CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

For many, a tattoo picked up on holiday feels like the ultimate souvenir — sun on your back, cocktail in hand, and a story to take home etched into your skin. But UK tattoo artists are warning that the trend for so-called “tourist tattoos” is leaving a growing number of Brits returning with far more than fond memories.

According to tattoo experts on Fresha, the world’s leading beauty and wellness booking platform, UK studios are seeing a predictable spike in infected, poorly executed, and outright botched tattoos every year between November and March. The common thread? Work done abroad in popular destinations such as Bali, Thailand, Turkey, Mexico, and beach-heavy resort locations where cut-price tattoos are widely advertised.

When Cheap Ink Comes At A Cost

At first glance, the appeal is obvious. Walk-in studios, heavily discounted prices, and the spontaneity of being on holiday. But behind the bargain lies a growing problem: inconsistent regulation, questionable hygiene standards, and environmental conditions that are about as hostile to healing skin as it gets.

“We’re seeing more and more clients coming home with infections, blown-out lines, incorrect spellings and scarring,”

says Ayesha Shaw, a UK tattoo artist working via Fresha.

“People forget that a tattoo is a medical procedure. In some holiday hotspots, there’s no licensing, no autoclaves, and no checks — yet tourists are walking in after a few drinks and getting work that would never meet UK standards.”

It’s a sobering reminder that what looks like a harmless holiday decision can quickly turn into a long-term problem.

The Hidden Dangers Of ‘Holiday Tattoos’

UK artists report that the most common issues they treat after travellers return include:

Infection caused by heat and humidity

Fresh tattoos are open wounds. Add sweat, sand, seawater and bacteria into the mix and you have the perfect storm for infection — particularly in tropical climates.

Counterfeit or banned inks

Some regions still use cheap pigments containing heavy metals or substances banned in the UK and EU, increasing the risk of allergic reactions and long-term skin damage.

No training or licensing requirements

In countries without regulation, anyone can open a tattoo studio — regardless of experience, hygiene knowledge or equipment standards.

Drunk, spontaneous decisions

Late-night walk-in studios near resorts rely heavily on intoxicated tourists choosing designs from wall menus, often with little thought given to placement, spelling or longevity.

Travel complications

In severe cases, swelling and infection can be so bad that travellers struggle to fly home or require medical clearance to pass border checks.

Destinations Where Extra Caution Is Needed

Tattoo professionals stress that standards vary widely around the world, but travellers should be especially cautious in tourist-heavy regions where regulation and enforcement can be inconsistent. This includes parts of Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Mexico, and other popular holiday hotspots.

When combined with high humidity, rushed walk-in sessions, and price-driven competition, the risk of improper sterilisation or poor healing increases significantly.

As Shaw puts it:

“Price is the biggest red flag. If a full-day tattoo abroad costs less than a one-hour session in the UK, corners are being cut.”

How To Protect Yourself Abroad

If you’re set on getting tattooed overseas, Fresha experts advise applying the same standards you would at home:

• Ask to see the studio’s licence — or question why there isn’t one
• Ensure needles are single-use and individually packaged
• Look for an autoclave — if there isn’t one, walk away
• Never get tattooed within 48 hours of swimming or sunbathing
• Avoid tattoos while drinking — judgment and accuracy suffer
• Always get aftercare instructions in a language you fully understand

Increasingly, UK artists say travellers are doing their research abroad — but choosing to book once they’re home.

“People are realising that if you want a meaningful, long-lasting tattoo, choosing the right artist is safer than taking a chance on holiday,”

says Shaw.

“A tattoo lasts a lifetime — a holiday lasts a week.”

Look, a great tattoo should age well, heal cleanly, and mean something long after the tan fades. In the same way you wouldn’t cut corners on tailoring or craftsmanship, permanent body art deserves the same considered approach.

Because when it comes to tattoos, cheap, spontaneous and holiday-only rarely end well.

Additional images

Benjamin Lehman

Sherman Yang

Akram Huseyn

Few British outdoor brands have shaped technical clothing quite like Berghaus. For almost six decades, the Newcastle-born label has quietly built a reputation for creating equipment designed to withstand some of the world’s harshest environments, while remaining equally at home on weekend hikes, city streets and everyday adventures.

Today, as outdoor-inspired style continues to influence mainstream menswear, Berghaus is looking to its own archives with the launch of the new Big Wall collection—a range that blends early-2000s design cues with the technical performance expected from one of Britain’s most respected outdoor brands.

The collection arrives at a time when gorpcore shows little sign of slowing down. Functional outerwear, lightweight layers and technical fabrics have become wardrobe staples well beyond the hiking trail, with consumers increasingly seeking clothing that performs in unpredictable weather while maintaining everyday versatility.

