Blog By Knight
Ed Hardy, Too much Ain’t Enough…. Or is it?

It has really gone way too far when TJ Max has a bunch of Ed hardy Tee Shirts on sale for ten dollars and then Dillards has an over the top display of three hundred dollar Ed Hardy Handbags. Now the thing is, I like Ed Hardy and I love his designs but when it comes to the point that women from the burbs are buying three hundred dollar handbags, I’m done. It’s just lost its itsness.

I have been collecting tattoo art for years. I have a little tattoo on my belly from way back in the day. It was suppose to be three little shooting stars but it hurt so much that I am lucky I have even one whole star. So, instead of collecting tattoos, I have collected pictures of tattoos and find it much less painful.

Ed Hardy’s work is particularly wonderful. Born in 1945, Hardy got a BFA in printmaking from the San Fransisco Art Institute in 1967 and simultaneously apprenticed as a tattoo artist. Although retired himself from tattooing he maintains a studio, Tattoo City in San Fransisco where younger artists carry on his tattoo legacy. Hardy and his wife, Fransesca Passalacque, have written over twenty-five books on alternative art and he shows and curates exhibitions of his fine art work and that of others for museums and universities. On top of all that Don Ed Hardy is a really nice and humble, man. I saw a video with him being interviewed at one of his art exhibitions where he talks about being blown away at the success of his Brand and how excited he was to meet and get Queen Latiffa’s autograph at the Ed Hardy Store.

In 2004, Christian Audigier, formerly of Von Dutch Originals, licensed the rights from Hardy to produce the Ed hardy clothing line based on his imagery. This French guy, Audigier is one of those “in the know” people that knows the right people and he has sky rocketed Hardy’s line.

Shortly after they came out, I bought a couple of Ed Hardy tee shirts. They were great and especially so since they didn’t involve needles or bloodshed. But sorry Ed, I think Christian has taken this thing way too far. Hardy designs are now on men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, shoes, watches, belts, scarves fragrances, wine and even something called Structured Water, sold in Whole Foods!

I watched a video of an Ed Hardy store manager being interviewed and she is going on and on about everyone who is wearing the Ed Hardy line. At one point, not knowing what she is saying, she raves about how great it is that wrestlers, like the Hogan family, wear Ed Hardy. . .

like its going out of style.

Well I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, by the time your brand is both on sale in TJ Max and women in the burbs are buying your three hundred dollar handbags, it really is going out of style and the party is over. Rest in peace.

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