The tattoo studio is consistently rated as one of the best in town
Vagabond has been inking Londoners for over a decade and, just like the people that pass through, the studio itself has refreshed its look. The monochrome colour scheme has been swapped out for brown and sandy tones to create a softer, more natural aesthetic; there’s a new custom stand to show off curated merchandise, like the recent knitwear collab with Suermondt; and a new communal front desk (which also doubles as a waiting spot, consultation area and artist drawing table) has been added to the space.
For co-owner Paul Hill, incorporating that artist drawing table area was a way to really focus on Vagabond’s collaborative ethos. “It is important to us that the artist and client work together to create unique tattoos specific to the individual. Over the years this has become a stronger and more important part of the tattoo process,” he says. “Every artist in the studio also regularly paints/draws/creates new designs and we find increasingly customers are drawn to an artist for their style and want to choose a piece from their work.”
As well as regular guest artists, there’s now a 13-strong team of resident artists whose styles range from heavy black work to Japanese-inspired art to illustrative fine line designs. Finding tattooists who fit into the studio’s family environment is key for Paul, who says, “we choose to work with artists that we find inspiring, have a high quality and interesting tattoo style but also fit into the ethos of Vagabond. To create a comfortable, collaborative environment to work in and to be a client in.”
Having operated for over a decade, Vagabond has definitely become part of the fabric of Hackney Road. As co-owner Rebecca Hill reflects, “some businesses have been and gone but a lot of the locals and local businesses that were here over a decade ago when we set up are still here. I like to think we have now become one of these long term local businesses and we still love it here.” Long may it continue.
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Key Information
Address | 471 Hackney Road, London E2 9ED
For more information | iamvagabond.co.uk