Big Wall captures that balance perfectly.

Drawing inspiration from Berghaus’ early-2000s aesthetic, the collection revives bold graphics, relaxed silhouettes and classic outdoor styling, while incorporating modern fabric technologies designed for Britain’s famously changeable climate. Whether tackling a breezy coastal walk, spending a day in the countryside or simply navigating an unpredictable summer commute, the collection has been designed to perform without sacrificing style.

That philosophy has defined Berghaus since its beginnings in 1966.

Founded in the North East of England by friends Gordon Davison and Peter Lockey, the brand was born from a shared passion for climbing and a desire to make high-quality outdoor equipment more accessible. Davison brought an engineer’s eye for technical innovation, while Lockey’s marketing instincts helped shape the identity of a company that would go on to become one of the UK’s most influential outdoor brands.

Nearly 60 years later, those founding principles remain remarkably consistent.

Durability continues to sit at the heart of every Berghaus collection. In an era increasingly dominated by fast fashion and disposable clothing, the brand has maintained its belief that well-designed outdoor equipment should be built to last, accompanying its owner on years of adventures rather than a single season.

Innovation, too, has always served a practical purpose. From pioneering waterproof technologies to developing performance fabrics that help wearers stay outdoors for longer, Berghaus has consistently focused on solving real problems rather than chasing trends.

Perhaps most importantly, the brand continues to champion the idea that the outdoors should be accessible to everyone. Whether it’s an ambitious mountain expedition, a weekend ramble or simply walking the dog through the local park, Berghaus believes the benefits of spending time outside shouldn’t be reserved for experienced adventurers alone.

The Big Wall collection reflects that same inclusive mindset.

Combining heritage styling with contemporary performance, it offers a reminder that great outdoor clothing doesn’t have to choose between technical capability and everyday wearability. Instead, it demonstrates why Berghaus has remained one of Britain’s defining outdoor brands for generations—creating clothing that feels just as relevant on today’s streets and trails as it did on the mountains that inspired its founders nearly six decades ago.

There are two types of menswear brands.

The first wants to reinvent your wardrobe every season. The second simply wants to make your life easier.

MR MARVIS firmly belongs in the latter camp.

Founded in Amsterdam in 2016, the Dutch label has quietly built one of the most loyal followings in menswear by focusing on something remarkably simple: creating exceptionally well-made essentials that look good, feel good and require very little thought at 7am on a Monday morning.

It’s a deceptively difficult formula to get right.

Most brands talk endlessly about versatility. MR MARVIS actually delivers it.

The Power of Not Overcomplicating Things

Fashion has a habit of convincing us that we need more. More trends. More colours. More pieces. More decisions.

MR MARVIS takes a refreshingly different approach.

Its collections are built around wardrobe foundations: shorts, trousers, knitwear, shirts, outerwear and the kind of elevated basics that form the backbone of modern dressing. The sort of pieces that don’t scream for attention but somehow always receive compliments.

The brand’s original claim to fame was its perfectly tailored shorts. What began as a single product category quickly evolved into a complete wardrobe offering, all designed around the same philosophy: effortless style without unnecessary fuss.

In other words, clothing that works as hard as you do.

Amsterdam Cool

There is something distinctly Dutch about MR MARVIS.

Not in an obvious windmill-and-clogs sort of way, but in its commitment to practical design, quality craftsmanship and understated confidence.

The brand occupies that sweet spot between smart and relaxed. Tailored enough for city life, comfortable enough for weekends away and versatile enough to handle both without looking out of place.

The colour palette deserves particular mention. While many menswear brands play it safe with endless shades of navy and grey, MR MARVIS has built a reputation for introducing colours that feel adventurous without becoming intimidating.

They’re experts in making men feel slightly more stylish than they actually are.

And that’s a compliment.

Quality That Justifies the Hype

Of course, none of this would matter if the clothes didn’t hold up.

Fortunately, they do.

MR MARVIS places a strong emphasis on European craftsmanship, with many of its products manufactured in Portugal using carefully selected fabrics and materials. The attention to detail is evident throughout, from the fit and finish to the small design touches that elevate each piece beyond basic wardrobe staples.

The result is clothing that feels considered rather than complicated.

A rare thing in today’s menswear landscape.

More Than Just Clothes

Perhaps the most interesting thing about MR MARVIS isn’t the clothing itself, but the feeling surrounding the brand.

Its stores feel less like traditional retail spaces and more like invitations to a certain way of living. Bright, optimistic and refreshingly unpretentious, they reflect the same positive outlook that runs through every aspect of the company.

That philosophy has recently expanded beyond apparel with the launch of Club Marevista, the brand’s fragrance and personal care venture inspired by Mediterranean summers and feel-good living.

