i am mark
and this is my story
yes , my name is not stache
So how did you and i end up here?
the spark
This all started with my first tattoo. Fresh out of my mum’s nest, I finally worked up the nerve to get inked by Sarah Mifsud (Opuntia). I was so clueless back then that I didn't even know iPads could be used for drawing; as soon as I saw Sarah using Procreate, I was mesmerized.A week or so later, I bought my first entry-level tablet and started churning out "cringe," wannabe-edgy sketches. Sketch by sketch, I sharpened my skills by studying digital artists online.
the niche
Eventually, I decided to find my niche, a style or visual identity that would make people say, "That’s Stache."That’s when I began drawing surreal scenes of iconic Maltese objects and locations. However, I’m someone who gets bored easily, and sticking to just one theme felt limiting. That’s how the idea of illustrating famous Maltese slang phrases came to fruition. From “Kemm int tal-Ostja” to “F’Għoxx Kollox,”this was where I really felt at home.
the journey
These illustrations paved the way for numerous collaborations with some of the coolest local brands, most notably my ongoing work with local fashion powerhouse Parascandalo, which led to an apparel line embracing Maltese culture.
stache studios?
Fair question. I have a moustache. That’s the whole story.Stache Studios wasn’t born overnight or in some branding meeting. By day, I’m a full-time teacher and a parent. By night (and every spare moment in between), I was drawing purely out of passion. What started as a creative outlet slowly grew into something bigger, something shared. One illustration led to another, collaborations followed, and Stache became more than just a signature at the end of a print , it became a name people can relate to.Stache Studios is where Maltese culture meets humor, attitude, and an alternative edge. Every piece is created to feel personal and unapologetically local, whether it’s a slang phrase you’ve heard your whole life or a surreal twist on places you know by heart. This isn’t art made to blend in , it’s made to mean something.None of this would exist without the people who support, share, wear, and hang my work. What started as a personal passion has grown into a community, and for that, I’m endlessly grateful.