Charlie Borelli
Charlie's interest in body modification firmly took hold with the re-emergence of modern ear stretching in the early-2000s emo music scene. At the first sight of stretched lobes on her high-school classmates, she was enamored. Growing up in a conservative household, body modifications of any kind were frowned upon, but at the age of 13 she defiantly bought her first pair of larger gauge earrings at Hot Topic and has been stretching ever since. Continuing with various facial piercings over the years, including her first nostril piercing done by herself at age 15, Charlie discovered piercings to be both an act of self-expression and autonomy.
After graduating from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in English and Education, she set off to pursue a teaching job but was constantly torn between removing and hiding her piercings in order to maintain a job in the education field. A career change came in the form of healthcare and a job in a hospital. Unfortunately it was still not a good fit as body modification continued to be an important part of her identity and being involved in the community a lifelong dream.
As a customer of Infinite, the studio represented the accepting community and interests Charlie felt was lacking in her prior positions. She is elated to join Infinite’s counter staff and feel that sense of coming home. Outside of body modification, her interests include reading Stephen King and all things true crime, playing video games, and curating an Instagram for her cat, Smush.
Pronouns: She/Her
Hal Marie
Coming from the Bay Area, Hal moved to Philadelphia during 2020 before joining the Infinite team. They have always had a strong interest in body modification, starting with watching how the counter culture engaged with it in San Francisco as a child. This sparked a desire to shape their body on their own terms, developing alongside a strong concept of self.
Growing over the years as they became involved within the punk scene, they spent much of their time volunteering at a local venue, and began their piercing journey with a septum ring. They love sharing this passion with others and building community around the empowerment of self determination through body modification.
Graduating from California College of the Arts with a bachelor in Illustration, art has always been a forefront for them throughout the years, often mixing with their passion for botany and the natural world. In their spare time, they can often be found out hiking with their dog, working on various projects both artistic and utilitarian, or practicing banjo.
Pronouns: They/Them
Khyla Corbin
Born and raised in South Philly, Khyla became interested in the world of body modification at a young age. As a kid, she spent much of her free time on the internet dressing up girls with piercings and tattoos on fashion websites. When she was 16 she asked her mom to take her to get her nose pierced, and although her mom said yes, she never did take her in. When Khyla turned 18 she came to Infinite to get her nose pierced and has been pierced here several times since. While at the studio, she loves looking at jewelry with clients and helping them find the perfect piece for their piercings. When she's not working, she enjoys biking, reading, hanging with her dogs, and gaming.
Pronouns: She/They
Philomena Lithgow
Philomena grew up on the Northeast side of the city, often taking Septa routes that would lead her to the endless wonders of South Street, Philadelphia. From going to shows at the TLA to window shopping and picking up a few vintage goods along the way, Philomena would find herself stopping in to admire all of the jewelry at the counters of Infinite. On her 18th birthday in 2015, she initiated her journey into legal adulthood with a septum piercing done at the hands of Infinite, which left her with a feeling of empowerment that went beyond anything she imagined. Philomena’s 2024 New Year’s resolution was to feel empowered by stepping out of their comfort zone more, as well as making changes in her career to explore more of their interests and what she loves; handling jewelry and body modification being two of those interests. After nearly a decade and a few piercings later, Philomena has long since been enamored with the extensive knowledge and passions of being a jewelry specialist (and with those who worked at Infinite being some of the coolest people in Philadelphia). When offered the opportunity to join Infinite’s team, she was over the moon. Excited and eager to work hands-on with jewelry, Philomena is committed to nurturing their knowledge from everything to the history of body modification, to the very jewelry that they love to help you in decorating your anatomy with.
When she is not working behind the counter, you can find Philomena thrifting all over the tri-state area. She especially loves vintage designer, curating numerous racks of secondhand clothing, jewelry and cute (sometimes freaky) trinkets. They are a firm believer in healing and keeping your inner-child alive, minus the hazards of chewing on Polly Pocket clothes like she often did during their childhood (if you know, you know). From spending time dressing up their cat (Shiitake <3), to picnic dates at FDR, to singing karaoke and going out dancing the night away with her best friends/chosen family, Philomena is a true Libra through and through. If you ever notice them while working at the counter, don't be shy and say hi!
Pronouns: She/They
Cicada Rose
Cicada’s fascination for body modification started during their preteen years after seeing two punks with massive stretched ears and metal in their faces on the subway, and they were instantly enamored by the aesthetic and self-expression that piercings offered. They would sneak onto their mom’s computer to marvel at BMEzine and piercing blogs, and their piercing journey started with trying to secretly stretch their ears as big as possible without their parents noticing. As a trans person, Cicada finds a deep appreciation for the connection to one’s body, depth of individual self-expression, and total autonomy that body modification can assist with.
