Throughout this history, the way in which inked bodies have been perceived has been dynamic and is ever changing, influenced by socio-economic standings, geography, age, and repeated disputes as to what they actually represent. Over time and place they have been used as a symbol of individuality, marks of rank, emblems of shame or badges of distinction. This gives them thousands of ways to be interpreted. Whilst it is undoubtable that, in one iteration or another, tattoos have been omnipresent throughout history, it is only in recent times they have begun to emerge and be incorporated within mainstream fashion.
For decades, the models who walk the world’s most iconic runways have been blank slates, immaculate and unmarked by any scars, certainly without tattoos. Inked bodies had no place in the world of fashion - that is until Issey Miyake sent shock waves throughout the industry upon the unveiling of his formative autumn/winter tattoo collection in New York in 1971.
Undoubtably one of the most important works of Miyake's early days, in 1971, he unveiled a jersey dress named "Tattoo", featuring a print modelled after Japanese-style tattoos. For once, the models were not clean slates bur vibrant and detailed pallets of intricated, interweaving designs. The collection was a crossover of rock, tattoos, and the contemporary youth culture, and importantly, everything high fashion had never been before.
The growing emergence of tattoos did not stop there. That which brought the debate of tattoos as a fashion accessory beyond the world of runways was David Beckham braving the needle and debuting his first piece of ink in 1999 when he was playing for Man United. This was a key moment in the normalisation of tattoo art. Previously, tattoos (for the everyday person) tended to be associated with discrepant behaviour and gang culture and certainly not something adopted by the average person as they are today. Football was one of the first industries to embrace tattoos and Beckhams collection certainly had a hand in bringing them into the cultural mainstream. With his position of wealth and financial stability, Beckham along with his fellow footballers were some of the first people free from the stereotypes of tattoos, not having to worry about them thwarting future career prospects, and in 2024, it is rare to see a player without any.
Over the past 20 years, tattoos have continued to become normalised amongst other celebrities as well as everyday people and accessible tattoo parlours are now commonplace amongst the high street.
Their emergence within the mainstream however has not dwindled the debates that surround them. Even in 2024, those who are heavily tattooed are victims of discrimination in fields such as perusing certain corporate or caring positions due to the stigma that surrounds them of being ‘unprofessional’, ‘tacky’ or even the belief that they are still a symbol of gang culture.
Additionally, on social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, many have employed the iconic Kim Kardashian quote 'would you put a bumper sticker on a Bentley?' when asked why she hasn’t dabbled in the art of inking. However, as of October 2021, the trend lost much credit when the fashion icon, typically not a fan of tattoos, left fans astonished by unveiling her ink in a 2023 episode of “The Kardashians”. In an open discussion with her hairstylist, Chris Appleton, Kim revealed that she discreetly got a tattoo following her hosting stint on Saturday Night Live (SNL) in October 2021. So perhaps it is okay to put a bumper sticker on a Bentley.
Younger generations seem to be favouring fine line tattoos or patchwork sleeves, both more simplistic and minimal options to the traditional, heavy-duty sleeve design. Perhaps this is a sign that tattoos are now acceptable within fashion, and this is just the current trend or perhaps it suggests that people still have to be cautious about the stigmas surrounding tattoos and therefore are inclined to go with that which seems less out there than what we typically know of tattoos.
Whether you have tattoos or not, like them or not or believe they are now acceptable or not, they are a key part of fashion history and history in general and it will certainly be interesting to see how attitudes towards them continue to develop into the future.
