Tees and Tats - Where East Meets West

Tattoo T-Shirts have always been a firm favourite in the graphic art t-shirt scene, and Tees and Tats (TeesAndTats.com), a relatively newcomer has recently released its first offerings, all of which have been designed by one of the world’s most celebrated tattoo artists, Marco Serio. Marco Serio began tattooing in a small town on the outskirts of Lisbon, Portugal. He always had a dream of building a reputation as a world class Japanese-style tattooist, before long Mario relocated to New York where he perfected his style further, garnering the admiration of both the global tattoo community and eventually the arts world as a whole.

As word spread throughout the close-knit New York arts scene, two forward thinking and highly ambitious modern Jewish Orthodox cousins (Jeremy and Ben Parker) hooked up with Marco and convinced him that his work was what the fashion industry had been waiting for. Mario spent considerable time designing each exclusive print at the prestigious Invisible NYC art gallery and tattoo studio on Orchard Street. As soon as the artwork was completed for the Parker brothers’ seven original and licensed t-shirt designs, commissioned specifically for Tees and Tats, Jeremy and Ben soon launched and began to promote their tattoo print collection of signature contemporary art shirts.

Jeremy in particular was proverbially ‘over the moon’ at the formation of the label ‘Tees and Tats’, having been fascinated by the intricacy and superb illustrative style of Eastern tattoo art. Soon the two fashion entrepreneurs continue to build the brand and showcase their revolutionary collection of high-art streetwear, setting a new standard, previously unseen in the industry. Every shirt is as I have stated, an original design, forming a fabulous and unique limited edition (700 numbered shirts for each design). Each tee is signed by the artist, printed to the most impeccable standards, made from the softest 100% combed ringspun cotton, and as you would expect, centred around Serio’s glorious Japanese tattoo artwork

Lion/dog design

Shishi (or Jishi) translates from Japanese as “lion” but can also refer to a deer or dog with magical properties and the power to repel evil spirits. As with all of the designs available at Tees and Tats, the attention to detail is purely focused on the back, allowing for a full ‘canvas’ to display the miraculous designs by Marco Serio to their fullest extent. Click the image to see an enlarged image of this beautifully rendered image.

It should be noted that Serio’s work is particularly influenced by original Japanese Samurai tattoos of the early 1800’s, which accounts for the lavishness and sumptuousness of line and colour, here’s another for your delectation.

The Zen t-shirt as with all of T&T’s shirts is limited to only 700 pieces, and I am in no doubt this will be one of their fastest sellers! The Tiger as Japanese symbol represents virtue and courage and was heavily adopted by Samurai nobility throughout their long and bloody history. Again a superb illustration, most certainly a masterful composition, as bold as they come! Alternative meanings for the tiger include revision, improvement and change, which I for one would interject that this piece needs none of the above!

The most explosive of Tees and Tats exclusive tattoo t-shirt the Triple S Skull Samurai Snake design, an absolute extravaganza of colour, line and texture.

Truly a great feat in design and indeed printing technique and ability, showing exactly how far Tees and Tats will go to prove their standing in the industry. The skull is a Japanese symbol for change and renewal, and of course death, which must be the greatest and most fearsome journey any self-respecting Samurai could venture towards.

Tees and Tats have a strong commitment to charitable organisations, and pay a percentage of its sales to the phenomenal charity Artworks: the Naomi Cohain Foundation. Artworks celebrates the creative spirit of children and young adults suffering from chronic and life-threatening illnesses, and their siblings, enabling access to creative and performing arts programming to encouraging artistic processes for empowerment, emotional and psychological healing, communication, self-expression, and personal development.

Which seems most apt considering that Serio designed this amazing series of T-shirts with the body in mind. The artwork is origianal and flows around the body like a tattoo. The result is an intricate, highly detailed piece of artwork from one of the greats of the tattoo art world. To see the rest of the limited edition collection visit TeesAndTats.com today.