5 Q's with Aviator Nation's Paige Mycoskie!

Do you live for soft, scrumptious, stylish tee-shirts like I do? Maybe it's my So Cal roots, but when you throw on that vintage tee with jeans and gladiator sandals to grab your morning latte, you can't help but feel fabulous. Texas-turned-LA-girl Paige Mycoskie is all about that fab feel too! But Paige has amped up the phenom-factor with super hip designs with her 2-year-old line of casual-chic threads, Aviator Nation.

Loads of celebs like Vanessa Hudgens, Whitney Port, Kristen Stewart and Selena Gomez have all been spotted about town in AN's easy vintage looks. While chillin' and designing in a crunchy beach side town of LA, Paige took a few secs out of her busy schedule to give us the DL on her design-philosophy! Wanna know how she got her start and her advice to you? Read on!

What inspires you and inspired the start of Aviator Nation?
I could not find any clothes that I liked except in thrift stores. I only buy/wear real vintage tee-shirts because they are so much softer and the designs are just so much cooler than what all these other tee-shirt companies are doing. There is a difference in "authentic vintage." I've noticed every year it gets a little harder to find cool authentic vintage tees so I realized I needed to start making my own.

As soon as we felt your merch, we were hooked! How do you get your tees, sweatshirts and pants that soft?
The fabric process is the most difficult and specific of my designs. I am EXTREMELY picky when it comes to the way the stuff should feel. I have tested hundreds of fabrics with several wash and dye processes to find the "perfect formula". This was trial and error but finally we got it right.
And as far as how I get them that soft....well "it's classified... You know I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you" -- that's a quote from my favorite movie Top Gun.

You seem to be super influenced by LA. What do you love about it?
I do love LA and there are a lot of reasons. I love the weather because I spend a lot of time outdoors, I love the beach and the killer sunsets every night. I love the energy and talent I'm surrounded by constantly. There are so many people out here trying to follow their dream or start the next best thing and that's inspiration in itself. I'm a competitive person and to see so many people trying to do something big makes me realize I have to work that much harder if I want to keep up. I also love the arts and specifically music. I go to concerts 2-3 times a month and there are so many stellar live venues in LA. I have seen a lot of people in tiny places that end up getting discovered and become huge recording artists and it's rad to get a chance to see them before they take off.

If your line had a theme song, what would it be?
Hmm... Maybe "One Love" by Bob Marley because the clothes are so chill and comfortable that I think they make people happy... And you can't not be happy listening to that song. I like to feel that I'm "spreading the love " with my colorful, comfy designs.

What's your advice for girls who want to be designers?
Anybody can do anything with their life if they work hard enough. Stay true to your heart and what your passionate about and NEVER let anyone tell you that you can't do something or be something!!

And that's from someone who knows!! Check out some styles at AviatorNation.com and let me know which are your faves. Imm obsessed with this one!

Posted on: Fri May 29, 2009