Head designer Dawn Green gives us the brand lowdown.
Can you talk us through the brand ethos?
Horiyoshi the Third is a collection of contemporary clothing with a very refined tattoo twist inspired by the legendary tattoo master Horiyoshi III. The collection offers a glance into his artistic domain through outstandingly crafted garments that are strewn with his illustrative prowess. All items are produced in Japan on
a limited run basis to ensure exclusivity and authenticity of the brand.
What is it about tattoo master Horiyoshi III’s work that makes
his style so coveted?
Horiyoshi III is a true artist – he tattoos freehand directly onto the skin with just a stroke of watercolour as direction for placement. He switches between the machine drill he uses to outline on to the body (normally tattooists make rough sketches before committing their design to the skin) and the tebori (a long bamboo stick with 40 needles), a hand-poke technique with which he adds vivid colours to his canvas.
The pieces you make are unique in their intricacy and quality. What is the design process?
Using a catalogue of illustrations, paintings, tattoos and original artwork that Horiyoshi III provides especially for us each season we re-work the imagery for each particular style, all meticulously embellished with the artist’s idiogrammatic signature and mystical tattoo emblems. The pieces are then made with fabrics sourced in Japan and Italy using the finest yarns and fabrics for a luxurious feel.
How does the Japanese tattoo tradition differ from its ‘Western’ counterpart?
There are a lot of tattoo cultures all over the world but Japanese tattoo culture is a bit different from the others as they consider the body to be one canvas that is designed to be one work. It is not only decoration, it has unique techniques and styles, and each motif has meaning in its design.
How do you think the tattoo’s social stigma has changed over the years?
The world of Japanese tattooing is still a veiled one, rarely displayed in public. A conservative tailored suit might well conceal a far more flamboyant bodysuit – tattoos are condemned even by the more moderate members of Japanese society, forcing their wearers underground. Horyoshi III is keen to stress one thing: “I would like people to lose their prejudice against tattooing. I would like people to accept it. I don’t want people to think of it lightly. I would like them to see the essence of the art.”
thethiiird.com
twitter.com/horiyoshiIII
Horiyoshi III is a true artist – he tattoos freehand directly onto the skin with just a stroke of watercolour as direction for placement. He switches between the machine drill he uses to outline on to the body (normally tattooists make rough sketches before committing their design to the skin) and the tebori (a long bamboo stick with 40 needles), a hand-poke technique with which he adds vivid colours to his canvas.
The pieces you make are unique in their intricacy and quality. What is the design process?
Using a catalogue of illustrations, paintings, tattoos and original artwork that Horiyoshi III provides especially for us each season we re-work the imagery for each particular style, all meticulously embellished with the artist’s idiogrammatic signature and mystical tattoo emblems. The pieces are then made with fabrics sourced in Japan and Italy using the finest yarns and fabrics for a luxurious feel.
How does the Japanese tattoo tradition differ from its ‘Western’ counterpart?
There are a lot of tattoo cultures all over the world but Japanese tattoo culture is a bit different from the others as they consider the body to be one canvas that is designed to be one work. It is not only decoration, it has unique techniques and styles, and each motif has meaning in its design.How do you think the tattoo’s social stigma has changed over the years?
The world of Japanese tattooing is still a veiled one, rarely displayed in public. A conservative tailored suit might well conceal a far more flamboyant bodysuit – tattoos are condemned even by the more moderate members of Japanese society, forcing their wearers underground. Horyoshi III is keen to stress one thing: “I would like people to lose their prejudice against tattooing. I would like people to accept it. I don’t want people to think of it lightly. I would like them to see the essence of the art.”
thethiiird.com
twitter.com/horiyoshiIII
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