With today’s youth increasingly getting body art done for style and self expression, the time is just right for interested entrepreneurs to set up body art studios and organize this industry
Actor Angelina Jolie has over a dozen of them and soccer star David Beckham has a total of 15, including his wife Victoria’s name in Hindi. But think our Indian celebrities are out of the picture? Sanjay Dutt has a huge lion embossed on his arm.
Esha Deol carries the Gayatri Mantra on her back and the latest one to be a part of the tattoo mania is none other than Saif Ali Khan, with his lady love Kareena’s name inked right across his arm.
Not lagging behind is the trend of body piercing. So if Christina Aguilera can boast of 11 piercings on her body, our very own Momaith Khan (of the Dekh Le fame) beats her incomparably with a whopping 18 piercings, including her eyebrows and her navel. Lara Dutta and Antara Mali flaunt their navel rings, while Emraan Hashmi is never seen without that stud on his eyebrow.
Are only celebrities indulging in this emerging trend? Well, with 19% of India’s population falling in the 15-24 years age bracket, i.e. the segment of customers that dominates this business, and with the ever so increasing influence of celebrities on them, the craze is rapidly rubbing off on to the general public as well. India’s youth is using body art not only to make a fashion statement but also as a means of self-expression.
With several body art studios for tattoos, body piercings, temporary tattoos and even henna opening up in the country, this business is hotter than ever before. And thanks to the raging demand, and dearth of trained talent, there is scope for many such chains to be set up across the country.
Tattoos and Body Piercing Now and Then
Culturally, body art is not a new phenomenon to us. Most of us have seen our grandparents with an Om or Trishul tattooed on their hand. Women of that generation were also often seen with three black dots tattooed on their chin. Tattoos have also been common amongst certain tribes in India, where they were symbols of group loyalties and held a social importance. Says Arun Alva of Al’s Tattoo Parlor and Body Piercing Studio in Mumbai, “It’s a revival of an old art by Western culture. When this trend went abroad, better products and methods were introduced. Ink, for example, was black, made out of charcoal and mixed with water. The Westerners started using fruit and vegetable extracts, mixed it with glycerin and produced colored dyes.”
Similarly, body piercings have also been part of our history. Our grandmothers have had them, our mothers have them, and even now, children are taken to jewelry stores at a very young age, to get their ears and nose pierced. But while Indians largely restricted themselves to ears and nose piercing, the Westerners brought in the trend of piercing other body parts like the navel, eyebrows, chin, tongue, nipples and even the genitals (Ouch!).
Taking from these trends, the Indian tattoo and piercing industry, although still highly unorganized, is flourishing. “When customers see a proper studio, following the correct hygiene and safety protocols, they feel safe and don’t even mind paying a premium price. Yet, there aren’t many such parlors, perhaps because there aren’t any proper training schools in India for this art,” says Arun.
Karan Arora, owner of Ron Tattoos, a body art studio based in Delhi, adds, “I am also a dealer in tattoo and piercing equipment, and I easily manage to sell around seven machines in a month. Everyday, we get a new artist, who wants to train under us, which shows that there is a lot of interest being generated for the business. However, it is still a nascent industry and only time will tell who is eventually going to survive in the market.”
Know Your Art
There aren’t any fancy degrees needed to start this business. People in this industry have come from a number of diverse backgrounds. A basic knowledge of art and a steady hand is all you need and you are good to go!
Take Karan Arora for example. A trip to Bangkok is where it all began. “I got inspired by the tattoo culture over there and decided to buy a tattoo machine and inks for practicing,” says Karan. He then ordered a couple of CDs from abroad and constantly researched on the net, to learn more about the art. “My family and friends trusted me and were sporting enough to let me try tattooing on them for free and soon enough I realized that I wanted to take it up professionally.”
Karan has been in this business for two years now and does everything from body piercing, permanent and temporary tattoos, nail art and body painting. When we asked him what it takes to be in this business, he replies, “Getting tattoo and piercing equipment, including the machine, needles and inks is extremely easy, especially if you have relatives living abroad. But in the end, art talks! So it is essential for you to be a good artist.”
| DID YOU KNOW? The oldest tattoo was found on a 5000 year old frozen body of a Bronze Age hunter named Ozti. In order to seduce Mark Anthony, Cleopatra used henna to color her hair, lips and nails, and also as a perfume. Benjamin Drucker with 745 piercings is known to have the most number of body piercings. |
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by jhon mendonsa, May 06, 2010
written by Austi, September 16, 2009
written by kassim roy, June 22, 2009
so can you let me know any details about it, i want to know the investment and scope of business here in surat.
written by Arun Alva, October 12, 2008
everyone wants the best , something different meaningful etc .
its like childhood portrait to me , which i don wanna tear .i love my tattoo's
make sure you too get the best .
there should be aleast 3 to 4 tattoo artist , so that you get quality time .
the decesion is yours
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Hope visiting this page will grab your trust, all anyone really wants is a trustworthy supplier who they can count on to deliver on quickly, correctly, and top quality every time!