POKE ME: New York Fashion Week attendees are readying for the event by piling on the armor. According to East Village-based piercing artist and jewelry designer J. Colby Smith, the fashion industry is preparing themselves with piercings. Smith — whose work at New York Adorned has earned him more than 13,000 Instagram followers and loyal fashion-inclined fans including Sky Ferreira and Emily Weiss — says that he experiences a 40 percent spike in business prior to the shows. Smith said that fashion week is his busiest time of the year, even more so than the holiday season. He likened his visits to “getting a haircut or getting your nails done, it makes you feel special.”

Advertisment Cheap Designer Bags Cheap Michael Kors Bags China Wholesale En Bag Air Max Shoes Wholesale Cheap Jordans On sale

Last week, Smith posted to Instagram: “Attention New York Fashion Week-ers, if you would like work done, plan ahead as time is booking up fast.”

Speaking to WWD, Smith says that he typically books between 30 and 40 appointments per day, three to four days per week,  but during fashion week he extends his hours to 10 days of straight bookings — seeing everyone from editors and designers to makeup artists. The appointments, which book up fast, leave many fashion professionals clamoring for favors via text message, drop-ins and incessant phone calls, he said.

On average, each of Smith’s patrons spend between $200 and $1,000 — amounting to more than $200,000 in pre-fashion week piercings alone.

Said Smith: “I have to take a big breath before [fashion week] because I know it’s coming and I can feel the energy changing —‚ I know it’s about to hit like a waiter before a 5 p.m. shift.”