We invite you to discover one of our latest collaborations with tattoo artist Luis Mayer.
Since the beginnings of Demons & Machines, Luis has been part of the brand's visual universe. His illustrations have been featured in various winter and summer collections, transforming into prints, embroideries, and graphic designs applied through multiple techniques and processes.
This time, we decided to delve deeper into a concept that has been part of our creative language for years: reinterpreting visual icons linked to our world and giving them new meaning from our own perspective. Especially present in our line of caps, this creative exercise draws references from brands, symbols, and universes that we admire to fuse them with the identity of Demons & Machines.
This practice finds its roots in the phenomenon known as bootleg, a trend that emerged in 1980s New York that proposed reproducing, intervening, or reinterpreting logos and graphic elements in an ironic or alternative way. Over time, this aesthetic transcended street culture to become a common reference in fashion, graphic design, and contemporary art.
For this collaboration, Luis took as his starting point the iconic eagle used by Harley-Davidson during the 1930s and developed his own reinterpretation using digital tools. The result is a graphic with a strong vintage feel, built from firm strokes, distressed backgrounds, and a reduced color palette that enhances its timeless character.
To reinforce this aesthetic, we decided to print the artwork on the finished garment using screen printing with water-based ink, a process that achieves a distressed finish and a visual effect similar to the natural cracking that comes with age.
The choice of garment was also no accident. The Sporty Chopper is made from heavy 16/1 pure cotton jersey and features a slim fit with ribbed cuffs on both the collar and sleeves. This feature has a long tradition in the motorcycle world, as it helps reduce wind entry while riding. In this version, we decided to work with contrasting cuffs, visually linking them with the graphic to achieve a more harmonious integration between design and product.
About Luis Mayer
Connected to art from an early age, Luis Mayer began his career as a tattoo artist in the late 90s. The graphics of 80s skateboarding, 60s and 70s motorcycle gang films, album covers, and underground culture were some of the influences that shaped his aesthetic vision.
Over time, and already established as a tattoo artist, he began to develop his facet as a visual artist, exploring new formats that allowed him to work with greater creative freedom and expand his graphic universe beyond the skin.
Today, that same vision is present in this collaboration, where art, motorcycle culture, and the spirit of Demons & Machines come together once again in a limited edition piece.
“Above all, I love the process and knowing that at the end of each journey something is born and my only responsibility is to give feeling and meaning to each piece”
