“Helping people reclaim their body, commemorate something meaningful, or leave feeling more empowered in themselves - it’s kind of a little magic spell that we get to cast.” At Echelon Tattoo in Midvale, that sense of transformation lives in every corner of the shop. It can be felt in the artwork covering the walls, in the velvet couches and antique curiosities scattered throughout the space, and most importantly in the partnership between co-owners Ashley Thomas and Desiree Keys. Though their journeys began thousands of miles apart, both women found their way to tattooing through art and a desire to connect with others. Together, they have built a studio that feels less like a tattoo shop and more like a creative community where artists and clients alike feel welcomed, respected, and inspired.

“This job is an insane luxury.” Buck Harvey, owner of Black Rabbit Tattoo, says it with the kind of clarity that comes from living long enough on the other side of it - the years when nothing felt stable, money was tight, and he had a little girl at home, Ava, depending on him.