Immortal INK was founded by creationist Joe “Black Cholo” Garret in 2012. Cholo found his passion for designing in 2008 after creating his first custom piece for his high school homecoming week. Inspired by the urban streets of Memphis Tennessee and the numerous cultures in his community, Cholo began designing pieces that would blend urban street-wear with traditional culture staples. After making several appearances in local and regional fashion shows, Cholo quickly became a household name and underground favorite. Uniting the entire mid-south with his haute couture, by 2011 Black Cholo decided to appeal to more cultures around the world. Finding new success, he realized his seams in fabric were not only connecting cultures in Memphis, but leaving permanent imprints around the globe. Cholo’s work eventually served as a liasion for people, cultures, and their connection to gods. Thus, the term Immortal INK derived. To symbolize the strength of what the brand stood for and his love for his home town, Cholo found significance in the use of Egyptian eternal hieroglyphics such as the Ankh the Eye of Ra and Pharaohs.