Fashink 03 by Fashink magazine

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FASH

#03

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There are doors which reveal a new world to be savored. There are books that conceal unimaginable recipes. There is a secret cocktail bar, in Milano.

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FASH

magazine

#03

Stefano Padovani Editor & Ideator production@fashink.com Lucia Capelli Director Giada Raucci Creative Director editor@fashink.com Davide Lo Presti Media & Social communication Andrea Tisci Fashion Editor Stefano Guerrini Fashion consultant Claudio Pittan Story Teller Vittorio Raucci Video communication Talita Savorani Writer & Accessories contributor ViralXpress Digital & Communication

info@fashink.com STAFF CONTRIBUTOR

Andrea Amara, Cori Amenta, Mario Chiarenza, Samuela Nova, Kerri Ryer, Shelly Wahweotten

SEASON CONTRIBUTOR

Emilio Bergomi, Sarah Ceccarelli, Giovanni Ciraudo, Valentina Claudio, Mariella Cortes, Elena Greco, Davide Messora, Milano Tattoo Convention, Alessandra Scartapacchio, Emma Maya Scirli, Vittorio Scirli, Matilde Tagliabue

CONTRIBUTORS

EMILIO BERGOMI

Milan based make-up artist working for fashion editorials, runways, and TV. He lived and worked in Los Angeles for TV commercials, celebrities, advertising, and he teaches in make up schools in Italy and US.

ALESSANDRA SCARTAPACCHIO

Make up student at Diego Dalla Palmaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s BSI Academy, the search for new experiences and the staedy desire to prove herself, led her to change her plans. Engaging herselves to the best of her abilities for her passion, giving up inevitably a certain open-ended contract.

ELENA GRECO

Hair stylist born in Milan from a generation of hairdressers. She has been working for some of the major fashion advertising and movies companies.

EMMA MAYA SCIRLI VITTORIO SCIRLI MATILDE TAGLIABUE Italian jewelry designer

p. 10

TABLE OF CONTENTS Editorial p. 6 Fashion Moment p. 8

p. 14

Let Me Tell You A Story p. 10 Mind My Own Business p. 14 We Believe p. 22

p. 22

Tattoo Icons p. 30 Fashink On The Road p. 40 p. 30 4

E F S

inked people for alternative fashion

spring

p. 46

Monsieur Olivier p. 46 #addicted p. 58

p. 68

Ceci nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;est pas un chapeau p. 68 Beautiful and Precious p. 78 Unordinary me p. 86 p. 98

p. 78

Bits & Pieces

Flash Of The Season p. 104 p. 86 5

EDITORIAL Stefano Padovani

Fashink#3, 3 as the perfect number and we Fashink paople have no intention to be less than perfect. This issue has been the hardest one to put together so far, loads of work for the fashion editorials as well as for the internal stories such as Tattoo Icons, Mind My Own Business and so on. I believe our #3 issue it’s a big step forward in this long adventure we began 9 months ago. A child is conceived in 9 months, it seems like a long time ago but in reality it is not at all when you have to carve the creature yourself. It feels like Fashink issue #1 was just behind the corner. We have so much to do, so much to say and much more to give to the industry and to our precious reader that It seems like time it’s never enough. We have barely finished the 3rd issue and we are already working on the next one. Stronger and more committed then ever. We are getting positive feedbacks and this is what pushes me the most to do what I love, my work, my surrounding, the people I am collaborating with and the luck I have every day for doing what I love and enjoy the best. Editing a magazine on a regular base take time, passion, the correct amount of arrogance and quite a bit of risks. Fashink it’s a mix of all of this. Getting inspired it’s a hard process: our society, the media, music, movies industry lately certainly does not help us. So we have to push our creative side more then ever before. I hope Fashink can represent some fresh air in a highly polluted art world. Stefano Padovani

Fashion Moment by Stefano Guerrini their adrenaline-charged lifestyle made them instant role models and icons for every youngster in the ‘90s. So much that on comparison Core’s characters appear rather unknown and overshadowed. At this point, some might ask what tattoos world, surfers and fashion could ever have in common. Actually, a lot, we dare say. A whole lot, and that’s because we live in a melting pot era, an era of hybridizations, contaminations between different worlds and fluid creativity, where there’s absolutely no point in the denial of the fact that surfing has now powerfully entered the circle of elements that inspire many designers. Names such as Tommy Hilfiger, Karl Lagerfeld or

These days playing in the theatres is “Point Break”, Ericson Core’s remake 2.0 version of that homonymous cult movie which dates back to some years ago. The original from 1991 has been directed by Kathryn Bigelow, that same Kathryn Bigelow that in 2010 became the first woman director to ever secure an Oscar award for herself, with “The Hurt Locker”, which went on winning 5 more awards that very Night. Now back to our movie: the original plot tells the story of a gang of surfers under the lead of Patrick Swayze that spent the last three summers robbing banks in LA County and a young Keanu Reeves playing the part of an ambitious rookie FBI Agent now infiltrates it. The power and thrill of 8

straight out of Ragtime era or rebel boys with their worn out denim. We can now see surfers on the runway, seen by the creative minds of the designers as gipsy heartbreakers, rovers, wanderers, well aware of the pros of technology, but brought by their romantic soul to take souvenirs from their travels around the world, from Bali’s beaches to Barbados’ waves. For more, those memories are tightly bonded to their most intimate soul: it’s not for a coincidence that a lot of the looks showing on the runway have as a common base super-tight-seethrough suits with graphics reminding once again tattoos, symbols to be carried that convey messages of loves and adventures. At this point, the circle has been closed! The inked surfer becomes an icon and an instant effigy of adventure and a model for sentiments alike, more inward looking that what one could expect while speaking “just” of clothing. That is what happens when such meaningful worlds and minds meet.

