If you happen to hit the malls this season, you can’t miss the stylings of the now-infamous tattooist Don Ed Hardy and fashion designer Christian Audigier (formerly of Von Dutch and Affliction Clothing). I admire their artistic talents and marketing genius. Tattoo artwork has become part of mainstream culture in recent years and the partnership of Ed and Christian has elevated the style to star status. The products range from clothing to shoes, perfume, bags, jewelry, and other accessories.

One of the most impressive displays of Ed Hardy’s talent was at the San Francisco Yerba Buena Center in 2002–a 500 foot long dragon scroll painting–it was beautiful seeing it in person as it became a sensory experience, wrapping around itself like a dragon’s body.