Cult-favorite piercing studio Studs opens first Chicago location

Cult-favorite piercing studio and earring retailer Studs debuted their newest permanent location along Chicago’s Gold Coast on Wednesday, November 7. Located at 1165 N. State St, the storefront is the company’s 20th location.

Studs was founded in 2019 by CEO Anna Harman and Co-founder Lisa Bubbers in the Nolita neighborhood of New York City. The company has since expanded to locations around the country including Los Angeles, Miami, and now Chicago. The Studs experience, dubbed “Earscaping”, encompasses ear piercing, ear piercing healing, and earring shopping.

“[We] founded Studs in 2019 to reimagine the ear piercing and earring shopping experience for new generations”, says Harman, “Since inception, we’ve offered a wide assortment of cute, high-quality earrings at a range of prices that are safe for sensitive ears.”

The brand is known for its playful novelty earrings, curated earring sets, and two-tone gold and silver pairs. Choose from different styles like close-fitting “huggie” hoops, dangly chain links, sparkling studs, and many other glamorous designs.

Studs has gained popularity among Gen Z and Millenials for its simple, stylish designs. Celebrities including Latin pop singer Rosalía and fashion blogger Emma Chamberlain have sported the brand's designs. 

Studs are working to revolutionize the piercing experience, doing away with antiquated methods like “piercing guns”, which create jagged and unsterile piercings. “We offer a better retail and digital experience that prioritizes safety and piercer expertise in a cool, fun, and welcoming environment”, says Harman.

At Studs, skilled piercing technicians utilize sterile, single-use needles to create even piercings that don’t unnecessarily tear or harm the skin. The studio’s piercing experts offer consultations to guide the process and determine which earrings work best for every customer’s unique needs.

In celebration of their new Chicago location, Studs is launching two limited-time Chicago-themed earring sets on December 6th, just in time for the holidays. The “Chicago '' set features a Chicago Basketball jersey huggie earring, a Chicago hot dog huggie, and a Deep Dish pizza huggie. The “Windy City'' set includes a two-tone hoop, a gold Chicago Basketball Jersey earring, and a silver Cloud Gate earring.

Studs is now open on the Gold Coast from 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily. Book an appointment online (ages 13+) or walk-in and get pierced the same day!

According to Harman, Studs plans to establish additional storefronts around Chicago in the near future. “...while Gold Coast is our first, it will by no means be our only location in the area. Expect to see more Studs Studios open nearby in 2024!”