Chanel, just to give you an idea. All that while tattoos are the main theme in operations where the sea and surfing co-star: I’m thinking about some photographs by Gian Paolo Barbieri, where exotic faces and tribal style tattoos reflect sensual atmospheres, ancient rites and modern tropical paradises. All this constitutes a so intriguing as bizarre cocktail, where you can see Tahiti’s waves in the background and on the foreground perfectly connected surfers, that though being able to swiftly move through the frenzy and highpaced rhythms of our time and society instead choose to live out of time marking their own skin with the symbols of their free lives always lived on the edge. One can easily recall all of this simply by analysing S/S 2016 collections by two very appreciated designers: Canadian twins Dean and Dan Caten, international fashion system stars thanks to their DSquared brand. Starting from Barbieri and flowing to “Point Break”, the inspirational muse seems to be that very tattoo motif. No more past figures like bikers, dandies 9

Claudio Pittan

Let me tell you a story... My name is Claudio and I am a tattoo artist. During a November morning, Marco entered my tattoo parlour. “Claudio, sketch me the drawing of my crappy tattoo, fuck it! Nobody wanna give a shit about me, fuck off!” “Calm down man, what do you want to carve into your skin?” “My girlfriend is dead!” I’m still here and this is hell for me, she’s living in heaven now. Draw me a cool-ass tattoo to show everybody the shitty life I ‘m living!” I drew a Japanese nymph for him, during a spring breeze full of flowers. That was his girlfriend. Marco otherwise was represented by a samurai facing his enemy. We needed 6 month to complete our work. During our sessions, Marco and I talked: “God damn, my life is over without Laila! I go to the graveyard every morning, I say hi, I clean her grave and bring her new flowers. Then, in the evening after work, I come back to fix the water and I stay until closing time; then I go home to

have some sleep. I was silently listening to him. “During weekends, I spend all my time at the graveyard. I talk to her, bring her new flowers and keep her company.” When he was working (he used to fill up supermarket shelves) he has been scolded due to his mistakes. Then slowly summer came. Tattoo was almost done. “Well guess what Claudio?” “Yes Marco.” “The graveyard is going to close in August for two weeks.” “Of course, keepers go on holiday too” “So how can I go to Laila’s?” “You can go on a holiday too!” “God damn, you crazy man? I cannot leave her alone! Who’s gonna clean her grave? Who’s gonna bring her new flowers?” “Listen Marco, how would you like to enter the graveyard? You wanna climb over the gate?” “For sure!” “In my opinion, if you’re lucky you’re gonna break your leg; if you’re not, they’re going to arrest you!”. 10

The conversation ended this way. During the next session he picked up the discussion once again, “Well guess what Claudio?” “Yes Marco.” “My friends are going on holiday to Costa Rica” “So what?” “They told me to join them, they wanna give me the journey as a gift.” “So cool Marco! So are you leaving?” “How can I manage Laila’s issue? I don’t know Claudio, what do you think about it?” So I started talking for Laila. I already knew very well their relationship. “If I were in her shoes, I would say: go on that holiday Marco. When you’ll be back, the graveyard will be open and you could come and see me”. I thought I was like a psychoanalyst to him. “Don’t know” Marco told me with an apprehensive glance. The next session was the last one.

The tattoo was almost done. Marco looked at me and told me “Claudio, I’ve made my mind: I’m going to Costa Rica!”. “Rock on, he completely recovered!” I thought. He had a giant suitcase with him, probably purchased at the Chinese shop in front of my tattoo parlour. “Marco, will you bring your surfboard too?” He was a little bit ill-at-ease but he answered me: “Claudio, don’t you understand? I can’t leave Laila by herself!” I leant against the counter, the room spun round and round, “Marco...” I couldn’t finish the sentence. He was looking at me with possessed eyes. In that moment I realized he had broken nails and soil under his fingers. “Claudio, it’s our secret. I came to pick her up yesterday night. Now we’ll always be on holiday together!”. 12

MIND MY OWN BUSINESS er Cam Javi

PORTRAIT BY THE FASHINK GROUP WRITTEN BY TALITA SAVORANI

o l l e a B s o

J A V I E R

unit, a hard work from which he nonetheless retained some happy memories. He is currently working in the kitchen of a psychiatric hospital, where has daily contact with patients thanks to which he hopes to be able to learn a lot about human relations.

Javier Campos Baello was born in Valencia (Spain) in 1984 in a poor family and he spent many years of his childhood in a small mountain village. During the hospitality studies, he also studied in Valencia as a veterinary assistant.

Given his restless and creative mind always active also thanks to his working experience he writes poetry in his spare time and is currently working on a future project, a collection of poems with a portion of poetic prose and a photo exhibition on human emotions and

Cook by profession and poet by vocation, he began working at the stoves at the age of 16, working in 4 and 5 star hotels, restaurants in his hometown. He served two years in the armed forces, in the mountain hunters 16

the influence of modern society on them, but he has not published anything so far.

by his friends, which he considers an essential part of his life. always looking for new experiences and emotions do not rule out leaving their homeland and travel the world.

And thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not it: his restlessness is not just a theoretical one. In fact he do likes outdoor sports: skateboarding, diving or muay thai just to give some examples.

Fashink: Shortly describe yourself, the environment youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re living in, your passions and what you love the most in your work (please tell us about your work, your passions, your reason and inspiration for your tattoo).

