Selling on Skin - The Best of Tattoo Advertising

Despite some taboos, tattoos have experienced a recent surge of popularity in many parts of the world, particularly in North America, Japan and Europe and most recently Australia.

The growth in the tattoo culture has also led to the growing incidence of using tattoos in creative ways in advertising. The following ten ads all use tattoos in interesting ways to help sell their products:

1. Tattoos for Levi's

This ad dramatizes that your jeans are so much a part of you that you would get them inked onto your body.

Source: Ads of the World

2. Tattoos for Chanel

Tattoos are now being seen in upscale brand advertisement. The ad, seen in Elle and Vogue, is for eye wear, but the use of the tattoo seems to play on the theme of people getting their favorite brands tattooed on their body.

Source: Tatt'ad

3. Tattoos for Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture, with its boutique clothing and accessories line, provides a good example of the use of ink in upscale advertising, proving that ink goes beyond the traditional associations in the United States of bikers, alcohol and music marketing.

Source: Tatt'ad

4. Tattoos for Converse

What a way to show Converse being part of your whole life. They are sticking to their punk roots and taking tattoos in advertising to the extreme. Look at the merging of the sneaker as his shirt, suggesting that the shoes are as much part of his wardrobe and his life.

Surce: Brand Soap Box

5. Ipanema

What a lovely series of print ads. I am you can't wrong with Gisele. Especially with the whole focus of the ad being her beautiful tattooed body. But can you tell what these ads are for?

Does this one give it away?

Or maybe this one will finally give it away?

Sandals...that's right sandals...talk about an attention grabbing article.

Source: Ads of the World

6. Tattoos for Fransesco Biasia

Interesting use of tattoos for a campaign for a line of purses. Not real tattoos, but none the less interesting.

Source: Adverbox

7. Tattoos for Post-It

Even every day office products are realizing the importance and popularity of tattoos in today's society. The following is a print ad from Post-It.

Source: Ads of the World

8. Tatoos for Rush

There is nothing better then selling a healthy drink with a sweet innocent Little Red Hiding Hood, who is "only a little bit naughty." Her naughty side is of course shown in her having a tattoo. The copy on the ad reads: "Rush Ultimate Chocolate. Just a little naughty. 99% fat free. 30% less sugar."

Source: Ads of the World

9. Tattoos for Pilot

Talk about a creative use of tattoos in advertising. This ad below is for Pilot pens, again using the popularity of tattoos in today's society to help promote their pens (fine point, of course.)

Source: Ads of the World

10. Tattoos for Pro Diver

What better way to promote a diving shop than tattoos. These ads use the look of wet tattoos with actual water to sell their dive shop and its products.

Source: Ads of the World

Which is your favorite? What do think of using tattoos in advertising? Do you think it is an effective means of advertising?

Amy Gifford
Featured Blogger
InventorSpot.com