About Us

STILL UNDER

Still Under was never just a name. It came from a life spent still under pressure, still under circumstances, still under expectations — but still moving forward.

Raised in Providence, Rhode Island, John grew up Dominican and Indian, surrounded by different cultures but also by circumstances that forced him to grow up quickly. His childhood eventually led him into the foster care system, and for a period of his life, he found himself going down the wrong path. That path brought consequences, including incarceration, and moments where the future he has today probably seemed impossible.

But art was always there.

What started as a talent became an opportunity to change direction. John went from being the kid who was getting into trouble to standing in front of a classroom as an art teacher, sharing creativity with other young people. Eventually, that same love for art led him into tattooing.

He worked in different tattoo shops, learning the industry, developing his craft, building his clientele and creating a name for himself. But being talented didn’t always mean being valued. After spending years working in spaces where he didn’t always feel respected, appreciated or given the opportunity to build the way he envisioned, he decided it was time to create his own.

That decision became Still Under Ink.

Still Under Ink wasn’t created because the road was easy. It was created because it wasn’t. The shop represents everything that came before it — Providence, foster care, mistakes, jail, teaching, tattooing, rejection, growth and the decision to keep going anyway.

And eventually, Still Under became bigger than tattooing.

The meaning behind the name opened the door for different ideas and different ways to create. Still Under Clothing became another extension of that story — taking the message beyond tattoos and putting it into something people could wear and make their own. The Still Under Podcast became another branch, creating a space for conversations, stories, experiences and perspectives that deserve to be heard.

The clothing, the podcast and everything that comes next aren’t separate from Still Under Ink. They’re branches of the same tree.

At the root is Still Under Ink.

From there, Still Under continues to grow into art, clothing, conversation, community and whatever comes next. Different branches, different forms of creativity, but all carrying the same message: no matter what you’re under, it doesn’t have to determine where you end up.

THANK YOU

None of this would exist without the people who believed in Still Under along the way.

To every client who trusted John with their skin, every person who bought a piece of clothing, shared a post, recommended the shop, listened to an idea, supported a drop, sat through a tattoo session, came back for another piece, or simply spoke the Still Under name to someone else — thank you.

We don’t take any of it for granted.

Every appointment, purchase, follow, share and word of encouragement has helped turn something that started as one person’s story into something much bigger. Still Under continues to grow because people continue to believe in what we’re building.

We’re proud of where we came from. We’re grateful for where we are. And we’re excited for everything Still Under has yet to become.

Still Under Pressure of Everyday’s Reality.

Still creating. Still growing. Still Under.