Ed Hardy @ Chockers

This Week Chockers welcomes the new brand Ed Hardy.

Here's a little background info on this trendy new brand:

Christian Audigier

Considered one of the most meteoric rises in fashion history, Christian Audigier has parlayed his design experience and business acumen to become a true fashion icon and entrepreneurial sensation in less than four years.  Through his collection of international companies, he has launched nine popular brands with over sixty licenses.  He oversees an international conglomerate of his designer brands, including Ed Hardy™, Christian Audigier™, SMET™, Crystal Rock™, most recently C-Bar-A™, Savoir Faire™, Evel Knievel ™, Rock Fabulous™, and Paco Chicano™; this includes US and international wholesale distribution, US retail stores, as well as international retail stores.

Christian made his mark throughout the fashion industry after a fortuitous start at MacKeen Jeans.  He has contributed to successful brands such as Diesel, Fiorucci, Bisou Bisou, Levi’s, NafNaf and American Outfitters.  Christian’s style is so distinctive that he is known as the “King of Jeans.” 

More recently, Christian threw his ingenuity behind Von Dutch™, where he catapulted the brand from obscurity into a household name. He single handedly created several trends, including the now famous trucker hat trend which could be seen on everyone from college students to high-profile celebrities. Christian was responsible for putting Von Dutch™ on the map, thus paving the way for his next great enterprise.

In 2004, Christian left Von Dutch™ and proceeded to create and launch the wildly popular Ed Hardy® brand.  He was granted the exclusive rights to the designs of Don Ed Hardy, who is commonly referred to as the “Godfather of Tattoo.”  With Ed Hardy®, Christian not only created a brand, but a lifestyle of street couture.

Christian has built a fervent following for his Ed Hardy® and the eponymous Christian Audigier™ brands. Celebrities such as Madonna, Britney Spears, and Kanye West, among others are frequently seen wearing his unique designs.  His celebrity following includes more than 5,000 celebrities, athletes and musicians of all genres.

 In 2008, Christian announced his latest venture, When I Move You Move™, the Trade Show, exclusively showcasing the entire family of Audigier brands.  Included are the more than 60 licensees who produce everything from jewelry, skateboards, chocolates, wine, water, vodka, and even air fresheners. 

Christian also branched out into the world of nightclubs, with the star-studded opening of Christian Audigier The Nightclub at Treasure Island, in Las Vegas.  His rock ‘n’ roll, glam-inspired style is celebrated throughout his namesake club, which includes works of art designed by Christian.  It has quickly become the hottest spot on the Las Vegas Strip.

Don Hardy

With 40 years of tattooing and legendary status among the tattoo community, Don Ed Hardy is known as "the godfather of modern tattoo", for his sophistication, depth and sense of experimentation. California native Don Ed Hardy is recognized around the world for his technical brilliance and mesmerizing imagery. Don Ed Hardy pulls from life experience to meld American, Japanese, Cholo, tattoo, surf and hotrod iconography. This broad spectrum of taste and experience, coupled with an ongoing investigation of various art histories and a mastery of technique, give his work a unique range and depth.

Don Ed Hardy is a painter, printmaker and tattoo artist. Fascinated by tattoos since childhood, Hardy has become a master of his craft while continuing his work in the more traditional mediums of painting and drawing.

In 2000, he completed a 500 foot long scroll painting of 2000 dragons in honor of the turn of the millennium and the Dragon year. The scroll has been exhibited at Track 16 Gallery, Santa Monica, The Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, the Cuenca Bienal in Ecuador and the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco. 

Don Ed Hardy curated the exhibition, "Pierced Hearts and True Love", which was shown at The Drawing Center in New York in September 1995 and traveled to several other museums. His work is represented in the collections of The Honolulu Academy of Art, The Contemporary Museum, Honolulu, The San Francisco Fine Arts Museum Achenbach Collection, and the University of Colorado Fine Art Galleries.

Next week the Ladies collection will be available at Chockers to buy and we can't wait!