Also, photography, music and art in general are in the list of his hobbies and he is deeply in love with the sea, where he finds refuge, inspiration and enjoyment that helps him to evolve and grow as a professional and as a person, always surrounded

C A M P O S/ /B A E L L O

Javier: I am a young man born in Valencia on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, which is not a big city and has with a temperate

climate. I am passionate about art in all its various forms and expressions, because it conveys emotions and reveals each author’s deepest feelings and most inner self through different means of expression, but if I had to pick two of them I would go with tattoos and poetry.

I started working as a cook after finishing my studies in hospitality, and I am currently a chef in a psychiatric hospital, trying to offer the best possible quality of life for patients, and seeing them happy and satisfied with my work is perhaps the greatest motivation. I had my first tattoo at the age of 16 - while I’m now going to turn 32 when I was crazy enough to have my whole back inked in a single session! The theme is about the legend of the Minotaur of ancient Greek culture because according to the Zodiac I’m Taurus but that’s not just it, because as you can imagine in my culture the bull has a lot of symbolism.

I obviously chose poetry because I have been writing for several years and although I have not published anything so far, I find in it a way to express myself and a way to escape through a form of art that comes from within, and to try to show and reveal who you truly are, as you do in the moment when you decide to have a tattoo permanently inked on you, creating a fascinating parallel between tattoos and poetry: with the first one you mark your skin, with the second is marked your soul.

My second tattoo has a sad story, I have it on my chest that is a rather painful area, and it pictures a Heart of Jesus and two swallows as a tribute to a great friend of my childhood who died in a car crash. Swallows traditionally have a lot meanings, being animals used to take long journeys and mate for life. With that I wanted to express that although my friend and I had parted our ways to different paths we would meet again, in the end, and the fact that I will stay true to him, which is represented also by the Heart of Jesus, a picture for pure love and friendship. I also got tattooed one lettering on the neck that reads ”pray for me”, because I know that wherever he is

I also love the sea: Valencia is a coastal city with a mild climate and with a great marine heritage, given the location, and that’s why our culture is so largely based on the sea. So with the influence given us by centuries of Muslim domination (with a great cultural contribution meanwhile) we are accustomed to diversity and this reflects also in the great value that sport has among us, in the most disparate practices such as diving, skateboarding or muay thai. 19

he will care and pray for me. I guess that all in all tattoos tell the story of the wearer, his way of perceiving the world, his values and principles and I strongly believe that they are not just a fad, they are not something merely ornamental and best tattoos always have the best stories.

know how to get started! As I said I had my entire back tattooed with images depicting the legend of the Minotaur, and other Greek, Italian, Spanish, Turkish myths…of course they have a great meaning for me and are strongly linked one with the other by the Mediterranean, the sea that has seen each of those Nation’s and cultures rise and spread and mix together, creating a vast, strong and multicultural bond.

F: How did you start working in a mental hospital as a cook? J: Well, I started working in a mental hospital by chance: I spent many years working as a cook, and I’ve been lucky and capable enough to work on high level hotels, good restaurants, and during the America’s Cup I was employed by Alinghi (whose ship ultimately won that edition) and so I had the opportunity to learn a lot.

That’s just what I wanted to represent, in different Mediterranean cultures there always is the presence of a bull as a symbol of courage, strength, something indomitable. It represents my fetish animal, my totem, and, what may seem incredible, it knows how to make my poetic side work. The tattoo on my chest as I explained is the most personal that I have, in honor of Ruben, my best childhood friend.

Here in the hospital the cuisine has none of the purposes shared by the places in which I used to work and has an entirely different destination, but I love my job and I think that in the end it all comes down to making people happy. And that, for me, is the biggest motivation a person can have and makes me proud to be part of an environment that provides wellness.

I also had my left arm inked with Mexican skulls of the day of All Saints, with lots of color and much embellishment, I look wonderful! I love how something as dark as it can be death is depicted in a so colorful way! From the skulls surges a phrase, that goes “He who lives by the sword, dies by iron” with which I wanted to express something like that you will be treated according to how treat your next of kin. On my calf I have a virgin in honor of

F: Describe your tattoo and what has inspired you to do them. J: I have so many tattoos I hardly 20

my mother with the phrase “see you mourn to see me die,” and I think that there’s not much to explain here. The last one is on my head and represents the biblical passage in which the Archangel casts out Satan, “The Fallen Angel”, from the Kingdom of Heaven.

know how to work your way though it it can become a great source of inspiration . F: If you could, would you leave your current job to become a full-time poet? J: Of course I would! Although the kitchen is also something that I love, poetry springs from my most inner self, and for me poetry is the ultimate expression of emotions through the word. Don’t you find it wonderful how through metaphors, through compositions one can show exactly all those feelings that in most cases, he is not able to explain otherwise?

F: How do you combine your passion for poetry with your work? Do you have enough time to work at both or would you like to have more? J: Well, even if it is true that I would have more time to write I can manage myself quite well: my working day lasts 12 hours and in that time I try to think, become a kind of a blank page and mentally convey the emotion I want to describe through poems, letting in the inspiration, searching for the voice of Calliope.

Here is an example: how to describe the feeling of the first kiss of love? How to do it so that you can be clear and express all the impetuous torrent of feelings it evoked ? “When I kissed my heart broke into a carnival”, I think with that verse everyone can understand and relate.

Almost every all writers have a favorite place and time to write: mine is the night, when after a long workday, I finally get home and I can put together all the ideas, all the sensations and emotions I felt in my day.

F: Your tattoos are talking about yourself, are they related to your job and your passion too? Are you planning to have a combined tattoo that describes both of your passion?

