The new Tod’s limited edition Tattoo bag is the latest in fashion’s long love affair with body art. The Italian brand collaborated with London-based celebrity tattoo artist Saira Hunjan for this unique project. Hunjan began tattooing at a South London tattoo studio when she was just 14. Over time, she became known for her artworks of Indian goddesses and mythological creatures. Kate Moss, Katy England, Jude Law, and Sam Taylor-Johnson are some of her dedicated clients, and she now has a two-year long wait list.
“I knew that Tod’s was a luxury brand,” says Hunjan, “but I hadn’t thought of them being associated with tattoos.” The label timed the launch of this special capsule collection-there are five different artworks available to choose from, and all are actually tattooed onto the leather-with the reopening of their Old Bond Street store in London.
“I created a hybrid creature… I evolved the lion’s body into a dragon or serpent, its paws are sometimes clutching at a pierced heart surrounded by its dragon breath. I felt it was important to treat the bag as I would a human body, and really take into consideration each angle it would be viewed from,” says Hunjan. Along with experts at Tod’s, Hunjan explored a variety of leathers with textures as close as possible to human skin before picking vacchetta, an Italian cow hide that is the least-treated and processed, as well as one of the most expensive ones kinds available. It absorbs very little ink, and keeps the artwork precise and dry. While working on the sketches and transferring the image on the bag took about two to three days, working with on the hide itself took Hunjan about 24 hours per piece.
