These days, almost anywhere you go, you will see someone wearing an Ed Hardy t-shirt, hat, or hoody. Who hasn’t heard of the world-famous Ed Hardy clothing line? With unique prints that are recognizable from a mile away, Ed Hardy can easily be called one of the trendiest brands today.

A former San Francisco tattoo artist, Don Ed Hardy was already accustomed to creating eye-catching designs. Inspired by the wild California counterculture, Hardy decided to bring forth his artwork onto clothing, and busted onto the fashion scene in 2002. Often referred to as the “godfather of the modern tattoo,” Ed Hardy continues to use his innovative artistic qualities to transform today’s fashion.

In 2002, the Ed Hardy brand came into the public eye when Don Ed Hardy was approached by Ku USA, Inc. The company was interested in producing a clothing line that would feature Hardy’s artwork. Hardy Life immediately took off, and in only two years became a major fashion spotlight.

The Ed Hardy line skyrocketed in 2004 with the help of French designer Christian Audigier, who shares Hardy’s passion for bold, colorful art and design. The primary force behind the rise of Von Dutch, Audigier linked Ed Hardy to the celebrity world, pushing the brand to the same, if not higher status that he helped Von Dutch to reach.

Some of the many fans of Ed Hardy include celebs such as Madonna, Paris Hilton, Shaquille O’Neal, Busta Rhymes, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Denise Richards, Pharrell, Sylvester Stallone, and Shakira.

The major defining point of Ed Hardy clothing is that the pieces are modeled from original tattoos, making them truly unique. Ed Hardy’s mesmerizing imagery and vivid colors yield a clothing line that is not only trend setting, but industry changing.

The Hardy-Audigier duo has taken the world by storm, with stores open in Toronto, Waikiki, Miami, Los Angeles, Tucson, New York, Tokyo, Australia and South Africa. Ed Hardy is at the height of its popularity and will continue to make fashion headlines in many months to come.