Paige Mycoskie is an American artist, fashion designer, and businesswoman, best known as the founder and owner of the 1970s-inspired clothing company, Aviator Nation. She is the sister of Blake Mycoskie, founder of Toms Shoes. In 2013, Mycoskie was named GQ's Menswear Designer of the Year and in 2007 was named one of LA Business Journal's “Top Bosses Under 30”.
Early life and education
Mycoskie was born in Arlington, Texas to Pam Mycoskie, an author and Mike Mycoskie, an orthopedic surgeon. She has two siblings: younger brother Tyler Mycoskie and older brother Blake Mycoskie, founder of Toms Shoes. She attended Arlington Martin High School where she was recognized as a state Volleyball champion. Excelling in sports, she was also on the Arizona State UniversityWater Ski Team while attending ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. An avid athlete, she still enjoys surfing; scuba diving; water skiing; and snowboarding. Mycoskie spent her teenage years in Arlington on the hunt for 70s vintage tees and hoodies and attending concerts at Starplex, the nearby amphitheatre. She particularly is inspired by the history and the phenomena created by music and art festivals. Mycoskie cites Woodstock as a major influence in both her work and her personal life as the festival best encapsulates music's power of connectivity, its ability to reveal our humanity, creativity, and personal expression.
Mycoskie and her brother Blake auditioned for CBS’ Survivor in 2001, independently sending in their applications. They both made it to final interviews. Realizing they were siblings, executives at CBS offered to cast both of them for season two of The Amazing Race. They agreed to that opportunity preferring to compete as a team. They finished in third place, missing the million dollar prize by four minutes.
Career
In 2001 Mycoskie moved to Southern California for her first internship at Shape Magazine. She soon shifted focus to freelance photography, video, graphic design, and branding. She steadily developed successful campaigns in branding and commercials, and created the TOMS logo for her brother's company TOMS Shoes. She became a buyer's assistant at ZJ Boarding House in Venice, CA. Discovering that vintage clothing was harder to find, Mycoskie decided to create her own clothes, sewing, dying, and designing herself. Debuting with a white hoodie with rainbow stripes in the hood, known as the brand's “Signature Hoodie”, Aviator Nation was in business. The California surf culture is evident in all her pieces designing clothing, accessories, and surfboards.
Aviator Nation
Mycoskie established Aviator Nation in Venice, CA in 2006. Gravitating towards clothing that suit her active lifestyle, Aviator Nation is a complete contemporary casual wearlifestyle brand, selling T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, tanks, outerwear, and hats to name a few. Mycoskie remains true to her inspired era, studying vintage fabrics, the process of fiber weaving, inks, and dye treatments popular in the 70s. Production of garments employ hand stitching and hand drawn graphics, ensuring originality, a vintage essence, and a worn-in feel. Aviator Nation has a main focus in connecting fashion with music festivals, raising funds for philanthropies, and generating a greater awareness of our collective consciousness. The brand works with Global Citizen Festival by creating festival merchandise with proceeds aiding in the festival's ongoing campaign to end poverty. The brand also has partnerships with Austin City Limits Music Festival; Lollapalooza Music Festival; and with John Mayer’s previous concert tours.
Personal life
Mycoskie is an avid surfer/musician and loves the Hawaiian Islands. Passions for surfing, music, and her Southern California lifestyle are all very present in her signature designs. Music fuels much of her artistry, noting Fleetwood Mac, The Beach Boys, and The Eagles as sound favorites. Aviator Nation's prints include drawings from Mycoskie's earliest sketches, and she still hand draws some of the icons found on her clothing from the signature lightning bolts to psychedelic maidens. The use of rainbows and bright colors found in Aviator Nation clothing that has now become the brand's niche, comes from her mother Pam's preference of decorating and dressing Mycoskie in bold colors and rainbows prints. Mycoskie has done projects and events for a variety of non-profits including Charity Water; Surf Aid; Heal the Bay; Surfer's Healing; The Flatwater Foundation; and Global Citizen. She resides in Malibu, California.
