Show Your Ink Fashions Brings Custom Style to Tattoo Culture

You spend hours under the needle, endure the pain, and invest real money to bring your art to life. Then what? You cover it up with a shirt. That was exactly the dilemma that sparked Show Your Ink Fashions, a boutique clothing brand built around one core idea: your tattoos deserve to be seen.

Founder and creator Thom Peer of SYI (short for Show Your Ink), found his lightbulb moment after a grueling four-hour back session in the chair. Sore, tired, and probably a little cranky, he got home only to hear his wife say, “I guess I’m the only one who gets to see it.” That one sentence stuck. If no one was making clothing to spotlight tattoos, he figured he would.

What started as a modified Robert Graham shirt, with an open panel in the back by a local seamstress, quickly turned heads at a tattoo convention in Alabama. Artists and attendees alike stopped him to ask where the shirt came from. One moment in particular stuck out: when Craig Foster of Ink Master season 3 flagged him down to get a closer look. That’s when he knew he was on to something.

The Making of a Statement Shirt

Every Show Your Ink shirt is handmade by a bridal seamstress who brings a couture-level precision to every cut, stitch, and fabric choice. SYI shirts aren’t printed with tattoo art. Instead, they open up to showcase the real thing, your own ink, through carefully designed panels placed to highlight tattoos on the back, chest, or upper arms.

The custom process is hands-on. As an output from a consultation with Thom, clients send in photos and measurements. Each piece is designed to complement not just the tattoos but the shape and personality of the wearer. And yes, each one takes time: 4 to 6 shirts a week is the current capacity. For the founder, that’s intentional. This isn’t fast fashion. It’s personal, deliberate, and built to last.

Not Just Tees and Denim

Tattoo fashion has long been tied to graphic tees, hoodies, and jeans—and that’s fine for casual wear. But SYI is for those moments when you want to make a statement. Whether it’s a concert, a dinner out, or a tattoo convention, these shirts elevate tattoo culture with bold fabrics (think red skull brocade or silk dragon trim) and fine tailoring. They’re edgy, stylish, and anything but expected.

And while the brand started with men’s shirts, it didn’t take long before women were buying them too. That sparked a new line of custom women’s shirts designed with better fits and equally bold fabrics. Turns out, even with access to backless dresses and racerback tanks, women wanted something that hit differently—fashion-forward, custom, and made for showcasing their ink.

Building a Boutique Brand

With only 50 shirts sold so far, SYI is still in its early stages, but the brand has a strong identity and a clear sense of purpose. The founder has no intention of mass producing. The shirts are made in the U.S., one by one, with attention to detail and emotional investment.

The goal isn’t to become the next department store brand, it’s to be the go-to name for tattooed people who want fashion that reflects who they are. That means growing into more tattoo shops, launching online sales, and partnering with artists and events. It means seeing SYI on runways and red carpets, worn by artists and icons who live the culture.

More Than Just a Shirt

Show Your Ink shirts are meant to frame your tattoos like a piece of art. It’s about self-expression, storytelling, and pride in the work you wear on your skin. As the founder says, “You don’t buy a gorgeous piece of art to throw it under the bed. You frame it. You put it out there for everyone to see.”

With appearances lined up at tattoo shows across the Southeast, including collaborations with fashion-tattoo hybrid events like Ink the Bay 5 in Tampa this summer, SYI is ready for its next chapter. Dresses, suits, even themed capsule collections—the ideas are there. And the passion behind them is undeniable.

If You Could Dress Any Tattoo Icon…

When asked which tattoo icon he’d most love to design for, the founder didn’t hesitate. “Ryan Ashley. I absolutely love her art—both what she wears and her work on others. Given her education in fashion and as one of the top tattoo artists in the world, wow…” For her, he imagines a shirt made from red skull and rose brocade, contrasted with light blue and silver trim. Shorter sleeves would show off her upper arm tattoos, while tailored panels in the chest and upper back would highlight her neck and back pieces. “The light blue and silver trim would really complement her piercing blue eyes.”

Other dream clients include Myles Kennedy, Richie Kotzen, and John 5. “I think Myles and Richie would be similar projects, and with John 5, we could get very elaborate.” And then there’s Dave Navarro, whose influence across music, tattoos, and visual art makes him a natural fit for a custom SYI piece.

One particularly exciting idea? A horror-themed capsule collaboration with Rob Zombie. “His reach across multimedia art—music, videos, movies, animation, live productions—would make for an incredible project.” It would be fun to do more subject-based shirts like we did for the Day of the Dead/Macabre Arts show in Atlanta.

Tattoos are personal. Your clothing should be too.
Show Your Ink is making that connection—one shirt at a time.

See more from SYI at www.showyourinkfashions.com, Instagram @syifashions and Tik Tok @syifashions