Keely, Author at Things&Ink

December 8, 2015December 8, 2015

Meet MEAT

Meat is the new collaborative fashion venture of London based designers Alis Pelleschi and Bo Claridge. Specialising in rubber wear, the brand was born out of their belief that the material could transcend fetish-wear clichés. Reflecting the pair’s backgrounds as digital natives, Meat is a brand fully in tune with the internet. Not only in the inspiration they draw from online culture, but also in their adoptions of the internet as a presentation platform in itself. The ideology of Meat is to constantly evolve and reinvent itself with every season.

How did you start MEAT?

Alis Pelleschi: It happened quite organically out of our own desires to wear latex, but no-one was really making latex that suited our own styles. So Bo started making us pieces to go out to clubs in and stylists started requesting pieces. We suddenly realised that we’d found a gap in the market and it started from that. We both have different skills that compliment each other, so we’ve been pretty lucky that we can be as self-contained as we have been. And then along the way we’ve had so many lovely talented people help us achieve the MEAT dream. Neither of us have come from well off backgrounds, so we’ve had to do this on our own, off our own backs and we’re just genuinely really lucky to have talented friends and meatbabes around us!

How long has MEAT been running for?

AP: Three years. (Scary.)

Do you have a background in fashion?

AP: Neither of us studied fashion but we both came from studying Visual Communication. Before that I was shooting fashion editorials and knew the fashion and art world, whereas Bo came from the more art / tattooing world. So I knew what was needed to bring together these ideas and make a fashion brand. We both felt strongly that it wasn’t just about the clothes, we wanted to create this whole world via photography, video, ideas, music, stories and people.

What do you love about working with latex?

AP: Latex as a material is so futuristic to me and so sexy. It’s unlike any other material. There’s a reason why latex as a material gets fetishised, as it is so luxurious and unusual. There is nothing that makes me feel more sexy than slipping on a sexy latex dress. It’s empowering!

Do you guys have any tattoos?

AP: Bo has lots, she’s currently 2/3 way through a big back piece by our friend Stewart OC. I actually have no tattoos. I have up until now quite liked the idea of never having any, as I like being able to transform myself and evolve. However, I have been contemplating a few for a while. So planning to get my first tattoo in the new year.

What made you use Grace Neutral for you latest shoot?

AP: I’ve been fascinated with Grace for a long time… she is this perfect futuristic alien princess. She was actually one of the easiest models I’ve ever had to shoot as she is just so effortlessly beautiful and she’s super nice, so that helps. I really love the idea of a ‘meatbabe’ being anyone and making it your own and we like to use either hot friends or creatives we admire who are bold, full of self confidence and doing their thing. She has really honed in on her craft, it’s inspiring!

Meat clothing can be purchased via their website and they can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

December 1, 2015

Numbskulls.ink

Numbskulls.ink are a London based company producing fully tattoo-able anatomically accurate human sized skulls in high quality silicone rubber.

The silicone skull takes and holds tattoo ink permanently, providing the next best alternative surface to real skin. They can be used to perfect tattooing methods or to create and display unique works of art.

Custom designed skulls have been worked on by Toni Moore, Electric Pick and Greg Kun. There is also a collaboration in place with the Brighton Tattoo Convention early next year, to have approximately 10-15 skulls sent around the world to various top tattooists who are working at the show. These will then be displayed at the convention on the Numbskulls stand and auctioned off for the brain injury charity Headway.

Skull by Toni Moore

They can be contacted via their website at www.numbskulls.ink or find them on Facebook and Instagram

September 25, 2015

Innocent Bones Stitch

Gone are the days where anyone under the age of 80 would roll their eyes at the very thought of cross stitching. Cross stitch has become so popular that many crafters are beginning to think outside of the once constricted realms of what was deemed appropriate to cross stitch. Innocent Bones are redefining an era by providing kits that come with everything you need to create your very own fabulously rude cross stitch work of art.

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Not for the easily offended with kits that include ‘fuck,’ ‘bitch’ and ‘shit’…they are sure to bring many a laughter to any household and even Buzzfeed have jumped on the bandwagon and featured Innocent Bones in an article entitled “Accessories every sweary girl really fucking needs!”

The kits are available to buy via the Innocent Bones Etsy page here and you can also find more information on their Facebook page and Instagram as @_graceisobel

July 5, 2015July 9, 2015

Royal College of Art graduate develops a personal tattoo machine

Jakub Pollág, a Royal College of Art graduate has developed the Personal Tattoo Machine which allows users to create markings on their skin to be associated with memories and meanings, rather than art. “Personal Tattoo Machine democratises the tattoo industry,” he said. “It puts a tool used only by a limited group of people into the hands of enthusiasts, who are seeking an alternative and unique way to permanently mark their meaningful memories onto their skin.”

Pollág has some homemade tattoos on his own skin that he executed with a needle and ink, but he wanted to try and make this diy experience more “user friendly” and accessible. The same way that prisoners fashion tattoo machines out of found objects is what influenced Pollág’s design for his own machine.

Pollág allows only one thickness of needle and a much slower speed within the machine so that it allows the user to focus on what they are drawing…hopefully enabling more precision.

So far the machine prototype has been used to create 30 tattoos on 20 different subjects. However, Pollág still recommends visiting a professional parlour for more accurate designs. “This machine is not aiming to replace tattoo parlours,” he said. “It’s there to offer a more personal option. If you want a realistic portrait of your, let’s say, cat, you should still go to a tattoo parlour and not use this machine.”
Pollág is presenting his project at this years RCA graduate show in London which ends today, July 5th.

June 14, 2015June 14, 2015

You’re never too old to get some fresh ink

Great grandmother, Gwladys Wiliams, is the oldest person in the UK to go under the needle at the ripe old age of 94. She got two hearts and the words ‘Leri & Nain forever’ tattooed on her arm, as a tribute to one of her great grandchildren, next to a bunch of daffodils, which she had tattooed on her arm seven years ago.

Gwladys has a total of 58 grand children, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. She only became interested in tattoos in her later life. Her tattooist, Sascia Angel Marques, of Inkvasion in North Wales said that Gwladys was “hard as nails” and “hadn’t flinched once.”

Surrounded by pictures of her family in the comfort of her own home, Gwladys said that the tattoo had been surprisingly un-painful and said she was “happy” with the tattoo. When talking about why she wanted this tattoo as a tribute to her great grabddaughter: “I decided to have it done because I love her so much and I might not be here for so long.” Let’s hope this is a sign of more to come for Gwladys!