Three in one: barbershop, tattoo studio and luxury
We introduce you ELIJAH _(trafalgar street, 6) _ the new creative project of the british model stephen james , known for being tattooed from head to toe. James, who before being a model began his professional career as a footballer, playing for the Scottish Youth National Team, has been the image since 2012 of Calvin Klein, Philipp Plein, Diesel, GQ, Men's Health Magazine, alongside personalities such as Madonna or Irina Shaik.
If this is not enough as a cover letter, we will also say that it has, nothing more and nothing less, with 2.3 million followers on Instagram and lately we see him covering the outside of all the buses in Barcelona.
The model Stephen James in his barbershop
Stephen arrived in Spain seven years ago now, he settled in Barcelona and he has just opened the first luxury Barbershop and Tattoo Shop in Spain there with a clothing store inside and a take away cafeteria included.
“In 2012 I started working as a model in Spain thanks to the Elite model agency in Barcelona. After years sharing flats with models and students, living in the Gothic quarter and falling in love with the city and its quality of life, I decided to bring my family and now we all live here.” Stephen explains to Traveler.es.
Arriving at the entrance to the barbershop, an inconspicuous barber's pole and a sign in English that reads Therapy is expensive, get a haircut (Doing therapy is expensive, cut your hair) they welcome you.
The first impression when entering the premises is probably the same as when you first meet Stephen: Immensity, extreme neatness, calculated modernity and I don't know what makes it mysterious.
In Elijah there is a family atmosphere
However, after a while inside, when you notice the unmistakable sound of razors, of the family environment –Some days his mother attends the reception and sometimes one of his two dogs walk happily through the barbershop–, the smell of freshly brewed coffee or the subtle references to his love for Barcelona, his life as a model and his love for well-done tattoos… you experience a feeling of closeness, love of detail and professionalism, and you suddenly understand the real motive and hard work behind ELIJAH.
In addition Stephen confesses to us: “Because of my work as a model I spend the day traveling. Unintentionally I am constantly seeing new concepts and a little out of necessity I realized that there was an unfilled niche in Spain", he counts.
" In addition, being a model requires me to always be perfect, take care of my physique and above all take care of my great differential, which are my tattoos. After seven years without finding a good barbershop or tattoo shop, neither in the city where I live nor in all of Spain, where I can cut my hair or get a tattoo with the level offered, for example, in London or New York, I decided to open my own and over time I hope to scale ELIJAH with new openings around the world”.
After climbing three steps you discover the universe of Stephen James. A huge space with white walls with visible industrial details and also some personal ones. Polished microcement floor divided into three well-differentiated areas with glass doors and walls.
The drawing of the ground is part of the tattoo that he wears on his body
“All the design of the premises, decoration and creative concept of ELIJAH is mine and in it I have poured my values, my passions and my most personal self. On some wall there is even some of my work as a model and the floor of some areas of the store is actually part of the tattoo that I have all over my body and that it has, like the name of the whole project, a lot of meaning for me”, he explains.
It all starts at barbershop located at the main entrance, with enough space for six authentic Elvis barber chairs (the best, most authentic and of all life), manufactured by hand in Japan and in which renowned young international hairdressers delight lovers of a good cut and a good old school shave (in the old fashioned way).
In addition, in the barbershop they use exclusive brands of hair and shaving products that land in Spain for the first time and can only be consumed there.
“Since we opened many brands of luxury products for hair or shaving that had not yet marketed their products in Spain, they are doing so thanks to the creation of ELIJAH, that is why, of all, we only want to offer the best and always be in constant search for the best products”, agrees its creator.
Collections of clothing and accessories in your store
After a counter-cafeteria we arrive at the store where, through collaborations with local talents and cool people of the city, offer collections of clothing and accessories that change every one or two months of leading brands.
And hidden behind the only wall in the whole place we find an area to work with computers and with a huge photograph of the model.
Finally, at the back of the premises are six pristine glass rooms for tattooing with comfortable black leather tables for customers and where, as in the barbershop, only the best tattooists in the world are the lucky ones to work on them.
“Hard and constant work is a priority for me. Everything I have I have earned alone and I do not forget the humble beginnings where I come from. Although I am creating this new project, I respect my career as a model very much, since it is actually thanks to her that I am now able to fulfill a dream and create my own Universe in Barcelona", he explains.
tattoo tools
"I also know that if the work is well done and I keep fighting to stay on top, both worlds (model and ELIJAH) feed off each other. In the same way, only the best professionals in the world in both sectors (barbershop and tattoo) will be chosen to work at ELIJAH” he concludes.
Since its opening in September 2018 you will find it always open from Monday to Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., although we can tell you that Stephen is finalizing the last details of the official grand opening that will take place during the month of March 2019, hand in hand with his friend David Beckham. We'll be alert.
Tattoos and beards, this is the new luxury