100 Most Influential People in Fashion

Fashion Influential #64: Sailor Jerry

NORMAN "SAILOR JERRY" COLLINS
Born: 1911
Died: 1973
Fans: Don Ed Hardy, Cliff Raven, Don Nolan, Mike "Rollo Banks" Malone, Amy Winehouse
Beginnings.
Norman “Sailor Jerry” Collins was an adventurer, an artist and, unsurprisingly, an actual sailor. He enlisted in the US Navy when he was 19, and, during his travel in Southeast Asia, became fascinated with the mystique of the culture and art.

Career high.
Though the specifics are unclear, Sailor Jerry only tattooed for 12 years (give or take). But in that time, he opened a studio in Honolulu’s Chinatown – also known as the Tattoo District – the only place on the island that you could get tattooed, and, incidentally, hookers, cheap booze, fist fights, etc. The bold nuance of his tattoos took off and was widely copied. But few could capture the simplicity, optimism, honesty and humor of a Sailor Jerry original.
Reason #7 For Not Getting a Tattoo: People will know you are running your own life, instead of listening to them!
- "Sailor Jerry" Collins

What? You haven't tried Ed Hardy's energy drink!?
Career Low.
Sailor Jerry entrusted his name and artwork to two of his protégés, Ed Hardy and Mike Malone. Malone, who tattooed under the name "Rollo Banks," died in 2007 from an apparent self-inflected gunshot wound to the head. While Sailor Jerry rallied hard his entire life against flashy tattoo artists like Lyle Tuttle and what he called “hippie tattoos,” within a year of Malone’s death, Ed Hardy's began appearing shamelessly all over the douchiest clubbers Los Angeles has to offer. Until the Ed Hardy trend passes, those with original Sailor Jerry tattoos are no doubt wearing long sleeves.

Legacy.
Sailor Jerry might have been the first real greaser. Around Honolulu back in the 1930s, he was there, his hair oiled into an asymmetrical pompadour, tattoos flying from beneath a crisp white t-shirt, stiff Levi red tabs cuffed at the boot, wallet chain dangling. Remind you of anyone?

Sailor Jerry in his studio.
Get the look.
Takes commitment folks, but you can do it if you’re so inclined. The best place to start is by going to www.sailorjerry.com and find a tattoo shop near you. The tattoos are classics and if worn properly with the right balance of attitude and style, you won’t be mistaken for a trendy Ed Hardy dipshit.

- John