A Collector’s Edition

“Whenever I like something, it's always out of the box. I like things that are not normal. I don't know why; it's just how it is.”— Noma Han

( above ) Jacket, shirt, and shorts MELBOSTAD, tights THE NORTH FACE, boots DR. MARTENS, skateboard RAMONES.

Photography KEVIN SINCLAIR Styling NICHOLAS MACKINNON

Noma Han, the rebellious Korean model turned tattoo artist, exemplifies how courage, perseverance, and risk-taking are essential to make it in New York City. As a city known for its tough attitude, impatience, and endless opportunities, New York can be intimidating for those not up for the challenge. However, for the determined and ambitious, the rewards can be tremendous. No wonder people say, “New York City: If You Can Make it Here, You Can Make it Anywhere.” When Noma arrived in NYC, he had nothing but a dream of becoming a model and a few dollars in his pocket. Within three months, he secured an agency just in time for Fashion Week and landed eight shows in his first season, thanks to his unique look and rebellious nature. Today, with over 70 tattoos covering his body, Noma brings a modern, cosmopolitan twist to the clothes he models, and the fashion industry has fallen in love with his style.

David Gargiulo __ How did you get started as a model?

Noma Han __ I started modeling in Korea, but it didn't work out at first, so I decided to try it out in the States or Europe. Thankfully, I found an agency after three months of coming to the States. I was lucky it was right before Fashion Week so I could go to castings for the Fashion Week rollout. And I remember booking like eight shows for that season. So I was very lucky when I started working here in the US, but I didn’t have much luck in Korea.

DG __ And why do you think that is?

NH __ There are many reasons, and with the fashion industry, you never know. You need to have the right timing for the trend. When I came to the US, the fashion industry was looking for a look like mine, so it just worked out.

DG __ Got it. Right timing, right place. What inspired you to become a tattoo artist?

NH __ To be honest, I started because I wanted to make some money. When you are a model, some days are jam-packed, so you make money, but other times, you have free time between jobs. So I wanted to do something to keep myself busy, and I tried many different things. I started to learn photography before becoming a tattoo artist. But when I started learning to take photos, I realized it wasn't my passion. While experimenting with photography, I was a client at a tattoo shop. And the tattoo artist was like, do you want to learn? And I was like, yes, but I've never drawn in my life, so I don't know how. So I started just learning how to draw first. It took me about a year to get serious about drawing. It was hard for me because I'm always trying to see myself in the future, and I question what I want to do in my life. At the time, I was really into tattoos, pushing me to give it a shot.

DG __ How many tattoos did you have when you decided to become a tattoo artist?

NH __ I think I had around 20 tattoos on my body then. Now I have more than 70 tattoos on my body. Yes, I spent a lot of money on tattoos! [laughs]

DG __ How do you feel your Korean heritage has shaped your identity and artistic style?

NH __ It's funny. When I was young, I didn't like being Korean. It's weird to say this, but I loved America, Europe, and the Western culture. Growing up in South Korea, I watched many American and European TV shows. When I came to the States and started modeling, I think the industry had more racism at the time, which made me dislike being Asian. For example, whenever I said I was from Korea, every person asked me, are you from the north or south? And I kept thinking, why are people asking me this? Right now, maybe because I'm getting older and feel more comfortable in my skin, I realized being Asian is pretty nice. Lately, Korea has become very popular in the Western world, and I have become very proud of being a Korean model. Now I am also looking more into Korean than Western culture because that's where I come from, and I love being Korean.

DG __ Thank you for being so honest with me. When it comes to acceptance of other cultures, the US is still working on it. Things are getting better, but more work still needs to be done. I mean, look, Squid Game is the most popular Netflix show! [laughs]

NH __ Yes! [laughs] All the Korean TV shows that are becoming popular in the States and all these artists like BTS and Blackpink! They make me so proud of being Korean.

DG __ I love to hear that! Was your family supportive of your modeling career?

NH __ My parents didn't support me when I started because they thought a career in the entertainment industry was too risky. Yes, you can become very popular, but there is a higher chance it won't happen. So my parents were worried that I wouldn't make any money or be successful and wanted me to be a doctor. I didn't care and refused to let my parents' fears stop me, so I came to the States without telling them. It was important for me to prove that I can do it and follow my dreams.

Art & Design

Sweater, shorts, and jacket MELBOSTAD, biker shorts FEAR OF GOD, boots DR. MARTENS.

“I think my look is a key factor in my success as a model. I believe that the reason why I have been able to work in the fashion industry for so long is because my unique look stands out.”

DG __ How has your upbringing influenced the person you are today? You obviously are rebellious. What made you decide, hey, I want to go outside the norm? I want to try my own thing. I don't want to fit into the box that the Korean culture has decided for me.

