Tatted up: ‘Fashion of Flesh’ runway show held in Pittsburgh

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop
Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 12:23 p.m. | Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019 12:23 p.m.

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JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review

A model strikes a pose at the “Fashion of Flesh” runway show which featured tattoos and clothing designs on Oct. 2 at Hip at the Flashlight Factory on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The event was part of Pittsburgh Fashion Week.

JoAnne Klimovich Harrop | Tribune-Review

Models pose before the “Fashion of Flesh” runway show which featured tattoos and clothing designs on Oct. 2 at Hip at the Flashlight Factory on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The event was part of Pittsburgh Fashion Week.

Hip at the Flashlight Factory on Pittsburgh’s North Side was full of color.

More than 150 people attended “The Fashion of Flesh” fashion show at the venue on West North Avenue. The first-ever runway event Wednesday evening, part of Pittsburgh Fashion Week, showcased local tattoo art on models.

The show was produced by Squirrel Hill native T.J. Harris, owner of BC1ofaKind. He said models with tattoos have been prohibited from being in fashion shows, but he hoped to change that.

Prior to the show, 20 models — male and female— posed throughout the venue.

“The show went amazingly well,” Harris said. “The designers created some great looks and the models were covered in some amazing tattoos.”

Harris’ mother Sandi Jason Johnson was a proud attendee. “T.J. has worked so hard to bring this show to Pittsburgh,” she said.

Sandi Jason Johnson, mother of producer TJ Harris, is honored to represent Pittsburgh and believes that "fashion is not only in the eye of the beholder, but the eye of the beholder needs to be reopened, to what we wear [tattoos] speaks of who we are." https://t.co/EwjcDmfY7m pic.twitter.com/jjip7DbUSD

— Pittsburgh Fashion Week (@PGHFW) September 30, 2019

Harris said he wanted to have the models showcase their tattoos. He had designers create looks for each which complemented their tattoos.