Stefano the owner of “Blue Port Tattoo” shop started tattooing in Genoa back in 1999.

Genoa was the capital of one of the most powerful maritime republics for seven Centuries until 1797. Historically it has been and still is one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean sea, its spirit can be found in the old city narrow alleys, called “carruggi”, squeezed between the hills and the sea, where smells, tastes, languages, and cultures are melted together in an historical port.

He has always been intrigued by the old city and its narrow alleys, the port, the sailors, the misfits, and their incredible hidden stories.
He started working as a tattoo assistant in a small shop, almost for a joke, felt in love with the job he would never leave. Learned the art by looking at old tattoo masters, practicing and studying days and nights, the machines, the needles, the inks, the tattoo's history, and its roots. Travelled the world to meet the tattooists he loved and have apprenticeships with them. From the USA to Japan from the bold black outline and limited colour palette to the Irezumi.
All the studies and researches made shaped his drawings, over the years he carved his own style, influenced by the 1940-50s American masters as Bert Grimm and Dave Lum.
When was time to open his own studio, it could not have been anywhere else if not in Genoa' s old city, the same places where he often found inspirations and reasons to be and he named it Blue Port.
Port, like a father with open arms where sailors and ships dock looking for comfort, seaside city’s heart. Blue, like the lines he draws on people's skin, the emptiness felt after the boat sailed.

When I thought about a t-shirt collaboration for Retro Classic Feel he was the first person to came to my mind, because a collaboration has to be something special. I admire Stefano’s works and his work path, but most of all I admire the kindness he tries to hide behind his rough tattoos, we have a mutual respect growth through years.

Bold classic lines like an old-school tattoo for a Retro Classic t-shirt couldn't have been more appropriate.

The project started in 2020 with sketches, ideas, inspirations, the challenges of living in different countries, the traveling restrictions, and the online meeting strains. But we finally came up with a design that we both love and believe in it very much.
We opted for a classic old-school roaring panther head.
The roar is a demand of attention, the aviator helmet and the goggles are a link to the old motorcycle racer world. The flames, close the circle wrapping up and burning everything with passion.

We enjoyed the process of creating this T-Shirt as much as we hope you will all enjoy wearing it.