NH __ I get inspired by different things, and when I find something that piques my interest, I may try it out. For example, while browsing the Web, I saw this girl with buzz-cut blonde hair, and I thought that was really cool. So I said to myself, why not? I can try this. My agency didn't know. Nobody knew. I just did it at home, and I liked it. My agency was pissed at me when they found out, but it worked out, and the fashion industry loved it. Of course, now my agency loves it [laughs]. Whenever I like something, it's always out of the box. I like things that are not normal. I don't know why; it’s just the way it is.

DG __ Do you remember your first tattoo?

NH __ Yes. When I started modeling, there was a model called Ash Stymest. He's still modeling and also singing now.

DG __ No way! We worked with him last year!

NH __ That's a coincidence! Ash was my dream model when I first started. I remember talking to him about it when we worked together on the Harley Davidson campaign and showing him my first tattoo, which was a copy of his tattoo. After that, I didn't see him for a long time because I was doing military service in Korea. When I saw him again, I was surprised that he was still modeling after more than ten years. We talked about what we did when we were young and starting in the industry. Working with him was a great experience, and I learned a lot from him as a model.

DG __ Actually, it's interesting because I see a pattern across people with lots of tattoos. There is so much passion for it. We featured Remington Leith and Ash, and they also met on social media because of a tattoo. They had the same tattoo, and that's how they became friends. I see that the community is tight.

Jacket, shirts, and shorts MELBOSTAD, boots DR. MARTENS, helmet EASTON.

NH __ Also, when I started modeling, it wasn't common to have tattoos if you were a model. Nowadays, more models have tattoos, which was rare back then. The fashion industry wanted models to look clean and wear clothes in a certain way to make them look good. However, when I showed Ash my first tattoo, we bonded over our shared interest in tattoos. We became friends more quickly than other models because we had similar interests. People with tattoos tend to have similar interests, so becoming friends was easier.

T-shirt and shorts MELBOSTAD, tights THE NORTH FACE, boots DR. MARTENS, basketball WILSON.
( left ) T-shirt and shorts MELBOSTAD, biker shorts FEAR OF GOD. ( Left flipping ) Hoodie, shorts, and shirt MELBOSTAD, basketball WILSON.

DG __ Can you describe your ideal day off?

NH __ My ideal day off would involve spending time with my wife. It doesn't matter what we do, as long as we're together. Sometimes we stay at home and enjoy each other's company. But when we do something outside, that's nice.

DG __ What's one of your favorite memories from your childhood?

NH __ I never thought about it. Does it count when I was, like, 19? Is that childhood?

DG __ Nineteen is whatever you want it to be? [laughs]

NH __ Yeah, I'll never forget the hard work and sacrifice that made my dream of coming to the States a reality. It took a lot of effort and saving up money to make it happen. I started working at a fried chicken shop in Korea to save up for the trip. It wasn't easy, but it was worth it to be able to pursue my dreams and come here. I had to save quite a bit of money. I worked every single day, from three in the afternoon until midnight, without any days off. When I had saved around five thousand dollars, which was a huge amount of money for me then, I bought my flight ticket and booked the cheapest accommodation I could find in New York, which cost only fifteen dollars per day. That was the biggest day of my life because I had never spent so much money in one day before, especially on something that was not guaranteed success. It was overwhelming when I boarded the flight to New York because I had never been to the United States before and didn't know what to expect. When I arrived at JFK airport, I was surprised to see so many people of different races. Looking back, that period of my life was memorable and a turning point for me. Coming to New York changed my life and helped shape me into who I am today.

Jacket, shirt, and shorts MELBOSTAD, boots DR. MARTENS.

“I have more than 70 tattoos on my body. Yes, I spent a lot of money on tattoos!”

Check out Noma tattoo shop in New York City at GENYTH TATTOO - 196 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

DG __ As a fellow immigrant, you made me remember when I came to the States. The story is very similar, the nervousness on the flight, getting to JFK, I didn't have money either. So taking the subway, and I remember getting off at Union Square. I remember so many people running around Union Square, and I kind of panicked.

NH __ My first stop was at Penn Station. And I was like, what is this station? Why is it so big? There are so many people. It was overwhelming at first. It's funny because the New York subway has a distinct scent I can't describe; it's a New York smell. When people ask me what I remember about New York, I always say "The smell" because it's unique. My wife finds it disgusting, but it's so special to me. The smell is different when it rains or when it's windy, and even the subway has a distinct smell. When I lived in Jersey City and took the PATH train, it also had a scent but a different one. [laugh] New York, in general, has different smells here and there, and it always reminds me of New York whenever I'm outside on the streets.

DG __ It sounds like you really like New York.

NH __ I do. New York is one of my favorite cities in the entire world. Even better than my city, which is Incheon.

DG __ Who are some of the most influential people in your life, and why?

NH __ My wife, dog, and parents are all very important people in my life. My wife is from South Korea and had never been to the States before we married. She had to move here because of me; the same goes for my dog. I am grateful for both of them every day. We brought our dog, Odin, from Korea. Here he is [picks up Odin]

DG __ Ooooh, he looks adorable.

