Meet Jaxin Skyward | Creator of leisure

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaxin Skyward and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaxin, what makes you happy? Why?
Happiness for me really comes in the form of activities. I’m a huge fan of exercise and adventure. I love basketball and my jumper is absolutely gorgeous so getting some shots up at the gym a few days a week is almost like my therapy. As I’ve gotten older and more aware of the world I have really come to realize and enjoy all the beauty in nature and getting out into it and getting active. I’ve climbed a number of mountains or as I like to say, bagging peaks, and that experience really puts me into a state of bliss. Exercise in general is just something that makes me happy because I’m a big proponent of self care and knowing that we only get one body, so why not try to get the most out of it and take really good care of it. If your body is in great shape, your mind functions better and life just tends to flow better. I truly believe that. Just as much as self care I love spending time with friends and hanging out, talking shit, cracking jokes, eating hella snacks and just catching up with the homies and having laughs. I try to make sure theres a nice balance between those things in my life and that tends to keep me in a happy state.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
So I was sorting through some old boxes at my moms a few years back when I discovered this old pair of towel shorts that were from my high school basketball team. They were wildly oversized and really not that functional but still, very cool, and definitely attention grabbing. Looking at them made me think, towel shorts deserve another shot. When I got back to LA I went to the fashion district and sourced some fabric. From there I searched for a tailor to create my vision. After a few meetings with shop owners that weren’t that welcoming, I found my spot in East Hollywood. I walked into Fernando de Manilla, a filipino bridal wear shop that also does alterations. The crew there was awesome and i knew I had found my shop. From there we made a few pairs that were really just for me to wear. I had no visions of starting a business. But what I found over the next few months and as I continued to wear these towel short and tank top sets that I was making, people were always complementing me and asking me where I got them. Then before I knew it, a bunch of people were asking me to make them some. From that, J.Sky was born. We started small and have remained that way. There was a point where I tried working with a factory and making large quantities but then it really began to feel like more work than I wanted it to be and stopped being as much fun. I love that all my pieces are currently made by one man. He and I work very closely and have an awesome relationship. I think without Tai Tai, I never would have continued on with the brand as long as I have. The fact that our pieces are made almost exclusively from terry cloth or towelfabric really sets us apart. We love how luxurious the fabric feels and anyone that has worn our pieces will attest to that. With that said, fashion is really hard, and super over saturated. I didn’t know much about the industry before I got into it but the deeper I have gotten into it the more I have to work to stay motivated and excited. I’m so thankful that I’ve kept the business small and how rewarding the relationship with my seamster is. I really think the key to our brand is how closely we work together on every piece and the joy we get from making them. Small batches, big vibes.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I almost always like to take my visiting friends on an LA snack tour. I have a number of Taco trucks that I frequent. Korean food has become one of my favorite cuisines too. Quarters K BBQ would be on the list. Leo’s tacos for the al pastor off the spit. Jesse Boy’s Korean fried chicken is a favorite of mine. For a sit down meal I’d probably take us to Found Oyster in East Hollywood that opened up right across the street from the shop a few years back. Love that spot. Maybe ball out one night and get a reservation at Bestia or Bavel in the arts district too. I also love taking frends to the movies when they visit, it is Hollwood ya know. I love going to The Grove and hitting the farmers market then grabbing a movie pour of red wine and catching a flick. I think thats a great LA experience. Most importantly when a friend visits, I like to take them to the Korean Day Spa. There are a few that I like but I have a sneaky, small, mens only one that I go to the most. There are different soaking tubs, dry saunas, steam rooms, hot salt rooms, nap rooms, and my favorite part, the cold plunge. I go to the K Spa every few weeks just to shut it down and reset. I’ll generally go for 3/4 hours and I always leave feeling fully recharged.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My big shoutout has to go to the man who turns all my visions into beautiful pieces of clothing. His name is Rodolfo but I call him Tai Tai. Tai is an absolute wizard on the sewing machine and he and I have come to be incredibly close over the past 6 years when I started my brand. Tai hails from the Philippines and is turning 70 years old this year. He’s got a really interesting sense of humor and always keeps me on my toes with his wealth of knowledge and general perspective of the world. None of my visions would be possible without Tai Tai and our friendship is one I will cherish forever.

Website: https://jskydesigns.com

Instagram: @jskydesigns