The quiet of the night, when the whole city seems lethargic is the time that offers me the most thoughtful state, a kind of melancholy. I find it a fascinating feeling, people usually consider melancholy as a negative emotion, but I think that if you

J: They speak about way more than my job, my tattoos talk about my personal experiences are something like my diary. I guess I try to express my position, 21

J: I guess my main inspiration is to beat myself everyday, and to express myself through cooking that is the essential part of my most common nonverbal communication.

my experience and my views through them, speaking in a personal way. For me a tattoo that is merely decorative, it is a fashion and does not have any sense as originally tattoo art was not intended for these purposes: different tribes and cultures have been using them for thousands of years to express their social rank, telling their deeds or ward off evil spirits .

I cook in an attempt to experience and learn new techniques every day, even if my skills are currently at an incredible level and I feel like I hardly have any limit. The level is very high and although currently the kind of work that I practice is very limited Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m trying to constantly learn and be up to date by attending classes, courses and other events in order to evolve professionally. That would be my professional inspiration: the possibility to have a constant evolution in the field that most suites me.

People like me, lovers of this art that is the tattoo will always have a particular one, an outstanding tattoo, and always use new tattoos for the need to once again to express themselves. F: If you could go back in time, would you change something in your life and if so what would it be?

As far as poetry is concerned the inspiration comes from the need I have to express all that turmoil of feelings that sometimes takes a hold us. I see men and women getting younger writing poetry, reading it, living it. And it draws my attention very much how kids sometimes only 16 or 17 express some brutal feelings, as a side effect of the pace set by our society. Thanks to social networks we get increasingly more connected every day that goes by but canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t help feeling every day more lonely.

J: Well, I have made many mistakes in my life like everyone else I guess, I damaged people who wanted to help me and I guess is the only thing that would change, but generally speaking I would not change anything, since in that case I would not be the person I am now. Mistakes are necessary for my personal growth and it is important to learn from them not to repeat yourself when you went wrong. F: Is there something that inspires you in particular for your work as a chef and for your passion as a poet? 22

we believe by Talita Savorani

portrait by the Fashink Group

Emanuela Elettra In this issue we wants to tell you the story of Emanuela, a female nursery school teacher. She was born near Lecce and grew up in Salento, in the South of Italy, where her family still lives now; she’s not an only child, she has an older brother and they spent their childhood more or less always together. That’s why they started sharing same passions and hobbies since they were teens, such as music and tattoo art. Moreover, they used to be obsessed with everything that spins around the Kustom Kulture world. Emanuela told us a little bit more about her childhood years and she described her education such as a strict and severe period due to her father’s impositions. He was a technical education teacher and a traditional South-of-Italy man; he had a great heart but he was grounded to old-fashioned ways to

see and face real life. On the other side, there was her mum, a former nursery school teacher that decided to turn herself into a full-time mum after getting pregnant. Despite this severe education, Emanuela’s family influenced her with important values such as love and passion for her job and for what concerns childhood world. Our interview is getting deeper and deeper, Emanuela reported us something more personal: she told her mum that she wanted to work with children since she was young. She started playing with male dolls, feeding them with the baby bottle and changing nappies, like real children. She realized she grew up a little bit later compared to her peers but this childish side lets her see the world in a innocent and cheerful way, still today even if she’s an adult. Her education pathway has been quite traditional and patterned, 24

she attended the secondary school focusing on humanities and during all those five years she always felt a rebellion spirit towards everybody. However, she has always been an introverted girl and above all, her surrounding environment was bounding her up. After her degree, she decided that her hometown couldn’t enhance her existence; she felt she was oppressed and she wanted to leave that small town in the suburbs. That’s why in 1998 she moved to the legendary city of Bologna which at that time was one of the most colorful and independent places all over Italy. After that, she decided to attend university too, enrolling in the Education Sciences course of study. She was interested in something new so, in her spare time, she started hanging out at those selfadministered social structures with a dynamic lifestyle and first punk gigs. Those new adventures excited her so much that she fell in love with that punky fashion and completely changed her look. Suddenly, she was so colorful! After three long years at university, she took a private diploma attending sociology and psychology courses and right away she started to work in nursery schools. Of course her look was quite bizarre and odd for her workplace but she didn’t change it at all. Her passion for the punk world was growing more and more, she had purple hair and was

still wearing her piercings. We asked her about colleagues and children’s reactions and she told us that all adults were nice and pleasant probably because she was the youngest and the most original one in the group. Children? They loved her at first sight and they looked at her with that typical innocent glance. Every morning, no matter if it was raining or a windy day.. She rode her bike to the nursery school and nothing could stop her. All children welcomed her smiling and calling her name, she says that they’re special and particular identity since they’re young. They have to be listened up and supported whether or not there are problems. Moreover, they need daily exhortations to become a strong and self-confident human being in the future but also rules of course. They have to try, to do, to make mistakes and to start once again from the beginning. They simply need to be what they want and to feel they’re one in a million. She kept working as a teacher for years and she never left behind her shoulders her less institutional passions, such as the tattoo art. Her appearance was as alternative as her personality: she started decorating her body with some ink starting with a former boyfriend who was trying to become a tattoo artist. Then she moved to Milan and did some cover-ups from Viviana 29

characters and not like an artistic expression of our lives. Emanuela has been lucky with her job opportunities and she let children’s families know herself for her skills, patience, lovely attitude and strong principles while growing those kids. “Our planet is wonderful, colorful and various” says Emanuela at the end of our interview. Unfortunately her family hasn’t accepted her attitude and love for body art yet, they thought she disfigured her body and that’s why she leaves us with the hope to have children in the future and to spread over them serendipity and freedom ideas. They need to follow their skills and to be supported by family during their growth. Want to let become their best version? Never forget what they need... They need to feel they are special, safe and original single individuals.

