When you imagine walking down the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, one would think about how many people encounter some of its recognizable hotspots: the Sunset Tower Hotel, The Viper Room, Book Soup, Saddle Ranch, Supreme, and the Shamrock Social Club tattoo shop, to name a few. In a city that houses some of Tinseltown’s rising ingenues, health junkies, music maestros, and movie buffs—all finding common ground on the iconic street in West Hollywood—you wouldn’t be surprised to know that Mark Mahoney, the legendary tattoo artist, has probably worked with all of them. Having been a fixture of the L.A. scene with his ever-popular tattoo parlor that Mahoney could consider as a second home, the godfather of single-needle black and grey art has invited some of the world’s greatest entertainers (think Lana del Rey, Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie, David Beckham) into that very shop of tattoo wonders to tastefully cover their bodies in artwork.

Now with 45+ years of experience under his belt, the icon is stepping into a new chapter in his life as a fashion label owner. Launching today, Mahoney introduces the Shamrock Social Club Collective, a clothing line inspired by his work and famed parlor, aiming to capture the essence of authentic American tattoo culture. With an emphasis on planet preservation, done through the use of sustainable fabrics, the line consists of a wide range of closet essentials such as t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, and more, emblazoned with some of Mahoney’s notable artwork.

Below, VMAN caught up with Mahoney to discuss his foray into fashion and how the inaugural collection encompasses some of his “greatest hits” in tattoo art.

VMAN: After 45 years of experience as Hollywood’s “Ink Master”, how did the idea of creating Shamrock Social Club Collective come about? & why now?

Mark Mahoney: It is something I have always wanted to do. Clothing has and will always be an important part of my identity. I did the first-ever tattoo print collaboration with Betsey Johnson in the early ’80s and I am still proud to see it out in the world from time to time. I think timing is everything and the opportunity to create this collective presented itself to me in a very organic way.

VMAN: Having been settled on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood for quite some time and working with some of the boldest talents that the city offers, did any of these experiences find their way into the ethos of the brand and the pieces?

MM: For sure. There are things I have tattooed that have become very iconic images.  I drew an album cover for my good friend, Lee Ving from Fear who is the definition of BOLD and that became one of the best-selling LA punk band t-shirts ever produced. I think the eagle is a very bold image, signifying strength and freedom. It has always been something many of my clients like to get tattooed. My handwritten script is also something that is cherished by my clients.  My handwriting is unique to my own style. I don’t use Photoshop or any kind of computer-generated script to do my handwritten tattoos. I don’t use an iPad. I draw with a pencil on paper.  I think when you see my handwriting tattoos on David Beckham, or whoever gets my script, you can see that it is uniquely my style. Lady Gaga came in and got ‘Little Monsters’ tattooed. I did it in my script on her arm as a tribute to her fans. It became a t-shirt that was sold on her tour shortly after. Again, another thing I was proud to see out in the world.

VMAN: Noticing that this inaugural collection is titled “Chapter 1”—how will the upcoming seasons for the brand be approached? How frequently can we expect drops?

MM: I have been tattooing for a long time in a lot of different places and spaces over the years. I have been fortunate enough to see different eras in culture leading me to tattoo music, sports, fashion, etc. along all walks of life. After all these years, I would like to start from the beginning to tell my story through a fashion collective.  People have been asking me about a book to tell all of my stories but I wanted to do it through clothing to give people something they can feel a part of, almost like they lived it though the time passed.

Chapter 1 introduces you to the world of the Shamrock Social Club. It focuses on my script and how it has been the same since day one. You can still count on it being the same tomorrow. It celebrates being a part of something unique and different, not perfect and not duplicated. It represents the new chapter in my life today. I moved out of my old shop after 22 years to create a bright new space perched above Sunset to tattoo, paint, and socialize on a more intimate level. Surrounding myself with other creatives in this historic building brings us together to celebrate art, design, and culture. Chapters 2 and 3 will move into iconic images that define Shamrock Social Club. It will represent the different eras of life through artistic storytelling. As of now, we are set to drop Chapter 1 on St Patrick’s Day and drop Chapter 2 in July 2024. We hope to drop a new chapter every 3-4 months.

VMAN: With a notable range of staple pieces of t-shirts, sweatshirts, denim, and more, what went into the design process of crafting this first collection? How did the idea for sustainable fabrics come about when deciding that SSCC would be an environmentally responsible brand?

MM: Most of what I wear is vintage and thrifted. I have been noticing a lot of people coming into my shop wearing perfect computer-generated graphics on t-shirts, crewnecks, and hoodies. In L.A., we have a very relaxed lifestyle which I enjoy very much and I can appreciate these relaxed pieces on my day off, but wanted to stray away from buying pieces and garments that aren’t sustainable. In this collective, it was important to me that we don’t call it “streetwear” but instead name it “boulevard wear.” My wife has a vintage clothing store and sources many vintage t-shirts and sweatshirts. I started to realize it would be cool to put some of my hand-drawn designs on vintage-like garments. Our friend and partner, Massimo Geraci is an established manufacturer in downtown L.A. where we have managed to produce all of our garments from recycled cotton. Even our labels and tags are sustainable.

VMAN: Was it hard to decide what artwork to feature? Are the graphics all new or are some familiar designs scattered throughout?

MM: The first three chapters are all drawings that I have done that represent my greatest hits in terms of tattoo designs. I’m excited to feature some designs from my archive in the following chapters. A lot of people might not know that I did the original cherub design for True Romance. Tony Scott was a very dear friend of mine and had a love and appreciation for tattoos, featuring them in many of his films. I was fortunate enough to work with him quite a bit before he passed, God rest his soul, so I would like to do an archival collection on his behalf. Again, I think that there are a lot of people out there getting cherub tattoos, but when you see my version, you can see how it is inspired by True Romance because it is my signature drawing. Not computer-generated or done with AI.

VMAN: You’ve worked with the likes of Johnny Depp, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Lana del Rey, and many other talents throughout your career and teamed up with them to create memorable art. Could we expect to see any collaborations with some of your special clients for upcoming drops?

MM: All of these people you mention and more have been such important people to me in my life. Not just as clients and friends, but they are all creative and sound human beings. They are all true Shamrock Social Club representatives in the world. I am having a few discussions currently…stay tuned.

The Shamrock Social Club Collective: Chapter One collection is available for pre-sale on shamrocksocialclub.com.