They grew up bouncing around both coasts before moving to Portland, Oregon. Cicada fulfilled their dream of working in a piercing studio, Robot Piercing & Tattoo, for over four years before deciding to take a hiatus from the industry to fulfill their other dream of traveling anywhere their heart desires with just a backpack and a bedroll, as well as attend school for herbal medicine. They recently landed in Philadelphia, and are so excited to get back to the piercing world.
Outside of the studio, Cicada is an herbalist studying natural hormone assistance for trans people; plays banjo, washboard, and the singing saw (maybe play is a strong word…it doesn’t sound very good); takes disposable film photos; listens to gabber, sad country songs, and a lot of Dystopia; and travels.
Pronouns: They/Them
Steele Knapstein
As a rebellious teen growing up in a relatively conservative catholic family, Steele’s love for body piercing started with a septum. As someone who had always admired body adornment in the form of piercings and tattoos from afar, it was the first time she had dipped her own toe into the waters of a world that deeply fascinated and excited her. Though the DIY piercing was too low and a little crooked (and was pulled by a professional to be re-pierced soon after) the feeling of looking in the mirror for the first time afterwards and feeling just a little more herself, combined with that particular rush of adrenaline you get from piercing, she was hooked.
Steele marked her 18th birthday with a piercing appointment with Infinite alumn Jay McColm, and as she continued to get pierced, her love of body modification grew stronger and stronger. When Jay opened his own shop in 2022, Sky Blue Piercing, Steele came on as a jewelry specialist. Sharing the joy of body piercing with clients and working with jewelry was a dream come true. With Jay’s encouragement, Steele is over the moon to continue her career in body modification as a jewelry specialist at Infinite.
When not working, Steele enjoys creating art and the endless pursuit of creative progression, live music, and cuddling up with her cat, Venus.
Pronouns: She/They
Hau Phan
Since Hau’s initial visit to Infinite Body Piercing in 2010, they have been captivated by the industry and process of piercing, returning year after year to the trusted team in Philadelphia.
From eager client to jewelry specialist, Hau is passionate about carving out their own unique space in the realm of body modification in ways that speak to their culture, queerness, and personal expression - ways they’re still presently discovering. Hau believes in the power of choice and that body modification should be possible and accessible for all. This is why, at work, you’ll often find him smiling enthusiastically, waving from behind our glass doors, hopeful to empower clients through every stage of their piercing journey.
Beyond work, you can find Hau obsessing over the art of drag, curating their Instagram of drag tattoos from artists worldwide, replaying the same songs on end, and binge-watching horror movies with their partner and son.
Pronouns: They/He
Severin Orr
Growing up in an eclectic community of Philly artists, punks, and queer elders, Severin’s interest in body modification sprouted from a lifelong love of and fascination with alternative subcultures. Although he only got his first non-lobe piercing his sophomore year of college and his first tattoo at 23, Severin has been constantly seeking out new means of self expression through fashion and art for as long as he can remember, and body modification came naturally as a part of that search.
When the pandemic forced them to come back home from school and take a step back to reevaluate what they wanted out of life, the answer came in the form of a new passion: archaeology. Upon his return to academia, Severin threw himself into the world of classics, with a particular fixation on funerary archaeology and how it relates to ancient ideas of sex, gender, and sexuality. Now, Severin’s main interest is in exploring the ways that communities used funerary practices to preserve elements of the deceased’s identity— and how piercings and tattoos have been an important extension of identity since time immemorial.
This interest in the history of body modification and expression led Severin to apply to Infinite after graduating. He hopes to be able to learn from and take part in these ancient practices that have continued to evolve and develop over thousands of years, not only in the pursuit of knowledge, but also to reclaim his own body and identity through modification. When he’s not working behind the counter or yapping about archaeology for hours on end, Severin can be found sketching, painting miniatures, playing tabletop games, reading manga, and looking at pictures of bats online.
Pronouns: He/They
Newell Catania
Newell became interested in body modification at a young age. Unable to ignore the divine pull towards shiny things, they dropped out of liberal arts college and became a jeweler! After graduating from the Metals/Jewelry/CAD-CAM program at Tyler School of Art, they worked at a local Philadelphia maker space managing the jewelry studio and teaching classes. While not at Infinite, Newell works in home demolition and renovation.
An artist above all else, Newell finds themself drawn to the world of Contemporary Art Jewelry. Their art practice explores nostalgia, discard theory, imperfection, materiality, found objects, queerness, fatness, containment, craftsmanship, opulence, and absurdity. Newell’s work has been exhibited regionally, as well as published in both Metalsmith and Ornament Magazines.
Growing up queer, genderqueer, and fat in the homogenous suburbs of Philly, Newell developed an early curiosity about counter culture and vibrant self expression. They love the freedom afforded by body modification, viewing it as a way to empower their inner child and develop bodily autonomy.
In their free time, Newell enjoys other craft and DIY adventures, being in bodies of water, reading, spending time with pals, and collecting cool trash off the streets of Philadelphia.
Pronouns: They/She