Meet Aj Dia | Local Maker and Shaker

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

Hi Aj, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was burnt out working for companies, so I got the courage up to build a brand around the town I grew up in, the South Bay. The pandemic hits, zoom calls become the norm and I said ‘no thank you’ and went and bought a van. I worked for Nike and even Teva, and they both started their business out of a van. So after months of making product and restoring the 1978 Chevy Van, I headed to beach, the esplanade, local surf shops to sell Burnout Stoke brand T’s, hats and sweatshirts, and the response was fantastic ! I knew I had arrived. Knowing how to make stuff, having great local printers, we set out to make something we can all feel good about, and to remind ourselves, ‘Don’t Burnout, stay Stoked.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
The sum total of who I’ve become as a Creative is a direct result of the great people I’ve worked with and the experiences we had making good product for the companies we worked for. Working 40-50 hours a week and raising a family, doesn’t leave much time for yourself, so we must manage to budget the time for the things that keeps up going. For me, it was writing and performing music with my band, surfing, skating and riding and restoring motorcycles. It’s great to collect a paycheck, but when I started Burnout, I had to start at the bottom, and it was humbling.

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.
Let’s start our day by jumping in the ocean, for a surf, swim or go for a good ‘ol cold plunge! Get in the Burnout Van, cruise by Racer Tea for some unique treats, then take the bikes out for a cruise on the strand. Stop by Good Stuff for some great eats, then go see Audie at North End in Hermosa who serves up the best drinks (if he picks on you, it means he likes you) Drop in to ET Surf and Dive ‘n Surf for local deals on everything to accompany your California dreams.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Mother Pauline, Zen DelRio and Fred Straeter inspired me w/ their art from a very young age, courageous innovators. Professionally I’ve worked w/ outstanding people: Mark Oblow, Kareem Campbell, JT, Vince Krauss, Marc McKee, Dan Guetter and Kris Petrat. My love, Terese and my young adult children have all had great input to Burnout’s success. Annies Boutique and ET Surf believed in the brand from the beginning and for that we are so thankful.

Website: www.burnoutstoke.com

Instagram: @burnoutstoke

Facebook: burnoutstoke

Image Credits
Cameron Nelligan