Where it comes from

The painted skull belongs to Día de los Muertos, the two-day festival (1–2 November) that blends pre-Hispanic views of the afterlife with Catholic All Souls’ Day. Families build altars, cook favourite foods, light candles and place brightly decorated sugar skulls—calaveras—to welcome the spirits of loved ones home.

What it stands for

A calavera is joyful, not morbid. The skeleton reminds us that death is the one thing we all share, while the vivid colours, flowers and patterns celebrate every person’s unique story. In short: it mocks death to affirm life.

How it travelled

Chicano muralists in the 1960s, Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits, Hollywood films like Coco and global streetwear have carried the motif far beyond Mexico. Around the world it has become a shorthand for remembrance, ancestry and fearless acceptance of mortality.

Our Wear Death / Skulls in the Machine line sells textiles and prints only. Calavera make-up never appears on the garments—only on the AI-generated models who wear them in our visuals. Here’s why that’s both fitting and culturally safe:

1. 400 AI-generated skull prints salute 100 late artists whose work is now public-domain. The calavera make-up on our models makes that intent clear: “remember, don’t fear.”
   
   
2. No sombreros or fiesta clichés. The make-up is clean, dignified and rooted in authentic Día-de-los-Muertos ornamentation.
   
   
3. Every product page links to this explainer, and every social post pins a mini-FAQ. We name the tradition openly and never claim it as our own invention.
   
   
4. A fixed share of revenue will support a nonprofit that preserves Mexican art and culture. We're still looking for projects.
   
   
5. All models are AI-generated, spanning genders and skin tones—showing that memory belongs to everyone while avoiding likeness misuse.
   
   
6. The styles we reinterpret come from creators who passed away more than 70 years ago, allowing homage without copyright conflict.
   
   
7. Questions or critiques? Drop them in the comments or use the contact form below—remembrance should be a conversation, not a monologue.
   

Bottom line

The calavera face-paint you see in our photos is a respectful visual metaphor, not a product. It honours the same spirit our shirts carry: transforming memory into something you can wear—while keeping the symbol’s original meaning intact.