This post is a little different to what you'd usually see on my blog as it's been written by a lovely person and amazing writer, Emma.
Emma is a keen writer and
extremely interested in tattoos. She often writes about tattoo progression,
tattoo history, tattoo
machines and aftercare. If you'd like to get involved in these interests then visit the Barber DTS social networks:
Facebook | Google+ | Twitter | Pinterest
Facebook | Google+ | Twitter | Pinterest
When did people's opinions of tattoos
change? When did they move on from being associated with sailors, convicts,
gang member and unruly beings? When did they become more than scum and when did
they become cool, accepted and even fashionable? These are the questions when
it comes to tattoos and fashion.
Tattoos have actually been around
for centuries, the earliest examples dating back to 6000BC on a South American
Chinchorro Mummy in Peru. (Source
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tattoo#History) It wasn't however until 1769
aboard Captain Cook's voyage to the pacific that tattoos became largely
recognised. It was this journey that
brought his men face to with native Polynesians who tattooed each other's
bodies with exquisite patterns. Sir
Joseph Banks, the botanist on the ship began to question such motives and even
found himself experimenting with the idea. On the return home Banks and other
members of the crew found themselves sporting some of the Polynesian patterns
and in turn set a trend amongst other sailors. It became common for sea men to
have the likes of anchors, snakes, hula girls, ships and turtles inked onto
their skin whilst sailing or at the ports where some of the first tattoo parlours
were emerging. As well as sailors tattoos became common amongst convicts,
prostitutes and gang members but they were frowned upon by others and were
thought to be the marks of unruly people.
How times have changed since
then, today tattoos are seen almost every day on people of all kinds of
backgrounds, nationalities and ages. It has taken us some time to get to this
point as not many years have gone by since they were frowned upon in businesses
and on women. Although some businesses still don't allow tattoos, particularly
if they are on show many have shown a tolerance for them and some even thrive
off them. Tattoos are fitting in artistic surroundings where people paint, sculpt
and draw and a person's personality and vibe can reflect greatly on how
somebody with tattoos is seen. This doesn't mean to say that if you are none
artistic tattoos aren't for you.
It is quite common to see cat
walk models such as Cara Delevingne, Jourdan Dunn and Kate Moss showing off
their collections of body art and famous faces including David Beckham, Marc
Jacobs, Lady Gaga and Rihanna all have tattoos for us to see. Tattoos have
become something for us to look at and have become as much of a statement as
the clothes we wear. The media go crazy for tattoos as do fashion labels
looking to stand out and leave a lasting impression.
Tattoos allow a person to express
themselves and give other a sneaky snippet of what they are about. A lot can be
learned about a person through the ink they wear as tattoos are often meaningful
telling a story about a person. They are particularly expressive for cat walk
models as the tattoo allows people to see them as more than the designer's
vision. Without the ability to smile, choose their own makeup or walk how they
want to walk the tattoo gives them the ability to self-express and share
something personal to them with the rest of the world.
If you'd like to become a guest author for my blog then all the details are here, otherwise contact me via email- jessicalaurenhatcher@hotmail.com
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