Tatted up: 'Fashion of Flesh' runway show held in Pittsburgh
Hip at the Flashlight Factory on Pittsburgh’s North Side was full of color.
More than 150 people attended “The Fashion of Flesh” fashion show at the venue on West North Avenue. The first-ever runway event Wednesday evening, part of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, showcased local tattoo art on models.
The show was produced by Squirrel Hill native T.J. Harris, owner of BC1ofaKind. He said models with tattoos have been prohibited from being in fashion shows, but he hoped to change that.
Prior to the show, 20 models — male and female— posed throughout the venue.
“The show went amazingly well,” Harris said. “The designers created some great looks and the models were covered in some amazing tattoos.”
Harris’ mother Sandi Jason Johnson was a proud attendee. “T.J. has worked so hard to bring this show to Pittsburgh,” she said.
Sandi Jason Johnson, mother of producer TJ Harris, is honored to represent Pittsburgh and believes that "fashion is not only in the eye of the beholder, but the eye of the beholder needs to be reopened, to what we wear [tattoos] speaks of who we are." https://t.co/EwjcDmfY7m pic.twitter.com/jjip7DbUSD
— Pittsburgh Fashion Week (@PGHFW) September 30, 2019
Harris said he wanted to have the models showcase their tattoos. He had designers create looks for each which complemented their tattoos.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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