The clothing line was created by two designers from Russia--now living in Brooklyn--who are inspired by the tattoos from the 40s through the 70s found on prisoners in their homeland. While the clothing designs are largely interpretations of the prison art, some stay true to the original tattoos -- but without the the affiliation with any criminal organization or code.
As I mentioned in our holiday gift guide, when I first found out about MIR, I dig the stories and history behind the designs offered on their site. For example, the Lenin
portrait with BOP underneath comes with this explanation:
"This
particular one was a popular anti-authority tattoo but it has
double meaning as do many other tattoos from that era. The letters
underneath Lenin spell VOR, the Russian word for thief (which Lenin
definitely was). But the letters are also an acronym that stand for
Leader of October Revolution. So if an inmate was hassled by
administration, he could always state that he was just really
patriotic."
I have the "Free
Woman" dress in black symbolizing "a woman that did not belong to
any gang and followed only her own rules inside and outside of prison."
You can also custom make your own Russian Criminal Tattoo clothes as well.
Choose your favorite designs and the item you want them on, send them a message, and
you'll get a price quote back.
For standard items, tees & tanks start at $20, dresses at $40, and hoodies (front, back and sleeve
design) start at $50.
As I always note, please support our advertisers so we can continue to keep giving ya the tattoo goodness for free.
Photographer Julian Murray is shooting a series that will appeal to tattoo and mollusk fetishists alike-- and how often can one claim to say that.
Tattoos & Tentacles is a photo project with the end goal of collecting the images in a coffee table book and presenting the work at fine art galleries and tattoo conventions. Julian has about 15 shoots done, which you can see more of at JulianMurrayPhoto.com (many NSFW).
The crew would like to get about 40-50 more shoots for the project and are looking for more tattooed men and women to throw octopi on. If you're interested, submit photos of ya fine selves "in all your tattooed glory" to julian@julianmurrayphoto.com.
I think I've only done one Needles and Sins Public Service Announcement, probably around this time last year, so I guess we're due for one. Let's call it an anniversary PSA.
I should first define what a PSA is, I guess. According to Wikipedia, knower of all things, "a typical PSA is
part of a public awareness campaign to inform or educate the
public about an issue such as smoking or compulsive gambling."
We'd like to address these very issues here. Our message is this:
Smoking, compulsive gambling as well as excessive drinking can be very expensive. Server fees, travel expenses to conventions, and the cost of our events and swag aside, the real cost of bringing you this content for free is our bar tabs, bookies and a love story that takes place inside a pack of Camels.
Our advertisers are our enablers.
We are selective, however, as to who gets the job of making our lives a cautionary tale. Our latest advertiser is Eikon Device Tattoo Equipment & Supply. They paid for the post below. Now, we've been approached by a number of tattoo supply companies who've wanted to advertise, and we turned them down because we couldn't vouch for their stuff--and thus, risk steering you the wrong way so that you never return here. [We also have abandonment issues.] But Eikon has been around for over 13 years. I watched Dan DiMattia make his needles using only Eikon (later switching to their pre-made) and so I knew that top tattooers trusted them. And if Eikon takes money from top tattooists, we'll take Eikon's money and promote top tattooists. The circle is complete.
Yes, all this text above is simply to say: Please support our advertisers.
I know, WTF. We could've just asked at the start and avoided the verbal foreplay.
One more thing: If you'd like to support N+S beyond advertising, you can throw something in our virtual tip jar. If 180 of you gave just a dollar, that would pay for our switch over to a new and reliable server, for example. You can donate by clicking the button below.
The following is a post sponsored by Eikon Device, providers of Tattoo Supplies.
Eikon Device is a leading manufacturer and online distributor of tattoo supplies and equipment. Initially formed in 1994 to research and develop tattoo needles, Eikon Device expanded its scope in 1997 to focus on the technical aspects of tattooing. This change
marked the beginning of many published papers as well as two tattoo inventions: the Eikon Meter and Tru-Spring armature bars.
The success of Eikon Device is largely due to its foundation in science and research. Their continuous focus on tattooing techniques, safety issues and product quality helps tattoo artists make better choices about products and practices.
Eikon Device offers a full catalog of tattoo supplies and equipment:
* Tattoo machines, from FK Irons to Neuma machines and supplies; * Tattoo ink in five great choices for color: Eternal Ink, Silverback Ink and
Fantasia from the USA; Classic Color from Australia; and Dermaglo from
the U.K.; * Tattoo power supplies and equipment including tips, grips and tubes (incl. disposable); * Needles are offered pre-made or you can choose supplies to solder your own; * Disposable medical supplies, from dental bibs and ink caps to tape and bandages; * Art supplies like tracing paper and drawing ink--and at a better price than most art
stores
Additionally, it has a
sizable library of research and educational information as well as art books including the recently released Tattoo Prodigies.
Eikon Device will soon be re-launching their website making online purchasing even easier.
