Voices of LA feat. Manuela Soto Sosa
*SNS: What’s your name? * Manuela: Manuela Soto Sosa
Where are you from? I am Swiss and Uruguayan, I grew up in Lausanne, Switzerland but quickly left my city to start tattooing around the world 🌎💕
What got you into drawing and tattooing? I always had an interest in Art, from fashion to nail Art... I studied illustration and fine Art, spent a lot of time exploring my personal style and influences but the tattoo industry at the time wasn’t what it is today.
I really wasn’t tryna be a tattoo artist, it just happened...
How long have you been tattooing? I did my first tattoo in Berlin, I was 18yo.
It was a messy stick and poke, using sewing needles dipped in ink out of a beer cap...
It was the beginning of the “no-school” movement in tattooing, when people started creating tattoo designs completely out of the norm, inspired by graffiti and merging all different lifestyles to create a new generation of tattoo artists.
It was then that I started designing flash tattoos, a mix of Sailor moon, rap lyrics and bad bitch energy.. it quickly took off and I started traveling all around Europe, Japan and the US for about 3 years until I moved to America to open my own space.
*When and why did you start creating your Soto brand? * I’ve worked in skate shops and streetwear shops for years, so making clothes was always a dream of mine.
I started making small drops with my tattoo designs about 5 years ago but it was just a little thing on the side, it was hard to manage being on tattoo tour all year long.
I stopped touring about 2 years ago when I moved to LA and I started “Soto Worldwide” officially, it’s still a baby brand and needs a lot of work but I couldn’t be more excited about all the positive feedback 💕
How did you hear about sneakersnstuff? Love to read about creatives through SNS and definitely my go to when looking for some fiiiirrree
What started your sneaker obsession? As I was tattooing across the world, I only wore sweats cause I would always drop ink on my clothes but I’d spend all my money on sneakers and handbags.
I can look bummy as hell but my shoes will always be on point lol
What’s one of your favorite sneaker? I fell in love with Prada’s cloudbust thunder but I been wearing Nike TNs since is was 10, so that’s forever my shoe #requin
Any new collaborations or projects coming up that you’re looking forward to? Super excited about my animation show “Tender Force” in the making and my new Art space “Softflex” and everything we’re building around it, Softflex Publishing and Art classes.
Instagram
TikTok
X (formerly Twitter)
