INKED ANATOMY:

WOMEN OWNED & WOMEN OPERATED TATTOO STUDIO CREATING SAFE SPACES FOR WOMEN

Imagine my surprise and excitement when someone told me about the all female-run and owned tattoo shop here in our hometown. And then I found out about the work they do for women recovering from breast cancer… free tattoos for them to make them feel “normal” again. Cue the waterworks.

Being a lover of tattoos and people who care about others, I had to meet the owner. When I walked into Inked Anatomy I was greeted by three women, and looked around at the inviting waiting area. Once in the owner’s studio space, I saw all the awards on the walls.

As the owner, Sai, and I talked, I knew I was getting my next tattoo here and made an appointment immediately. And of course, the tattoo will be for my daughter. Women support women, you know?

I’d like to introduce you to Sai Machain, owner of Inked Anatomy. At Inked Anatomy they offer so much more than standard tattoos. The artists also offer permanent makeup, and as I mentioned, free services for breast cancer survivors. I have never met such a compassionate and caring person in Sai, and realized that we had much more in common than I would have ever known.

What has lead you to your current career path?

I really like to challenge myself and to prove my fear wrong. The fear of “No, you can’t do this,” or the voice that says, “You are a woman, who do you think you are?” takes up space in my head but then I think about the opportunity I am missing out on because of those voices. Tattooing is a male dominated field, though women are making strides in recent years. I wanted to be part of that metamorphous. I love bringing people’s stories to life through body art, so I quieted the voices, honed my skills and took the leap.

What inspired you to start your business?

I realized while I enjoyed working for others, I had dreams of creating a space for people to feel safe to tell their stories behind the tattoos they were requesting. I enjoy putting myself in their shoes and to really understand and connect with those stories. When I can connect it impacts the artwork I create for them. Much of my art is bringing their story to life on their body and to see their reactions is so heartwarming and rewarding. I have such a sense of pride. They will have this art for life. I realized I wanted everyone to feel that pride and by opening my own shop, I had control over the environment I was creating for my team and our clients. It’s more than a transaction. It’s about building relationships.

What does your business do and what is its mission?

We are in the business of body art: tattooing, permanent makeups and medical tattoos. But while we do this, our true mission is to create a space where everyone who enters through our doors feels safe and cared for, and leaves proud of the art they purchased. We believe in listening and learning from our clients and each other and then, bringing that vision to life. It’s not ‘just a job’, but we are motivated by consistently doing quality work and having fun being creative in the process. When we care and create a safe space, we build trust among the team and our clients, and they become our best ambassadors.

Tell us more about your medical tattooing you are doing for people in the community.

Beyond our typical tattoos, I started doing medical tattooing to hide scars, and build new areolas for women who had their breasts removed due to cancer. It’s devastating when you get that diagnosis, and it can erode a woman’s confidence and sense of self. Helping women feel beautiful despite losing a breast is incredibly rewarding. Tattooing may be what we do, but caring about people and their stories is why we do it.

Would you wish to acknowledge a mentor or friend who helped you aspire to this point in your life’s journey, and why?

My family was helping me with my struggles. By giving me advice and guidance to a better direction they helped me believe in myself and that I would make everything work to achieve my goal. I know life in general can be hard, but if you are surrendering yourself with the right people it makes the whole world feel better.

What is the best advice you have received?

Trust yourself first. I’ve been given good, and not so good, advice and I had to sit quiet with that and listen to my instincts. I ask myself – what can I learn from the advice? Is it going to help me or is it meant to hold me back? When we tell ourselves stories that we can’t or shouldn’t, we often dismiss that our instincts are often right on target. It doesn’t mean I have all the answers, but I need to trust that I know the path to take to become knowledgeable and grow my skills, or whatever it is I need and at the end of the day, it’s my journey and I am the only one responsible for its legacy.

What advice do you have for women who are considering starting their own business?

• Set goals and motivate yourself every day to do something toward those goals, even if it’s small.

• Create alignment between your head and heart – have good processes in place and put relationships and safety first, physical and emotional.

• If you are building a team, communicate clearly that your mission and values are what drives you.

• Set healthy boundaries for yourself and your team and be a good example for your workers. Inspire them to take challenges and build in ways to give back to your community.

How can women support each other in such big endeavors?

Stand up for women! Share your personal goals and opportunities. Help create supportive, learning and development programs. Offer mentors and encourage skills. Celebrate each other’s efforts and acknowledge gratitude to each other for that support.

How do you stay grounded?

Get some fresh air. Painting and listening to great tunes allow me to escape and quiet my mind. I practice self-compassion. I’m not afraid to reach out to those I trust and respect when I need someone to talk to who can help me sort through the challenges.

Follow Inked Anatomy on social media at @inkedanatamonytattoo or visit them at 3811 Perkiomen Ave, Reading, PA 19606.

By Rachael Romig – Senior Director, Events & Special Programs (GRCA) Photo courtesy of Zerbe Photography