From hot rods to tribal symbols, modern day pinstriping is one of the oldest and most universal styles, instantly recognizable, and with origins that can be traced throughout much of history and multiple cultures.
A pinstripe tattoo isn’t just an unconscious nod to our grittier ancestors, but a bold statement of one’s own baser instincts blending with edgy modern awareness.
From ancient ritual practices onward, the pinstripe design is evident everywhere, a unified expression of both communal identity and fierce individuality. The art of the line is everywhere, and at the same time no two bearers are the same. For some it’s an emboldened nod to speed, the rejection of “staying within the lines” and playing it safe, for others it’s a spiritual testament of one’s higher journey, the geometric course we each must follow to reach our ultimate destination.
Many have incorporated the pinstripe technique into innumerable tattoo forms, from the forearm to across the shoulder blades, and even running up the calf. Length and color vary, with some choosing the minimal over flamboyant, while others opt for intricate detailing and interwoven shapes and images. Each pinstripe motif tells a story of its own, albeit in the most elemental language.
At once elegant and brazenly extravagant, pinstripe tattoos evoke the patterning found on everything from ancient Greek chariots to Roman armor to Maori warrior markings–proof that we were each connected in our feats of brotherhood. The man who carries the pinstripe tattoo on his body makes no apologies, takes no abuse, and sees to it that others follow suit in similar style and courage.
