In this blog post we take a look behind the scenes of Sullen Clothing. We want to give you an impression of the passion and credibility of the two best friends, Ryan Smith and Jeremy Hanna. At the end of the article you will also find some interesting interviews for your next coffee break.

To introduce the assortment of Sullen Clothing to you would be a waste of time. Because if you read this blog post, you know the tattoo fashion label from California for sure. If not, just have a look around in our online shop. We have a large assortment of Sullen Clothing t-shirts, hoodies, snapbacks, beanies and accessories. You will always find the latest collections of Sullen Clothing.

To the Sullen Clothing assortment

The beginnings of the Tattoo Fashion Brand, Sullen Clothing. 

Ryan was already an experienced tattoo artist with a very good reputation and a large network of colleagues. When Ryan and Jeremy went to one of the numerous tattoo conventions, they noticed that there is no tattoo fashion brand that authentically conveys the lifestyle, attitude and subculture of tattooing. And so they decided to build exactly that: An authentic tattoo fashion label.

There was no lack of creative and cool designs for their first t-shirts. Ryan, who is an artist himself, of course created many designs himself and many tattooists from her circle of friends supported them with their motifs from the beginning. The challenge was rather to make their brand known for tattoo fashion. This was especially difficult because the two of them didn't have much budget for advertising and because there were no social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook at that time. In many interviews they told how they used to drive off half of California at night, dressed completely in black, and put their stickers everywhere.

During our research we found the following two Youtube videos. In the videos you can find out directly from Ryan and Jeremy how it all began. The videos are a bit older, but they contain great footage from the early days of Sullen Clothing. You get a good impression of the passion and credibility of the tattoo fashion brand from California.

How the Sullen Clothing family grew up.

From the beginning Ryan and Jeremy focused on collaborations with known and unknown tattoo artists as well. The fact that international celebrities such as Tom Berg, Carlos Torres, and Nikko Hurtado were the first tattoo artists to offer their art for T-shirts was mainly due to the authenticity and credibility of Jeremy and Ryan. The top tattooists quickly realized that the two Sullen boys shared the same values and ideas for tattooing as an art form right from the beginning of their success story. Sullen Clothing brought the necessary respect for the pioneers of tattooing and for the craft itself and was not just looking for the quick money in the tattoo industry.

The list of tattooists who belong to the Sullen family is endless. But of course we would like to mention at least a few of the artists: Steve Butcher, Yomico, Norm, Big Sleeps, Randy Engelhard, Ralf Nonnweiler, Benjamin Laukis, Stefano Alcantera, Joe Capobianco and Jojo Ackermann.

When working with the tattoo artists, it was and is important to Ryan and Jeremy to always take good care of their artists and give back at least as much as they got. Because the two know to whom they owe their success. And so the two of them use many different ways to give back the reach they were able to build up through their artists in the first place. Sullen Clothing operates a very successful YouTube channel, produces the podcast, Under the Skin, and is involved in many tattoo and art projects to promote and preserve the art form of tattooing.

To the Sullen TV YouTube channel

To the Sullen Podcast at Spotify

Through this honest commitment to tattooing, Ryan Smith and Jeremy Hanna also enjoy the respect of tattoo pioneers who have been influencing the tattoo scene for 40 years or more. And this although they are successful with their tattoo fashion worldwide in a mainstream market. The following video, for example, provides an interesting insight, in which the tattoo icon, Rick Walters, was available for a Sullen interview.

A selection of Sullen TV interviews for your next coffee break.

In the following we have selected a few videos from the "Under the Skin" podcast series that we liked especially well. Make yourself comfortable with a cup of coffee, tea or beer and lean back.

Ryan Smith and Jeremy Hanna introduce themselves and their podcast:

Sullen Family Artists of the first hour, Carlos Torres and Nikko Hurtado, in interview:

Jack Rudy, Joe Capobianco, Jim Sylvia and Carlos Torres in an interview

Nathan Evans Franco Vescovi Mike Devries Stefano Alcantara in interview: