Laura Mestre

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

Hi! I'm Laura Mestre, although most people know me as Lau. I'm a Spanish tattoo artist and the founder of De La Mar Tattoo, a brand I created in 2022.

I was born and raised in Mallorca, a beautiful island in the Mediterranean, and I'm currently based on the island of Oahu, Hawaiʻi, where I work as a resident tattoo artist at The Collective in Kailua.

I specialize in fine-line tattoos and marine-inspired microrealism. Since starting my professional career in 2021, I've had the opportunity to tattoo across more than ten European countries and different parts of the United States.

In 2025, I won 1st Place for Best Small Tattoo at the Gijón Tattoo Convention and also served as a judge at a tattoo convention in Hawaiʻi.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

What I love most about living in Hawaiʻi is definitely the aloha spirit. There's something really special about the sense of community, the kindness of the people, and the deep respect for the land, nature, and local culture.

Of course, the islands are incredibly beautiful, from the mountains and lush landscapes to the beaches and amazing marine life. But what makes Hawaiʻi truly special to me goes beyond its natural beauty. It's the way people connect with each other and their surroundings.

Living here has taught me a lot about appreciating and respecting the place you call home, and I feel really grateful to be part of this community.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

De La Mar Tattoo started in 2022 as a way to bring together my passion for tattooing, art, and the ocean.

At first, it was mainly a personal tattoo project, but I wanted to create something that could go beyond my work as an artist. We began designing merchandise using my own illustrations, including organic cotton clothing and stickers inspired by marine life. It started very naturally, with friends and clients wearing the designs, and slowly grew into a small community of people who shared the same connection with the ocean.

Now we're taking a really exciting step by expanding De La Mar into professional tattoo supplies.

When I moved to the United States, I realized how difficult it was to find certain tattoo needle cartridges that I was used to working with in Europe. My work involves extremely delicate lines and tiny details, so having the right tools makes a huge difference.

Rather than constantly trying to source my favorite European needles, I decided to start developing our own line of tattoo cartridges, focusing on the precision and consistency I look for in my everyday work.

We're currently preparing to launch our first De La Mar Tattoo Cartridges collection, designed with fine-line tattoo artists in mind.

For me, this is a way of turning my own experience and needs as a professional tattoo artist into something that can also help other artists.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

I would say start with something you genuinely love and believe in, but also make sure you're creating something that has real value for other people.

When I started De La Mar, I didn't have a big business plan or imagine it becoming a brand with its own products. I just wanted to share my artwork and create things that reflected my values.

Over time, I've learned that some of the best business ideas come from problems you experience yourself. That's exactly what happened with our tattoo needles.

My advice would be to start small, listen to the people around you, be willing to learn, and don't be afraid to evolve. You don't need to have everything figured out from the beginning.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

The feedback that means the most to me is when someone tells me their tattoo feels like something really personal, not just a beautiful design.

A lot of my clients choose marine animals because they have a special connection to the ocean, a particular memory, or an experience that means something to them.

Knowing that I've managed to capture that feeling through my artwork is incredibly rewarding.

It's a reminder that even the smallest tattoo can carry a lot of meaning, and that's something I try to keep in mind with every piece I create.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I'd love to see De La Mar continue growing into a brand that connects art, tattooing, and respect for the ocean.

One of my biggest goals right now is to successfully launch our tattoo cartridges and make them available to artists across the United States and eventually Europe.

I also want to keep developing my career as a tattoo artist, traveling to different studios and conventions, collaborating with other professionals, and sharing my knowledge through masterclasses. I've already taught a masterclass in Mallorca, and next month I'll be teaching another one here in Hawaiʻi. I'd love to continue sharing my experience and teaching more masterclasses across the mainland United States.

In the longer term, I'd also like to explore other products that align with De La Mar's values, particularly more sustainable options within the tattoo industry.

I don't want De La Mar to become just another tattoo supply brand. I'd love it to grow into something that brings together a community of artists and ocean lovers while finding meaningful ways to support marine conservation.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think one of the biggest misconceptions is that tattooing is simply about being good at drawing.

Of course, artistic ability is essential, but there's so much more behind being a professional tattoo artist. You need technical knowledge, precision, an understanding of the skin, hygiene and safety, and the ability to work with people and understand what they're looking for.

And when you start building your own brand, there's an entirely different side to the profession. Suddenly you're dealing with marketing, product development, suppliers, customer relationships, and all the little details involved in running a business.

Tattooing is a very demanding profession, both artistically and technically, and I think people sometimes underestimate how much dedication goes into it.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

One of my biggest challenges has been learning how to grow a business while continuing to work full-time as a tattoo artist.

Tattooing already requires a lot of time and dedication, especially when you're traveling, working in different studios, and building a clientele in a new country.

Developing our own tattoo cartridges has been another completely new challenge. I've spent years focusing on improving my tattooing, but creating a physical product involves learning about manufacturing, suppliers, quality control, packaging, and logistics.

Moving from Europe to the United States also meant adapting to a different market and finding new ways to source the materials I needed.

I've learned to approach these challenges one step at a time, doing plenty of research, asking questions, and surrounding myself with people who have experience in areas where I still have a lot to learn.

It's definitely been a learning process, but I think that's also one of the most exciting parts of building something of your own.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

Music artist: Celine Dion and athlete: my brother. He was a goalkeeper, and I loved watching him play.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Absolutely! First, I'd love to thank all the clients who have trusted me with their tattoos over the years. They're the reason I've been able to turn something I love into my career.

A special thank you to my partner Eric, who has been helping me build De La Mar behind the scenes, and to all the friends and artists who have supported us along the way.

I'm also very grateful to Lisa and Brett from The Collective in Kailua Hawaiʻi for welcoming me into their tattoo community, and to Mad Rabbit for supporting my work.

And of course, a special shoutout to Sea Shepherd. Collaborating with them on marine conservation campaigns has been an incredible opportunity to connect my artwork with a cause I deeply care about.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can find my work, learn more about my story, and explore De La Mar Tattoo through my website and Instagram.

Website: https://www.delamartattoo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delamartattoo/

I'll also be sharing updates about our upcoming De La Mar Tattoo Cartridges launch and future projects there!