Mattiangeli at Best of Times. Talking about her body art, she describes her passion through several themes: love, nature, femininity and the sea but her right arm has a Japanese touch with skulls, waves and cherry blossom too. Her relationships with other tattoo artists such as Alessandra Giannini, Silvio Pellico and Sergio Bertini overcomes professionalism and it’s like a psycho session where she can give a shape to her emotions. However, her favorite tattoo artist is Angelique Houtkamp with her tradional and romantic style that turns tattoos into real masterpieces. She always tried to keep her two worlds separated: children and tattoo art. She stated, as other people interview by Fashink, that Italy’s worst problem is its backwards attitude and it’s quite impossible to match a tattooed person with an institutional job. Of course, tattoos are still seen as a part of shady

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by The Fash

Courtesy of Stefano Padovani

ttoo ons

hink Group

Igor is 31, he lives in Ivrea - near Turin - and heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a tattoo artist. Since he was a child he has always drawn, he told us he approached art thanks to his father who was a great illustrator. Moreover, he never had an easy life; he started working when he was 14 even if he was attending the Art Institute; he confided in us telling he felt straight-jacketed by school, maybe he just simply wanted to draw.

They were a little bit gipsy and Igor liked so much this lifestyle; he started helping her at the stables where she was working and then, on the other side, she helped him with outdoor paving; in the evening they were always at his place to draw, every night. Suddenly one day, Igor and Sarah, his wife, were on a construction site and a truck driver has given to them the phone number of a tattoo studio looking for new staff. The trucker knew they wanted to start tattooing. Since that moment, Igor started doing that new job, he previously got some tattoos on his friends but

After moving to several schools, Igor realized he was wasting his time and firstly became an electrician, then a bricklayer - for 6 years - and finally he met his wife.

he tells us a secret: he didn’t know what he was really doing. “At the beginning the pathway was really tough, in the first tattoo parlour we were alone and we had to work hard to go ahead. It wasn’t easy but after 8 years I can say that I’m happy and I want to thank those who have been by my side and those who still believe in me, my wife Sarah and my daughter Milla that make me smile every day” he tells us.

and Trafficanti d’Arte in Milan. His future plans concern having his own tattoo studio and working side by side with his family. Mao, world-class tattoo artist hailing from Spain, started his career at the end of the 70’s; he bought his first tattoo machine kit through an adv seen on a USA motorbike magazine called Easy Rider. At that moment, that magazine was the only point of reference to see tattoos coming from overseas. During those years, Mao was inside a motorcycle crew and he started tattooing his friends using his first machine kit.

At the moment, Igor is working in two different tattoo parlours here in Italy: Inkubus Tattoo in Rivarolo Canavese - near Turin -

Mao & Cathy’s archive

Switzerland where Felix and Loretta Leu find him a new tattoo machine kit and taught him the job; during the early 80’s he became a professional tattoo artist. In 1982, he decided with Cathy (his present partner) to go back to Spain and open a new seasonal tattoo parlour in Ibiza.

Shortly after those first experiences, Mao gets bored with tattooing and decided to sell his machine kit to an Italian friend, this guy was about to be enrolled in the military service in Italy. Mao left the tattoo artist job for one year and half, then he met - as he luckily admitted - Alain and Monique from Marseille who helped him to find a sophisticated “fine line” style; later, he bumped into Felix Leu too - he was coming back from India - and he became more or less like a tutor, pushing Mao to get back to his tattoo artist career. Mao moved to Lausanne in

Immediately after summer he made up this mind to go back to Switzerland for a short period until he realized - thanks to his homeland call - he wanted to open a tattoo parlour in Cadiz and then another one in Cartagena, both in Spain. In the first studio, in the South of the country and near a military base, 36

his pathway to become a “tattoo artist for everyone”, as he said so not only for sailors, troopers and bikers.

he has continuously and restless worked for seven years tattooing base troopers and sailors landing at the local port.

Mao also entered his first tattoo convention in Berlin more than 25 years ago, at the moment he attends more than 20 international events each year.

Boredom and his permanent need of sweeping change brought Mao to come back to Madrid, his hometown, where he didn’t completely feel at his ease, since he was used to live in small cities.

Fashink: What did you think when you saw a tattooed person for the first time in your life?

Today Mao is the owner of several tattoo parlours such as “Mao & Cathy” in Barcelona and Madrid and he wouldn’t leave the last one for no reason in the world. By opening his parlours, Mao started

Igor: I was a child and I was fascinated by this world thanks to my uncle, he had two dragons on his arm; even if now they do not look 37

like this anymore, they were the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. From then on, curiosity and my will to enter the tattoo industry never left me. That’s why I did my first tests at the High School, firstly on my skin and then on my friends. My tattoos were not technically perfect but I do not regret them still today, we laugh about them because I love what I do.

place, jeopardizing a future and possible work career. Sometimes also customers’ requests graphically don’t work, they want to mix several meanings in a single tattoo. That’s why I know it’s important to advise them what’s the best choice: what’s good on paper is not always great on skin too. I started drawing when I was a child and never stopped, thanks to this job I’m learning how to sketch out the drawing, a highly important step.

Mao: My first experience dates back to when I was a child, I saw my father’s brother and he had a heart with a female name inside tattooed on his arm. The fact is that it wasn’t his girlfriend’s name.

