The Evolution of the Ed Hardy Brand
Jun 21st, 2008 by Roisi Proven
What do Snoop Dogg and Sylvester Stallone have in common? Unfortunately it’s not a hot new musical collaboration. It’s a brand new line from a hot designer. He doesn’t work for Dolce and Gabbana, Burberry or Chanel, it’s Ed Hardy clothing, a brand new, original line from Christian Audigier.
Ed Hardy clothing was inspired by the man who also gave the line its name, the legendary tattoo artist, Don Ed Hardy. Known as “the godfather of modern tattoo” in many tattoo circles, Hardy’s blend of Japanese and American styles is highly sought after around the world.
Christian Audigier saw a fantastic marketing opportunity in Hardy’s tattoos. He approached Hardy in 2004 with a clothing line idea based on his artistic style. Hardy, knowing that Audigier had already designed for the likes of Urban Outfitters, Diesel and Von Dutch, knew that his work would be in good hands, and so granted the licence.
Ed Hardy clothing quickly became a sensation across the world, but nobody took to the new range more than Hollywood’s celebrity elite. Madonna wears Ed Hardy caps and t-shirts almost daily, and Britney Spears was recently filmed raiding the designer’s massive California warehouse.
Many argue that Audigier’s unique marketing style is the reason for all this success. If you consider how often celebrities are photographer, the amount of celebrity networking that Audigier participates in can lead to some lucrative opportunities. Rather than spending thousands of dollars securing celebs for marketing campaigns, he simply gives his newfound friends free merchandise. Audigier’s site even has a photo gallery full of pictures of famous clients wearing his newest designs.
However, this line isn’t only for Hollywood. With tops starting from between $57-$64 it’s actually fairly affordable as far as designer ranges go. It is also good to know that when you buy Ed Hardy clothing you’re buying an item that will stand the test of time, because when a line has been designed around a style of tattooing that has stayed in vogue for decades, it’s hard to imagine it going out of style any time soon.