About two weeks ago, I was sitting in the lounge of a midtown Manhattan voice-over studio, wrestling furiously with the typography and liner-notes for the next Lapdance Academy release. There was another guy sitting on the couch across from me, also on a MacBook, messing about with FinalCut Pro and calmly giving direction to an editor on the other end of the iPhone tethered to his ear. We didn't speak; with a simple nod and a smile, we made it clear to each other that we were busy.
I later found out it was the director Robert Rodriguez and he was there to record a few lines for a popular animated series on Fox. I really shoulda struck up a conversation. Anyway...
Today, Ain't It Cool News linked to the trailer his new film, Machete. Rodriguez's latest homage to B-movies stars his cousin and everyone's favorite tattooed, Mexican bad-ass - who proudly sports the massive bandita tattoo on his chest, voted the "Most Recognizable Tattoo In The World" by International Tattoo magazine - Danny Trejo.
I won't speculate on that one, but I will say that I have the utmost respect for Trejo and his humble outlook on his acting career. As he told the Guardian UK:
From 1985, when I first started, to 1990, I did a shitload of B-movies about prisons. They would always say, "Get that Mexican guy with the big tattoo." I'd show up and I'd have one line, like, "Kill 'em all!" or somethin'.
Plus, the trailer for this film looks totally. Friggen. Sweet.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Felicidades a todos! Bebe mucho, pero con cuidado!
'In what will be his first solo presentation of his works in New York
City, Scott Campbell will showcase his unique aesthetic via sculptures,
paintings and drawings. Campbell has taken the blue collar grit and
lore of tattoo culture and extracted a visual language and wit that are
supremely refined and deliberate. His uncanny ability to tell a story
with any medium, flesh or otherwise, will be on display for his
upcoming exhibition, If You Don't Belong, Don't Be Long, which will feature all new work.'
Arrive early and be sure to check out the exhibit in about 2 weeks at OHWOW (109 Crosby Street). Opening reception Thursday, April 29th, 2010 from 6 PM - 8 PM- on view until May 30th.
Finally, a scientific breakthrough for those wanting sick tats but just can't commit to getting tatted up because they don't know what hot ink they want because, ya know, tatties aren't just for sailors, bikers and criminals anymore ...
"The uses of a moodInq tattoo are endless. Going home to visit Mom &
Dad? Run the wand over your lower back and remove that "tramp stamp"
your parents forbid you to get. Need to impress a hot date? Prove you're
a man with family values when you show up with your MOM tattoo. Need a
green way to keep a grocery list or note to self? Tattoo it on your arm!
Are you good enough, smart enough, and gosh-darn-it-people-like-you?
Tattoo your favorite affirmations and get through those rough days with
ease. The moodInq lets you change your tattoo to suit your mood!"
With moodInq, I can instantly go from boardroom to barroom without having to worry about employment discrimination against the modded (because I'm all about the right to bare neck and knuckle ink with abandon. FTW!!).
Order moodInq online or get the limited edition Kat Von D line of changeable tat designs at Sephora.
I don't try to have 'a flowing design sleeve,' that's all going to run into each other. I just really want to look like my grandfather, right when he got out of the brig in 1946. --Jesse "The Devil" Hughes
What do Sailor Jerry, Jesse Hughes of Eagles of Death Metal and Eastwood Guitars have in common? I'm not quite too sure, myself - other than the obvious response that Jesse has an extensive collection of traditional, Americana tattoos; he wrote a song about Kat Von D; and he also plays guitar (albeit, mostly in open-tuning).
But the good news is that all three have banded together for a contest in which you can win an Eastwood Airlines RS-II guitar that's been signed by all the touring members of the Eagles of Death Metal - Jesse, Dave Catching, Brian "Big Hands" O'Connor and Joey Castillo.
So, while it will decrease my own chances of winning this hollow-bodied piece of single-coil retrotasticulousness, I feel the need to encourage all of you to enter by filling out this form.
We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog blather for announcements of vital importance.
First, we're having another art event, and while we'd love to send out those "Save the Date" magnets that creative couples mail out for their big day, it seemed ill fitting considering the work being shown: Nathaniel Shannon's live, candid music photography of bands like the Dillinger Escape Plan, Pentagram and GWAR. A better reminder would be to punch yourself in the face really hard right now, and by the time the bruising goes away, that's when the show will open. April 3rd. At the most wonderful Sacred Gallery. I'll soon be doing a full post on the event -- entitled While the Others Were Sleeping -- but for a preview, click here.
And to get yourself in the right frame of mind for the exhibit, join us for some live metal this Saturday, March 20th, on Manhattan's Lower East Side at The Local 269 for the SOS and Friends Show featuring our own Brian Grosz and his stoner metal outfit Dogs of Winter. This is one of the last remaining gigs for the Dogs so bring your $8 cover and throw your horns high. They should jump on stage around 10PM. The remaining shows are at Cousin Larry's in Danbury, CT for the SubRosa Party on April 9th, and April 14th in Brooklyn at Public Assembly for the Hipsterwrecktomy party.
For the wordsmith set, I have another call for submissions from the tattoo and poetry journal Holly Rose Review. The journal editors are looking for tattoo images that evoke the theme of their fourth issue: Worry. For more information on submitting tattoo work for this issue, click here or join their Facebook page.
