Paige Mycoskie
Paige Mycoskie | |
|---|---|
| Born | Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, fashion designer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder and proprietor of Aviator Nation; contestant on The Amazing Race season 2 |
Paige Mycoskie is an accomplished artist, fashion designer, and entrepreneur, widely recognized as the creator and proprietor of the lifestyle and apparel brand Aviator Nation. Her achievements as a woman in business have been highlighted in Forbes. She earned the title of Designer of the Year from GQ Magazine and was listed among LA Business Journal's Top Bosses Under 30. Paige appeared alongside her brother Blake Mycoskie, the founder of Toms Shoes, as contestants on season 2 of The Amazing Race.
Early life and education
Paige was born in Arlington, Texas, to Pam Mycoskie, an author, and Mike Mycoskie, an orthopedic surgeon. She has two brothers, one of whom is Blake Mycoskie. Paige completed her high school education at Arlington Martin High School and was a member of the Water Ski Team at Arizona State University while attending ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism.
Career
In 2001, Paige relocated to Southern California and began working at Shape Magazine. She later concentrated on freelance work involving photography, video production, graphic design, and brand development. During this time, she contributed to branding initiatives for companies such as TOMS Shoes. Subsequently, she gained experience as a buyer’s assistant at ZJ Boarding House in Venice, California. Motivated by her passion for entrepreneurship and design, Paige started her own clothing line, personally sewing, dyeing, and designing each garment.
Established in 2006, Aviator Nation is a California-based lifestyle brand inspired by the 1970s that prioritizes high-quality apparel made domestically. The business currently manages 17 retail locations across the United States along with a manufacturing facility in downtown Los Angeles employing over 300 staff members. Aviator Nation remains committed to supporting local production while blending fashion with music through collaborations with festivals such as Austin City Limits, Lollapalooza, SXSW, BottleRock Napa Valley, and partnerships with musicians including John Mayer. The brand also actively supports charitable organizations like Charity Water, Surf Aid, Heal the Bay, The Flatwater Foundation, and Global Citizen.
The brand is enhancing its retail spaces into comprehensive “experiences” tailored to each physical store. For instance, locations in Nashville and Austin function as live music venues. Aviator Nation Dreamland in Malibu integrates a concert and event area with a restaurant and bar. In April, Aviator Nation RIDE was launched—a hybrid facility offering cycling classes alongside boxing and yoga sessions.
The Amazing Race
In January 2002, Paige Mycoskie competed with her brother Blake on the second season of the CBS reality competition The Amazing Race. The sibling duo advanced to the final stage of the race and finished in third place.
The Amazing Race 2 finishes
- A double-dagger () indicates that Blake and Paige arrived last at a pit stop during a non-elimination round.
- A denotes that Blake and Paige secured victory in a Fast Forward challenge.
Roadblocks performed by Paige are bolded
| Episode | Leg | Destination(s) | Detour choice (underlined) | Roadblock performer | Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | United States → Brazil | Mountain/Beach | No Roadblock | 4th of 11 | |
| 2 | 2 | Brazil | Freak Out/Seek Out | Paige | 9th of 10 | |
| 3 | 3 | Brazil → South Africa | Dance/Deliver | Blake | 5th of 9 | |
| 4 | 4 | South Africa → Namibia | Slide/Stride | Blake | 4th of 8 | |
| 5 | 5 | Namibia → Thailand | Confusion now/Confusion later | Blake | 4th of 7 | |
| 6 | 6 | Thailand | Boat/Beast | Blake | 3rd of 6 | |
| 7 | 7 | Thailand → Hong Kong | Wishing tree/Herbal tea | Blake | 5th of 6 | |
| 8 | 8 | Hong Kong → Australia | Dragon/Lion | Blake | Template:FontcolorTemplate:Double-dagger | |
| 9 | Australia | Cool down/Heat up | Paige | 2nd of 5 | ||
| 9 | 10 | Australia → New Zealand | 'Used fast forward' |
1st of 4ƒ |
||
| 10 | 11 | New Zealand | Drop/Climb | Paige | 2nd of 4 | |
| 11 | 12 | New Zealand → United States | Bike/Walk | Blake | 1st of 3 | |
| 13 | 'No Detour' |
Blake |
'3rd of 3' |
- Notes
Personal life
Residing in Texas, Paige embraces an active lifestyle that includes lake outings and travel. She stays physically engaged through activities such as surfing, snowboarding, and daily workouts, which contribute to her mental well-being and overall health.
Press & Media
- Forbes: The story of how selling 160 sweatpants transformed a Southern California surfer into one of the wealthiest women in the United States
- GQ: Recognized among the 2013 Best New Menswear Designers in America
- Featured participant at SXSW 2022
- Profiled by Aviator Nation Blog in Malibu Magazine
- Aspen Times Weekly: A glimpse into the ideal day of Aviator Nation’s founder in Aspen
- Interview on the Pretty Cool Podcast with Paige Mycoskie
- Coverage by Ocean Drive Magazine
- Featured discussion on Create & Cultivate