With a background in advertising and graphic design, I started designing T-shirts on the side in 2003. By 2007 after a few years of selling tees to local shops, I took my brand Dirty JAX (play on my initials JAK) to my first MAGIC tradeshow in Las Vegas and was picked up by 25 retailers. By the next year, DJAX was in Japan, Australia and Europe as well as 60 retail stores domestic. I am proud to say that I became a part of the graphic driven streetwear era with a unique toungue-in-cheek concept that was copied by others who came after. As fun as it was to have my own clothing line where I could design whatever I wanted, the experience also helped me build an invaluable skill set and contacts allowing me to develop a successful brand management and consulting business.