A new gothic tattoo and piercing studio has opened in Darlington after a chance meeting between two women sparked an idea that quickly grew into a new business venture.
Too Savage has opened on Post House Wynd, directly opposite the Savage B*tch salon, and is co-owned by Emily Downie, her husband Henry Downie and their friend Veronica Sawey.
Emily said her involvement in the business began when she visited the original salon shortly after it opened.
She said: "On the Savage B*tch opening day like many others we went along to have a look inside and I wanted to get a new nose ring.
"We instantly clicked with Veronica and she hasn't been able to get rid of me since.
"In the spring time last year we got to talking about initially opening a bar, we were looking about and then saw the building across the way was available and decided to just go for it and expand with the tattoos and piercings.
"Me and my husband gutted the place after work to help renovate it while Veronica held the fort down at Savage B*tch and blood, sweat and tears completely went into it. From just a random idea wanting to make it bigger and better it has just snowballed."
Henry Downie, said: "Veronica had the name, Mikey had a dream and myself and Emily had the means to do it."
The new venue focuses on gothic-style tattoos and piercings and has been described by Veronica as “Gothic bouge.”
Emily said the team wanted the new space to be welcoming and accessible to everyone.
She added: "We want to be a premium salon without the premium price and want to be accessible to everyone.
"We have people just coming in for a chat and want that real community feel to make everyone comfortable."
She said her own background and her husband's experiences have also helped shape their outlook on the business.
In a message she really wanted to stress to others, she said: "Coming from care and foster child and my husband being ex-army, we want to show anyone who had a troubled upbringing or couldn't find their place in the world that it isn't a life sentence. You can do cool things and really give them hope and inspiration that there is something beyond that, or like in my husband's case after the army."
The new studio builds on the success of Savage B*tch, which Veronica previously described as “a one stop goth shop” offering nail and holistic treatments, including Indian head massages and hot stone therapy, as well as hosting cocktail and games nights.
Veronica said: "A lot of people said we would only last three months and now we’re even opening a second shop."
She added that the new studio fills a gap in the town, and added: "The focal point of Too Savage will be gothic tattoos and piercings. Darlington needs a space like this. It’s niche and special."
Lead tattooist Mickey, who specialises in black and grey realist tattoos, said the aim is to create a welcoming studio in the town centre.
He added: "We wanted a space where all the outcasts and nerds can go.
"A premium shop in the middle of town that takes an old-school tattoo mentality with a street-shop vibe, unlike some private studios where you have to book five to six months in advance for a tattoo."
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Too Savage held its open day on Saturday, March 28 to welcome new clients and mark its launch.
Veronica also announced that within the next four to six months, the upstairs of the salon will begin selling gothic bride and prom dresses as “it’s a big niche in the market."
The studio is open Monday to Saturday from 10am to 4pm and by appointment only on Sundays.
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