M: Japanese tattoo artists’ culture passed down to me the respect for the master and the worship for this job. The behavioral F: Speaking of ethics, ethics and the value which are the values of a tattoo artist you put up front are fundamental, your profession? Mao & Cathy’s archive mandatory and highly important. Still today, I: I absolutely have personal rules when I choose the staffs going on my workplace, the first one is to work at “Mao & Cathy” tattoo to not get tattoos concerning what parlours, I prefer a “beginner” doesn’t belong to me or what doesn’t artist with honest principles instead represent my tattoo vision. I learnt of a famous one; he could bring it during all my life, I would never me more customers but he get a tattoo on a customer who’s probably wouldn’t satisfy me at the not sure about that or in a visible 38

interpersonal level. Some tattoo artists think they are rockstars and do not realize that customers offer their body and their skin to them just to get a tattoo. Many come to our tattoo parlour to work but just few stay.

if you are a whore, you can make a lot of money! Today companies are highly using the tattoo image only for commercial purpose and in order to get c l o s e r to tattooed VIPs with the aim to reach young customers that follow fashion and trends, w i t h o u t seeing art as a industry where they could reinvest their resources.

F: Describe your point of view related to commercial tattoos comparing to the roots of the tattoo meaning.

F: How do you see the changes from those times when a tattooer was considered someone who used to mark people’s body to nowadays when a tattoo artist is almost like trendsetter?

I: The meaning of a tattoo but also the moment someone realizes he wants one are essential. Getting something unforgettable and sometimes highly painful too is important as well. Nowadays, I think the meaning is getting lost in the tattoo process because requests are more focused on the aesthetic appearance and concern “in vogue” drawings rather than the meaning itself. Sometimes I realize I’m distancing myself from the meaning too in my drawings but artistically speaking this helps me to better express myself. M: I always considered an element:

tattoo artists.

I: During the last few years tattoo became a fashion style, people are more involved in different styles and

Thanks to social media too, they can choose what’s better representing their personal taste. Sometimes tattoo artists turn into a trend, that’s why some customers give carte blanche to them looking more for 39

you think if this aspect would end?

the artist rather than to the tattoo itself.

I: I never thought this could end, rather I see it in a continuous development. I think that the tattoo concept is changing and it will change during the future. There are more and more tattooed people loving this art. The tattoo artist figure will turn into an artist for sure.

M: What TV, cinema, medias and showbiz display is inviolable truth or at least that’s what people t h i n k . They spread a wrong message in this way, it’s not about quality but about the current fashion a n d trends. Concerning the tattoo industry, I think that there are talented and still unknown artists but, on the other side, there are poor quality ones but world-known, they’re reputation is usually based on media exposures. That’s more or less the stereotype that we learnt from the USA where appearance is always in first line. I think that 90% of general audience can’t feel the difference between a good tattoo and a terrible work. Luckily, in TV shows and magazines too you can find excellent artists with tons of talent and professionalism.

M: I would have never thought to see so many tattooed people today, especially for wide-spread tattoos. During summer when I usually walk in the city, I see many boys and girls with amazing tattoos. I’m s o pleased to see that tattoo art has become a social factor; my way of thinking has always been to tattoo common and normal people and not only radical personalities. F: Does fashion influence your style or do you think your style could influence fashion? I: Fashion never influenced my style, I started in the tattoo industry because I loved drawing with

F: Tattoos are often seen as a social and fashionable status, what would 40

passion, not to get myself in vogue. People I worked with and I’m still working with inspired me and gave me a chance to progress and to improve my pathway. They taught me that the tattoo artist job is a marvelous opportunity that needs humility, respect and dedication.

designers, such as Jean Paul Gaultier, ordered tattoo drawings created by tattoo parlours to reproduce them as p a t t e r n on their clothing. Today several world-wide campaigns are showing tattooed VIP p e r s o n a l i t i e s ; many products such as accessories, fragrances and so on are inspired by the tattoo world. Vice versa, we could hardly see the opposite.

I learnt it on my skin, in a not so nice but useful way. Concerning the idea to influence the fashion industry, I’m not so pretentious to think about that at the moment.

Mao pleasantly tells us that at the moment he’s tattooing only a day in a year, just what the doctor ordered. That’s the ironic and carefree spirit that always distinguished him.

M: Tattoo has influenced and is still influencing today so much the fashion industry. Famous

Mao & Cathy’s archive

ink on the road

FASH

by Shelly Wahweotten

travelling to from one tattoo to the next, since the New Year celebration, which I was sick for. The first few days were spent in bed while I overdosed on vitamins, desperately trying to break a fever. Anticipation was also hounding me knowing what adventures lay ahead of me within the next week.

Pirate’s Education

Tattooing on the road is a constant process of learning, ranging as simple as ‘where am I going to eat and sleep tonight?’ to furthering complications as to ‘how am I going to get there,’ and ‘when?’ Most days I get lost as to what city I am in, or what day of the week it is. But nonetheless, I have obligations to meet, and tattoos to give. Once the tattoo machines are in my hands again, my life’s journey is back on track.

Most of my days are filled with replying to texts, emails, phone calls, and walk-in traffic, one right after the other. Many times I lose track of who asks what questions, in which email?? Or if that person is the same one from their profiles without having met them, or maybe only once. Oh!! I forget to mention, as

February is just around the corner, and I have already logged in approximately 5,000 miles across the United States,

most of you know, we work for ourselves in this business, which also means that we are lone planners, makers, doers, and shakers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a solo show when a tattooist travels. Literally everything we do is by hand; our hands alone. That being said, I did another cruise just recently. Same velvet alcove as last time, same promotional company as last time, same outrageous driving distance as last time; only a different theme than what I had done before. This time I sailed the seas with a ship full of zombies.

almost double the amount of tattoos we had done before, and even cruises before me! Each of us ranging over 10 tattoos a day, on a short schedule and cruise time in general. Yet, there were still only 3 of us, and 1,500 of them! Them, being ZOMBIES, of course. Eyeballs were hanging out, faces were chewed off, mad ER patients covered in makeup blood, limping and moaning from one end of the ship to the next. We were tattooing, as part of a celebrity guest crew, aboard a Walking Dead cruise, which was the first of possibly many.

