SheKnows Ink grows from strength to strength
FERNDALE – From thinking tattoos are for big bearded men to owning a successful all-female tattoo studio.
The tattoo industry is slowly but surely opening up for women.
Like it or not, women are cementing their place in the tattoo world, according to SheKnows Ink Tattoo Studio founder Shelby Downey. The East London-born and raised tattoo artist has been running her all-women tattoo studio since 2019 and is proving that tattooing isn’t only done and for what she described as scary men with beards and belonging to bike gangs. She is sure and encouraged that the South African tattoo industry has more incredibly talented female artists surfacing.
Downey said, “The female artists in South Africa are inspiring, and I am so thankful I have been able to create a space at SheKnows Ink that embodies female empowerment. The South African tattoo industry is changing for women, but we still have a long way to go.”
Downey moved to Johannesburg to study graphic design but realised that this path wasn’t for her. Fortunately, her mother suggested she got a tattoo apprenticeship. “I was familiar with getting tattoos, I got my first one when I was 16, but I had never actually thought of pursuing it as a career.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure that it was a career path for women at that time but it turned out to be the best thing I could have ever done.”
Since then she has been learning all she can and apply it all and is proud of what she has been able to achieve in the last six years. During this time she has grown to love doing illustrative, fine detail, black and grey semi-tattoos but is thrilled to do any artwork presented to her. She added, “My favourite type of tattoos to do are tattoos that help people in their own life journey. We are so lucky as tattoo artists to be able to be a source of healing for many people, in our own weird way.”
The all-female SheKnows Ink opened in 2019 and has grown from strength to strength with seven ladies as part of the family. Downey said, “We pride ourselves in creating a welcoming, safe and enriching environment for people of all walks of life. A home away from home.”
To see their amazing tattoos check them out on Instagram @sheknows_ink or Facebook at SheKnows Ink. For more details visit their website on https://sheknowsink.wixsite.com/sheknowsink