It’s a natural extension rather than a cynical brand exercise. If MR MARVIS has always been about helping people feel good in what they wear, Club Marevista explores how they feel beyond the wardrobe.

The Verdict

In an industry often obsessed with novelty, MR MARVIS succeeds by focusing on consistency.

It doesn’t chase trends. It doesn’t rely on celebrity endorsements. It doesn’t attempt to reinvent menswear every six months.

Instead, it concentrates on creating clothes that people genuinely want to wear again and again.

And perhaps that’s the smartest strategy of all.

After all, the best items in any wardrobe aren’t necessarily the most fashionable.

They’re the ones you reach for first.

MR MARVIS understands that better than most.

Long before Ibiza became synonymous with VIP tables, influencer culture and curated beach clubs, the White Isle was home to something far more anarchic. Throughout the 1990s, Manumission wasn’t simply the island’s biggest club night – it was a cultural phenomenon that blurred the boundaries between music, fashion, art and outright hedonism.

It was a place where the world’s biggest DJs shared dancefloors with supermodels, Hollywood directors, rock stars and football icons. Rules were few, cameras were banned and, for one unforgettable night in the summer of 1998, one of football’s greatest ever players walked through its doors.

That player was Diego Maradona.

Claire Manumission’s new memoir, The Motel: High Times in 90s Ibiza, published by Velocity on 31 July, offers an insider’s account of the parties that defined an era, revealing stories that have largely existed as whispered legend for almost three decades. Among its most extraordinary chapters is Maradona’s impromptu escape to Ibiza following Argentina’s World Cup quarter-final defeat to the Netherlands.

While television executives expected him to fly to Paris for a scheduled appearance, Maradona had other ideas.

His pilot reportedly insisted their aircraft wasn’t authorised to land in the Balearic Islands. Maradona’s response was simple: change course.

Within days, football’s most controversial genius was photographed at Manumission, grinning from the balcony with a rose clenched between his teeth as Alison Limerick performed Where Love Lives beneath him. Elsewhere, future superstar producer Stuart Price—then performing as Jacques Lu Cont—was behind the decks, Tall Paul was preparing to headline the main room, members of Primal Scream were playing records in the basement and author Irvine Welsh was reportedly somewhere amongst the chaos.

It reads less like a nightclub guest list and more like the cast of a cult British film.

The stories only become more surreal.

One memorable account recalls Maradona sitting inside the infamous Pink Pussy room when a group of English football fans challenged him to keep an orange in the air after jokingly forgiving the infamous “Hand of God” goal. Despite being heavily intoxicated, the Argentine legend effortlessly demonstrated the extraordinary control that made him one of football’s greatest talents before volleying the orange across the dancefloor, accidentally hitting an unsuspecting club-goer.

Later that evening, the party moved upstairs where Maradona reportedly bonded with resident Derek Dahlarge over revolutionary politics, Che Guevara and the Falklands. Neither spoke the other’s language, yet, as Dahlarge later reflected, they communicated through what he called “the international language of debauchery.”

These are exactly the kinds of stories that define The Motel.

Founded by Claire and Mike Manumission, the infamous parties became the epicentre of Ibiza’s cultural revolution during the 1990s. Translating loosely as “freedom from slavery”, Manumission rejected convention in favour of artistic expression, outrageous performance, theatrical production and complete creative freedom. With journalists banned from attending, the nights quickly developed an almost mythical status.

As demand grew, the founders transformed a former 13-room brothel on the outskirts of Ibiza into the now-legendary Manumission Motel, creating a 24-hour creative playground where club culture collided with fashion, music and celebrity.

Its guest list became the stuff of legend. Kate Moss, Claudia Schiffer, Jean Paul Gaultier, Howard Marks, Shaun Ryder, Roman Polanski, Denise van Outen, Irvine Welsh and Primal Scream all passed through its doors, alongside dance music pioneers including Carl Cox, Pete Tong, Fatboy Slim, Norman Jay, Alfredo and Armand Van Helden.

Yet The Motel is more than simply a collection of outrageous anecdotes.

It captures a unique moment in cultural history before social media, smartphones and celebrity branding transformed nightlife forever. It was an era when experiences couldn’t be livestreamed, where memories lived through word of mouth, and where the most extraordinary nights often disappeared with the sunrise.

For football fans, Maradona’s Ibiza escapade provides one of the book’s most unforgettable moments. For everyone else, Claire Manumission’s memoir offers a front-row seat to one of the most influential periods in modern club culture—a time when Ibiza wasn’t just a destination, but a state of mind.

The Motel: High Times in 90s Ibiza is published by Velocity Books on 31 July.