From Miami to the Bahamas then back again, we tattooed

Friday rolls In, and we board ship, just like we did last spring -

exhausted, with tons of luggage in hand. Returning to our familiar location on the ship, we unpack gear into each divided corner. The set up process is like an explosion of tattoo equipment, as we figure out what we need from there. Lines of people began forming while we located all we need, including power, in order to open up shop. By technicality, we are only allowed to tattoo while at sea, away from dock, as to stay in line with local regulations, so we unpack, power up, and wait to head to sea.

out early in order to catch his first appointment of the day. Myself and my buddy peel our sore bones out of the cabin and head the same direction ourselves, shortly after, catching as much coffee into our bloodstreams as possible on the walk, two floors up. Day two was just as long and daunting as the first few prior. Lines of people waiting patiently, and some not as much. The ones who waited around patiently were pleasantly paid off when they finally snuck their way into a small tattoo. Just like the ones told before them, hang out! We will get your tattoo squeezed in as soon as humanly possible, but there is a long line already, and currently, we have a handful. But with patience and persistence, IT WILL HAPPEN! That seems to be hard to thoroughly explain, whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a zombie or not. At the end of day two, each of us were turning in a decent amount of pay stubs. Still a bit frazzled

First night kicks off with a decent amount of walk-in, standard tattoos, and we iron out what we need as we move along. After a few hours of solid tattooing, we lock up shop, turn in our pay stubs for the night, and head to the casino to get a decently poured, late-night cocktail. After all, we just drove 24-hours to get to this point. Day two hits quick, as it always does, and 1/3 of the crew jets

from the work, unwinding in the casino atmosphere was back in order. Being that it’s a ship, late night choices are slim to none.

Sunday rolls around and we are docked for a few hours in the Bahamas. Again, by legal standards, we are only tattooing while out to sea, so we peek outside to see what the lands have to offer us. 70-mile and hour winds, cloudy and rain. Awesome. We opted to stay on ship and recover a little for whatever time we could get. Food, coffee and water were the most we could do for ourselves. We only had about 6 hours of off time while at dock. Then it was back to full on chaos once we left port again.

Casino conversations covered a lot of our current experiences, and whether the new member was ready to quit, or do it all over again. Fortunately for us, he’s still on board to do keep up with the luxury pirates, and we couldn’t be more thankful! We each meet a lot of really neat people and made a handful of friends while at it. Families brought their children along to meet the stars of the show, groups of women and men fans also came to do the same. None of us really gambled much while in the casino.

With the weather as it was, the sea was angry that day. When we left, the ship was rocking back and forth and the velvet curtains were swaying from side to side as we were desperately trying to pull each line as clean as we possibly could. This was our last night. Tomorrow, when we wake up, we will be in Miami again, and have to get off the ship, all luggage in hand. But

Jokes were told, a few drinks were thrown back, everyone was happy, and we all laughed and stumbled our way back into our cabin for another few hours of sleep before we did it all over again.

tonight is crunch time, and the last literal impression we have to give till we see these zombies again. So, swaying and tattooing away, until we close down our last one.

I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have dreamed that I would wander the world, pleasing one person at a time, place after place, year after year, had you told me when I began this journey. I just thought I was living true to my rebellious nature, and making a path that suited me. Instead I gift lives an ever-lasting memory of who they are, where they have been, and what directions they want to go in their lives, one custom tattoo at a time.

Our last tattoos are done with every drop of effort we each have left, and we physically begin shutting down until right after dawn, to pack and load everything off the ship once docked in Miami. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just ending phase two of three on this journey and we make our trek back towards the bitter cold of Detroit. Another 1400 miles north and an aching back later, we are home. Or home, to at least one of us.

Tomorrow is a new day of the same process. I have a few days left in my hometown, and I will be flying overseas alone to try this out again, under a new pressure. Out of this new pressure, comes experience, and out of experience come knowledge of that education.

Fortunately, the fun never stops. Another day there, return here, back to work around the corner, and share my experiences with my friends, family and colleagues as I get the change to catch back up and do it all over again.

Art is a constant process of education. Never stop creating, never stop growing.

Jacket: Maurizio Miri Trousers: Pence 48

Monsieur Olivier Photography Stefano Padovani Stylist Andrea Tisci Assisted by Mariella Cortes Model Stephane Olivier @I Love Models Grooming Samuela Nova Shooted @ 1930 Secret Cocktail Bar

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Hat: Panizza Shirt: Alessandro Dellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Acqua Smoking: Hackett London Pochette: Ulturale

Jacket 窶天est: Havana &CO Shirt: Omogene Trousers: GPC Shoes: A.Testoni - Io Vado 51

Total Look: Angelo Cruciani - Yezael Belt: Fausto Colato

Glasses: David Marc Jacket: Tardia Shirt: PomandĂ¨re Belt: Fausto Colato Trousers: Tardia

Glasses: David Marc Foulard: Sciâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Braces: Mitchumm Industries T-Shirt: Andrea Fenzi Trousers: Angelo Cruciani 55

Shirt: Patrizia Pepe Tie: Ulturale Vest: Bevilacqua Trousers : Plus que ma vie Shoes: Stonefly

Hat: Panizza Bow Tie: Ulturale Tait â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Shirt: Michele Chiocciolini Belt: Fausto colato Shoes: Fragiacomo

T-Shirt: Levi’s Trousers: GPC Shoes: Araldi 1930

Gilet – Trousers: Mitchumm Industries Shirt: Bevilacqua

Suit: Lanieri Shirt: PomandĂ¨re Pochette: Hackett London Socks: Bresciani Shoes: Fragiacomo 59

