Jonathan Koon
Jonathan Koon | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983 Queens, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Businessperson, artist, fashion designer |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Founder of Extreme Performance Motorsports; owner of 8732 streetwear label; founder of Private Stock; collaborator with Domenico Vacca and Young Jeezy |
Jonathan Koon is a Chinese American businessperson, artist, and fashion designer who achieved millionaire status through his own efforts by the age of 16.
Early career
Born in 1983 in Queens, New York City, Koon is the sole offspring of immigrant parents originating from Hong Kong. During his time at Stuyvesant High School in 1998, he initiated Extreme Performance Motorsports, a venture importing automotive tuning parts from Asia. By the time he was 16, Koon had established wholesale partnerships with Asian distributors supplying customized body kits, aftermarket wheels, stereo equipment, and other specialty car accessories. His enterprise became a prominent supplier for the show Pimp My Ride.
Koon temporarily set aside this venture to pursue higher education at Georgetown University, where he earned a degree in international business and management. Returning to the industry in 2004, he patented various car accessories such as cell phone mounts and air ionizers that gained popularity among executives in the music industry and hip-hop artists. Moving beyond reselling, he launched Koon Enterprises, focusing on manufacturing headwear for clients like Rocawear, Honda, Costco, and Federated Private Label.
8732
In 2008, Koon purchased the streetwear label 8732 from Jay-Z at ROC Apparel Group. Collaborating with platinum-selling artist Young Jeezy and designer Kwende Waller, they established Young Jeezy 8732 Apparel Ltd, which generated annual revenues exceeding $40 million and ranked among the top three streetwear brands nationwide.
Currently operating as Tykoon Brand Holdings from its headquarters in Queens, New York, Koon appraises the privately held company of 27 employees at $80 million.
Domenico Vacca
In 2010, Jonathan Koon joined forces with designer Domenico Vacca to create "Domenico Vacca Denim," merging Vacca’s luxury fashion clientele with Koon’s expertise in sportswear production.
Private Stock
Koon launched Private Stock in April 2013, a clothing brand accompanied by a retail location at 76 Wooster Street—the former residence and studio of Andy Warhol. The New York Times commended the store’s lavish interior design, emphasizing Koon’s talent for theatrical presentation. On June 7, 2013, Private Stock was recognized by Refinery29 as "New York's Most Extravagant Store."
Haculla
By January 2015, as proprietor of the Haculla streetwear label, Koon collaborated with New York-based artist Harif Guzman and British brand Trapstar to release the limited-edition "Haculla X Trapstar Redline" collection for luxury retailer Harvey Nichols.
Private life
Koon possesses an extensive apparel collection that includes more than 2,000 pairs of jeans.
The Big Egg Hunt
In 2014, Koon took part in the Fabergé Big Egg Hunt held throughout New York City, showcasing over 200 egg sculptures created by various artists displayed across the city. This initiative supported programs for children and Asian elephant conservation via Agnes Gund’s Studio in a School and Mark Shand’s Elephant Family.
His submission, titled "The Golden Child Egg," featured a fiberglass egg meticulously hand-gilded with 24k gold leaf and adorned with fragments of shattered mid-20th-century Chinese antique vases arranged into a mosaic symbolizing cultural integration. This artwork embodied Koon’s artistic vision and was one of twenty pieces auctioned at Sotheby’s on April 22, 2014.