Paige Mycoskie, an entrepreneur who started her own clothing brand, shares her journey of building Aviator Nation. She discusses the challenges of getting her brand into a high-profile store, the viral success it gained on TikTok, her surprise visit to an exclusive boutique, and the struggles and growth of her business. She also talks about scaling up production, finding a factory, building a team, opening her first store, facing a lawsuit from Adidas, and the continued growth of Aviator Nation.
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Quick takeaways
Paige Mycoskie started Aviator Nation by making clothes for herself and secured a validation from a top store in LA, leading to further success.
Paige decorated her stores with personal belongings, creating a unique and appealing aesthetic that attracted customers.
Participating in trade shows and street fairs helped Paige gain recognition and validate the demand for her vibrant and handmade designs.
Deep dives
Building Aviator Nation: From Handmade Clothes to a Profitable Brand
Paige Mykosti, the founder of Aviator Nation, talks about how she started her brand by making clothes for herself and then started selling them after receiving positive feedback. She secured an order from Fred Segal, one of the top stores in LA, which gave her validation and a boost of confidence. She expanded her presence at trade shows and received a large order after standing out with her vibrant and unique designs. Paige then opened her own store on Abbott Kinney Street in Venice, which became a hit and led to the opening of more stores in different locations. She negotiated hard with her landlords to keep costs low and focused on cash flow to grow her business.
Expanding to More Stores with a Unique Aesthetic
After the success of her initial store, Paige expanded Aviator Nation to additional locations. She decorated the stores with her own personal belongings, such as records, skateboards, and vintage furniture, giving them a unique and distinctive aesthetic. The stores became popular destinations for customers who appreciated the brand's colorful, handmade designs. Paige's hard-negotiating skills and a focus on cash flow allowed her to open multiple stores without taking on significant financial risk.
Finding Success at Trade Shows and Street Fairs
Participating in trade shows and street fairs played a crucial role in the growth of Aviator Nation. Paige had a breakthrough moment at a trade show in Las Vegas, where her vibrant booth stood out among more simplistic designs. She wrote a significant number of orders and received validation that her brand was resonating with customers. Paige also participated in a street fair on Abbott Kinney Street, where she made a substantial profit in a single day, further solidifying the demand for her unique handmade designs.
Navigating Challenges and Building a Team
As Aviator Nation grew, Paige faced challenges such as finding reliable production partners and expanding her team. She trained factory workers to produce garments to her specific standards and overcame resistance from factories that were used to making more basic designs. Paige also learned the importance of negotiating with landlords to secure favorable rent agreements for her stores. Balancing profitability and growth, she focused on cash flow and reinvested profits into the brand. Through her resilience and perseverance, Paige successfully built Aviator Nation from a small, handmade clothing line to a thriving brand with multiple store locations.
Managing the Stores and Employees
Paige shares her approach to managing her brick-and-mortar stores, including negotiating rent, building a positive team dynamic, and making tough decisions regarding employee conflicts. She emphasizes the importance of hiring positive individuals and personally conducting interviews to ensure the right fit for her company. Despite facing challenges in managing a growing team, Paige learns from her mistakes and develops her leadership skills.
Protecting the Brand and Staying True to American Manufacturing
Paige discusses her commitment to producing her clothing line in the United States, highlighting her belief in American-made products and the importance of maintaining control over the manufacturing process. She shares her experiences and the lessons she learned from facing legal challenges with Adidas regarding trademark issues. Determined to protect her brand, Paige navigates the complexities of the legal process and demonstrates her resilience and dedication to preserving her unique identity in the fashion industry.
In 2006, Paige Mycoskie walked into one of the most exclusive boutiques in LA, wearing her handmade clothes and hoping to get a meeting with the buyer. And why not? On the street, people seemed to love her boldly striped shirts and sweats, always asking “Where can I get that?” whenever she wore them. Three years later, Paige opened her first store in Venice Beach, and then she relied on word of mouth – and shrewd negotiating tactics with landlords – to launch more new locations. Despite early struggles with managing her team and a costly scam, Paige grew Aviator Nation into a multi-million dollar brand - that still makes all its clothes in California.
This episode was produced by Alex Cheng with music by Ramtin Arablouei.
Edited by Neva Grant, with research from Rommel Wood.