Following the breakout success of Ryan Coogler’s gothic thriller Sinners starring Michael B. Jordan, custom vampire fang grills have become the hottest accessory of the season — with orders surging by over 300%.
The film, set in 1930s Mississippi, follows twin brothers who open a juke joint and face a rising supernatural threat. With its rich fusion of Southern gothic horror, blues, and Black spirituality, Sinners has struck a cultural chord — and now, its impact is showing up in street fashion, especially through a sharp resurgence of custom fang grills.
“We thought this would be a seasonal thing,” said Leon “Dripfang” Morales, owner of Bloodline Grills in Atlanta. “But as soon as Sinners hit, everyone wanted ‘that vampire bite in gold.’ We had over 200 orders in one week.”
While the demand may be new, the art of grills — and fang grills specifically — has deep roots in Black culture. Gold dental caps first gained popularity in the 1980s through hip-hop artists who transformed dental necessity into statement jewelry. From Slick Rick’s iced-out smile to Nelly’s “Grillz” anthem in the 2000s, grills have long symbolized defiance, wealth, and style.
Fang grills — a more theatrical twist on the traditional style — began appearing in underground hip-hop scenes in the 1990s, often worn by Southern artists experimenting with horrorcore and gothic aesthetics. Today, they’ve evolved into luxury status symbols, often custom-molded with precious metals and stones.
“It’s fashion-meets-mythology,” said Ayesha Vonn, co-owner of Vonn & Venom in Los Angeles. “People aren’t just buying jewelry — they’re buying a persona. The Sinners vampires aren’t monsters. They’re rebels, seducers, gods. Our clients want to embody that energy.”
Buyers are eager to join the movement. “I’m not trying to cosplay a vampire — I am the vibe,” said Tré Matthews, who commissioned a sterling silver upper grill with fang tips. “These grills make me feel unstoppable. It’s power in your mouth.”
And while some designers admit they’ve had to steer clients away from more extreme requests — like surgical implants or working retractables — most are leaning into the creativity.
“This isn’t just a fad,” Morales added. “Grills have always been our thing. Now, we’re just putting a little more bite behind the shine.”
With Sinners 2 already confirmed for development, fang grills may be more than a fashion statement — they might be the new crown for the culturally undead.