#ADDICTED <3

photography Stefano Padovani assisted by Davide Messora stylist Andrea Tisci model Barbara D. make-up and hair Emilio Bergomi

Jacket: Cutie London Lace Worker: Grace &Mila Shoes: JF London 61

Lace Worker: ST. Studio Foulard: Daniel Wong Shoes: Francesca Castagnacci

Glasses: Pugnale & Nyleve Jacket: Shirtaporter Trousers: ST. Studio

Dress: Lorella Signorino

Total Look: Daniel Wong Bag: Borgenni Shoes: SIV Milano

Glasses: Kyme Shirt: Albino Skirt: Albino Bag: Salar 66

Jacket: Intropia Skirt: Cutie London Shoes: Luciano Padovan

Neck: Cor Sine Labe Dori Bolero: Alessandro Dellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Acqua Skirt: Lorella Signorino Socks: Benedict Shoes: Cult

Ps Photography by

The Fashink Group Styled by

Andrea Tisci Model

Sangdon @Boom The Agency Grooming by

Valentina Claudio Shooted

@Studio Focus

Bowler: Panizza 1879

Hat: Pasquale Bonfilio Clerical hat

PanamĂ : Patrizia Pepe

PanamĂ : Super Duper

Cap: Angelo Cruciani Army of love

Fedora: Hackett London

Top hat: Pasquale Bonfilio

PanamĂ : Ferruccio Vecchi

Beret: Angelo Cruciani Army of love

BEAUT and

Prec

Photography The Models Sarah Concept and MakeAssisted by Alessan Hair stylist Elena Greco Paper Jewelry designed Vittorio Scirli, M Shooted @ S

TYful

Paper jewel: necklace Gemstone: sapphire left page Paper jewel: bracelet Gemstone: ruby

cious

e Fashink Group C. and Sara E. -up Emilio Bergomi ndra Scartapacchio @ Les Garcon de la Rue d by Emma Maya Scirli, Matilde Tagliabue Studio Focus

Paper jewel: hairclip Gemstone: aquamarine

Paper jewel: tiara Gemstone: quartz fume

Paper jewel: coupe-gorge with heart pendant Gemsone: yellow sapphire right page Paper jewel: ring Gemstone: emerald

Paper jewel: egyptian bracelet Gemstone: diamond

Paper jewel: earring Gemstone: amethyst

unordinary me Stefano Padovani stylist Andrea Tisci model Jesus @Major Model photography

Milan

grooming

Alessandra Scartapacchio

Vest: Mitchumm Industries Trousers: Denham Bag: JF London Shoes: Cult 89

Jacket: Studio Pretzel Short: Re-bello

Total look: Dockers

Shirt: Gall Shoes: Agla-Lab 92

Shirt: 5preview Short: Gall 93

T-Shirt: Re-bello Trousers: Sergei Grinko 94

Sweatshirt: Hydrogen

Shirt: Michumm Industries Jeans: Leviâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shoes: Alberto Premi

Eyewear: Design Digest Back Pack: Lapalombella Trousers: Studio Pretzel Shoes: ASICS TIGER Gel Lyte III 98

ATELIER ORAFO CREATIVO VIA MASCHERONI MILANO 99 www.fabiolissi.com

Bits & pieces

by Talita Savorani

This spring issue of Fashink Magazine starts with a household idea to renovate your rooms adding sticker and second skin, then letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move to fabric: new guest sets to welcome your friends the best that you can. Then something to refresh

yourself in this barely hot spring or after your training at the gym or a rush in the park with your dog, a new tribal tattooed energy drink! Amaze yourself with this new season and follow your favorite looks!

Wrap it up (.it) is a successful way to modernize your house and your car or scooter too. Have a look on the website and discover their car wrap and their scooter second skin with floral and tribal leitmotifs. Their door and wall stickers are recommended to give a new life to your bedroom and match that avant-garde bamboo bed framework? Or maybe to bring you to India with a tribal pattern on your main entrance door?

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What about purchase new bed linen for your guest room or your private double-bed bedroom? or maybe a new pillow for your sofa or a new towel set for a friend’s birthday gift? Surf on www.sininlinen.com and grab your new curtains, towels, kitchen linens, and pillows to renew your colors at home! Don’t forget http://www.cafepress.co.uk/ too, they offer a wide range of duvets and pillow cases from UK. Inked girls, 50’s pin-ups, old school drawings, portraitures and skulls: just grab the one you like the most! Thirsty after your daily workout? Enjoy the new energy drink by Mike Tyson and refresh yourself after a long day. Black is the newest energy drink with a special partner: it has got a tribal tattooed can and is available in 4 different versions: Mojito for your night out parties, SexEnergy to awake your senses with your partner, Sugar Free for your healthy diet and also in the Classic version. Black energy drink has a smart design and it’s sponsored by a famous testimonial, don’t miss his taste and charge up with new energy to keep on moving!

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goods

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1b.

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1a/b. White/Black Skull X Wallet €35,00 2. White Snap Back Spring Skull €40,00 3. Woman White T-Shirt €26,00 4. Pacific Pink Tank top €32,00 5. Man Baseball T-Shirt €28,00 (merchandise designed for Fashink by Sarah Ceccarelli) 103

Via Maestri Campionesi, 25 20135 Milan Italy e-Store: www.fcf.it mail: fcf@fcf.it 104

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FLASH OF THE SEASON

Stefan van der Laak

Aesthetic Outcast Tattoo Wormerveer (Netherlands)

FDF 107

NEXT ISSUE #04

JUNE FASH

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inked people for alternative fashion 108

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