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

Hi Mike, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and remember music always playing in my house. It became my first passion and my escape from the mundane. When I was 14 my parents bought me a guitar and I taught myself how to play. There wasn’t a whole lot to do, so I would spend hours in my room learning songs from the Foo Fighters, Bush, and Green Day. My friends and I would get together and jam in each other’s garages and basements and eventually we started to write our own songs. I became entrenched in the DIY punk and hardcore scene in the area. Weekends were spent going to shows and playing music. My band started to record and promote our own music. We would put on shows at VFW halls and small venues in the area. We never thought to rely on a record label or booking agent. The attitude was always that if we wanted to do something we would figure out a way to do it ourselves. I feel that’s still how I approach a lot of things in my life and business today.

What should our readers know about your business?
In 2020 I launched my own company called Sarto Collective. I had fallen in love with the world of custom clothing, but wanted to do it differently. Los Angeles is a place filled with incredibly talented people, from all walks of life, and I wanted to bring a lot of these people together. Sarto Collective is a collection of designers, craftsmen and creative souls who are passionate about how things are made, down to the smallest detail. My goal is to make you look and feel your absolute best, by providing uniquely customizable and functional pieces that work as an extension of your lifestyle. I believe quality trumps convenience. Every single time.

I’ve been incredibly proud of all the pieces we’ve created and the fact that I’m able to make just about everything here in Los Angeles. My goal is to have a showroom, production space and creative hub in the near future.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles has a little bit of everything, that’s why I love it. I live on the east side so The Broad, Norton Simon Museum and Huntington Library are a lot of fun to visit, especially with my daughter now. We’ll spend a lot of time outside exploring Griffith Park. There’s no shortage of good restaurants. Some of my favorites are Bavel, Bestia, Mother Wolf, Bacetti, Red Bird, Damian, Manuela and Salazar. I love to bar hop downtown or catch a show at a smaller venue like Zebulon or Teragram Ballroom.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents have always been incredibly supportive of the passions that I wanted to pursue. I’m sure it wasn’t easy for them at times. I never went to college, moved across the country when I was 18, and had a lot of ups and downs. But they’ve always been there and just want to see me doing something I love. I now have that same support from my wife. They’re all my biggest cheerleaders.

Website: www.sartocollective.com

Instagram: @sartocollective

Image Credits
Tony Moux

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