Norman Collins History - Sailor Jerry Clothing
WE ARE SWORN TO KEEP ALIVE THE LEGACY OF NORMAN ‘SAILOR JERRY’ COLLINS
The undisputed father of the old-school tattoo, Sailor Jerry lived a life worth emulating. He didn't knuckle under to anyone or walk like a lemming into the slow death march of conformity.
We keep his art alive by putting it on clothes. We keep his spirit alive by striving to embody it.
HOW THIS WHOLE THING STARTED
AND HOW IT KEEPS GOING.
Our enterprise began in downtown Philadelphia in 1999 when fans of Sailor Jerry started a clothing company.
Despite Jerry's undeniable influence on the tattoo world and counterculture in general, not enough people knew his story. So we started telling it – while screen-printing his flash art on t-shirts and jackets. Back then, our headquarters was part store, part punk club. A place where bands would stop by to play a set and pick up clothes when they were in town.
We respect tradition. We disdain convention. We do not follow the standard industry practice of making everything as cheap as possible overseas. All our t-shirts are custom-made, sewn, dyed and printed in the USA. Our plaids are original to us. So are our chambrays. And we're diehards about finding kickass quality materials that also feel good to wear. Our creative method is simple: if we want it, we make it. If we don't, we won't.
And what’s next? We're going out of our way to ally ourselves with all kinds of unconventional artists and craftspeople who share our ethos. Business isn't just about who we sell to, but who we hang with.
WELCOME ABOARD.
