LORE OF SHANGRI-LA’S HERITAGE BEGAN OVER 25 YEARS AGO WHEN LESLEY CHAN LEFT HER LIFE AS A FINE ARTS STUDENT AT CENTRAL ST MARTINS TO BECOME THE TATTOOER SHANGRI-LA, SPECIALISING IN ASIAN FOLKLORE.

 

SHE SPENT 8 YEARS STUDYING HER CRAFT IN VARIOUS TATTOO PARLOURS BEFORE BECOMING A HIGHLY REGARDED TATTOOER IN HER OWN RIGHT.IN 2005, SHE FOUNDED HER OWN, NOW LEGENDARY, EAST LONDON TATTOO PARLOUR SHANGRI-LA.

 

KNOWN AS A HAVEN FOR THE UNIQUE, WITH ITS AIR OF TRANQUILLITY AND A HINT OF SPIRITUALITY, THIS BECAME THE PLACE WHERE LESLEY WOULD USE HER INSTINCTIVE POWERS FOR SPOTTING NEW TALENT. IT WAS WHERE SHE CREATED HER FIRST MAVERICK COLLECTIVE WHO BETWEEN THEM HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR TATTOOING THE LIKES OF LADY GAGA, HARRY STYLES AND FRANK OCEAN.

 

SINCE THEN LESLEY HAS GONE ON TO WORK FOR CHRISTOPER KANE AND PAUL SMITH, CREATING DESIGNS FOR THEIR LUXURY SILK SCARF RANGES. FOLLOWING THIS SUCCESS, THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR HER TO EMBARK ON ANOTHER JOURNEY AND BRING TOGETHER HER NEXT COLLECTIVE OF MAVERICKS.

 

AND SO LORE WAS BORN.