Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2025 graduates.
Jax Margo graduates this May with a Bachelor of Arts in fashion from ASU FIDM in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts — and he is already establishing his own brand.
“I’m building a brand called Sunwoven — it’s a sustainable, LA-based menswear label that blends rugged, natural materials with elevated design,” he said. “Think sunfaded linen, artisan dye techniques and a focus on timeless silhouettes.”
But, for Margo, it's more than just a fashion label.
“Growing my own brand matters to me because it gives me the freedom to speak directly to what I care about: nature, storytelling and craft. It’s not just about clothes — it’s about building something that reflects a lifestyle I actually live.”
Margo, who is originally from Los Angeles, said he realized he wanted to study fashion business when he started working retail and saw how much goes into product development and brand building.
“I wanted to be part of that bigger picture — not just selling clothes but helping shape the entire brand.”
When the ASU fashion program became a school and expanded to Los Angeles, becoming ASU FIDM, he knew it was the right place for him.
“It lined up perfectly with the direction I wanted to go — combining real-world experience with a serious business education,” said Margo. “I wanted the best of both worlds — hands-on industry experience but through a university that could open bigger doors down the line.”
From his courses with expert faculty like Assistant Teaching Professor Elisabeth Hinckley, who “definitely had the biggest impact” on him, to getting hands-on experience like working at Buck Mason, he said his time at ASU FIDM, which operates from both LA and downtown Phoenix, helped him develop the skills needed to take his next steps.
“One thing that really changed my perspective while at ASU FIDM was seeing how important long-term brand identity is. It’s not just about trends — it’s about building something people actually connect with over time.”
In addition to growing his own fashion and lifestyle brand, the LA-based student said he would love to build a program that helps smaller brands transition to sustainable production.
“I’ve seen firsthand how hard it is for smaller brands to adopt sustainable practices — mostly due to cost, lack of access and infrastructure. If I had the resources, I’d build a program that makes it easier and more affordable for them to source cleaner materials, use better dyeing processes, and move toward circularity,” he said. “Making the fashion world more sustainable means lifting up the smaller players who actually want to do better.”
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