Warrior was born in 1982 as a small factory in Penndel Pennsylvania. Carl was designing and producing punkwear for the whole world out of this tiny shop.  His hard edge designs were worn by Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Billy Idol, Herbie Hancock, and some of the best local rock and roll bands Philly ever produced. 

In 1986 Warrior opened its first retail store in Northeast Philadelphia, where it still is today.  Now the local bands really had a place to go for fabulous custom clothes and costumes from all over the world.  Big hair, spandex, wild clothes and accesories dominated Warrior, but there was something new in the wind...

Piercing!

It started out when we received the ill-advised ear piercing gun.  Customers wanted a stud in their ears and we were happy to oblige, that was what the gun was designed for.  Then they wanted their upper ears and nostrils pierced.  We used what we had, the gun.  It seemed to do the job, but something wasn't right.  When people started requesting more exotic areas of their bodies to be pierced, we instinctively knew the ear piercing gun was not the right tool for the job.

So, Carl and Sage researched sources for the best equipment and jewelry available in those days.  They perfected techniques and based sterilization on hospital operating room  procedures.  Sage began education in the field of Bloodborne Pathogens and CPR.  The aftercare was developed after  studying and research into the field of external skeletal fixators (the only field of medicine that comes close to body piercing).  And Warrior's first Body piercing Studio was opened in a brand new room in the store.

Times changed and the store grew.  Now, exotic clothing for the dancers began to fill the racks as all the menswear was phased out.  Incredible shoes and boots were lining the walls, wigs, and patent leather and latex.  A Philly nightclub, Asylum (now defunct), requested that Warrior do body piercing in one of their upstairs chambers at no regular basis.  All through the day, then night and into the early morning hours Carl, and Sage pierced until they had their morning coffee.

Warrior opened a second body piercing establishment  in 1992 on Main Street in New Hope.  Old friends of Carl who owned the store Zoli offered him a balcony location in their gorgeous store to run Warrior Body Piercing.   Now, more piercers had to go through Warrior's rigorous training program in order to fill the need for business.  But the local community and board in New Hope hated it.  They passed a law stating that no new body piercing or tattoo establishments could be opened in their town, and if you were already piercing you could never move.  In April 2000 the Zoli store was sold to a restaurant and because of this new law, Warrior had no place to go.  Warrior had to pack up.

Meanwhile, in 1994 Warrior opened up their South Street body piercing location.  Those were exciting times.  Everything about piercing was new and on the edge.  Of course, more excellent piercers were added to Warrior's staff after suffering through their extensive apprenticeships.  Now different and more beautiful jewelry became available. Warrior began filling their cases with the most exclusive selection of body jewlery available anywhere in Phialdelphia.  Today this shop is the top of the line piercing-only establishment on South Street.  It's a fun and busy shop to visit and one of the best places to get pierced late on a Saturday night.

Warrior then decided to open its first suburban location in 1997 in Levittown, Bucks County, Pa.  This store the sister store of the Northeast Philly store.  Chock full of g-sets, thi hi boots, black clothes with chains and studs, exotic costumes, as well as a glass block enclosed private sterile piercing room.  Once again,  local neighborhood folks resisted this growth.  They were afraid it would "urbanize" their bucolic aura and degrade the area with pierced tattooed hooligans (is this 1950?). After a township meeting, Warrior collected over 500 signatures of people really wanting this kind of place in Levittown.  And so we stayed, and so we grew.  Today mom's and dad's bring their underage kids to this bright and sunny store for their piercings, and dancers bring their babies and toddlers while they try on the newest pair of platforms. 

Warrior's staff has grown. Sage is the office manager now, Carl still pierces, never sews anything, and is always under a stack of paperwork.  And Mona still buys the clothes and merchandises the stores.  It is an ever-growing evolution, we hope you enjoy it.