, which together told a story.
Since then, he has become a recognized tattoo authority and has also credited 25 books on tattooing and alternative art to his credit, along with numerous exhibitions of his designs. He founded Tattoo Time magazine, and thanks to him, tattooing has become the mainstream affair it is today.
Year 2000 - Ed Hardy sold his name
The time when Don Hardy starts to interest us alcohol lovers is much later - in the year 2000. That's when he sold the licenses for many of his designs to Christian Audigier, who made Ed Don Hardy an icon in the world of clothing.
His designs were suddenly worn on T-shirts and sweatshirts by many well-known personalities. The name of the man who popularized tattooing to the proportions we know today became just another fashion label on the racks, the origins of which few knew the truth about. Hardy himself has said in several interviews that he regrets the decision. However, the interest that his designs have gained among people is undeniable.
As much as we'd love it if it were otherwise, even Ed Hardy vodka, beer, sangria or champagne don't have much in common with the beloved artist. Their only commonalities are Ed's designs that adorn the bottles of these drinks - and Audigier's shrewd business acumen.
Still, they belong on the shelf of more than just Ed Hardy fans. They're some of the most beautiful bottles ever, and once you've drunk the contents, you're guaranteed to put them away too!
Are you intrigued by Ed Hardy's story and designs? You can find more of them on his official Tattoo City instagram!