NH __ He was on the flight for 14 hours.

Jacket, shirts, and shorts MELBOSTAD, boots DR. MARTENS, helmet EASTON.
( above two images ) Jacket, t-shirt, and shorts MELBOSTAD, boots DR. MARTENS, skateboard RAMONESE.

"I refused to let my parents' fears stop me, so I came to the States without telling them. It was important to prove that I can be a model and follow my dreams."

Sweater, t-shirt, and shorts MELBOSTAD, boots DR. MARTENS, bat MARUCCI.
(left images) Jacket and shirt MELBOSTAD, baseball glove RAWLINGS

DG __ Woah, he was with you on the flight or in the cargo?

NH __ He is heavy, so he has to fly in the cargo; I was so upset and worried.

DG __ He looks happy now. [laughs]

NH __ He is always tired. [laughs]

DG __ What's one thing you're most grateful for?

NH __ I think my look is a key factor in my success as a model. I believe that the reason why I have been able to work in the fashion industry for so long is because my unique look stands out. Having a distinctive look has made me more marketable and opened up opportunities. I am grateful for my appearance and the way I look.

DG __ Can you tell me about a trip or travel experience that significantly impacted you?

NH __ Definitely New York, but another memorable experience was Hawaii. When I went to Hawaii for the first time, I was amazed by the palm trees. I had never seen them in real life before. But they were everywhere in Hawaii, and the water was clear and clean. It was just mind-blowing. I feel lucky that being a model has allowed me to travel to different countries and experience their cultures. I especially love going to Europe because of the beautiful architecture. However, the most impactful destination for me was Hawaii because it was my first time visiting a hot and tropical place like that.

DG __ Hawaii was my favorite destination too. When I saw it the first time, I was like, wow.

NH __ Yeah. I'm still fascinated by its beauty; the people seem so chill there. It just looks so beautiful. And the people are always surfing and are more chill than here in New York.

DG __ Oh well, everybody's more chill than New York [laughs]

NH __ [laughs] Yeah, I agree.

DG __ What's something you're currently working on or looking forward to in your personal life?

Sweater and shorts MELBOSTAD, boots DR. MARTENS, helmet EASTON.

Sweater, t-shirt, and shorts MELBOSTAD, basketball WILSON.

NH __ So, this is a little different because I just moved to a new tattoo shop, and I'm trying to develop my own drawing style while also working on drawings that people like. It can't just be "take it or leave it, this is my style" because I always have to consider what people need and follow current trends to make my drawing into their preferred style while still making it my own. This is currently my biggest goal because having your style as a tattoo artist is always challenging. As a model, I succeeded in having my style, but I haven't quite found it yet as a tattoo artist. So right now, I'm just trying to work my way up there.

DG __What is the tattoo shop's name so people can get tattoos from you?

NH __ Genyth Tattoo, the address is 196 Bowery. We just opened up recently, a couple of months ago. It’s a new business, so I’ll take all the promotion I can get.

Vestal __ I'll put it in both the article and social media. All right?

NH __ Yeah!

DG __ Can you tell us about a particularly meaningful tattoo you have given or received?

NH __ There are many clients who bring their parents' handwriting or a letter to get a tattoo, and there is often a meaningful reason behind it, such as the passing of a loved one or a difficult time in their life. It is really meaningful for both my clients and me when I can give them a tattoo that holds such significance for them. Even though it may not be the most visually striking tattoo, it still has a special place in their heart, which is what matters. Personally, one of my most meaningful tattoos is my family name tattooed on my wrist. Even though I have many tattoos, it still holds a special place in my heart. I think lettering tattoos can be beautiful and still hold much significance for people. Some people might think lettering tattoos are boring, but I believe they are still very cool and can be easily incorporated into a larger tattoo or be a great option for someone getting their first tattoo.

DG __ For my last question. What message do you hope to convey through your art, whether it be through modeling or tattooing?

NH __ I wish that what I do can inspire people. When people comment on what I'm wearing and say they love my style, I recommend the brands I wear because I think they are really cool. If I can influence people this way, it is meaningful to me. I get very happy when I influence people in a good way, and not in a bad way.

DG __ What’s a bad way?

NH __ I don't know. I think bleaching hair might be a bad way for their parents because, at least in Asian countries, Asian parents hate their kids bleaching their hair. My parents still hate that I have blonde hair. They're like, when will you dye your hair back to black?

DG __ Well, I think you look great the way you are. [both laugh]

Collector’s Edition

RELEASE DATE - SEPTEMBER 2023

Sweater, shirt, and shorts MELBOSTAD, basketball WILSON.

Photography Kevin Sinclair, Styling Nicholas Mackinnon, Grooming Pascale Poma, Interview David Gargiulo, Photo assistant Anna Istomina, Talent Noma Han (Fusion). Fashion Melbostad