• Fri. Feb 7th, 2025

The Fabric of DTLA: Sky Sportswear stitches family, fashion | Business

The Fabric of DTLA: Sky Sportswear stitches family, fashion | Business

Sky Sportswear is a Los Angeles-based wholesaler of premium blank apparel. The store, located at 1402 Main Street in DTLA, is owned by Robert Lee, but was founded by his parents in 1975. The store stands as an industry leader, with Lee and his staff striving to provide quality services to their customers. Sky Sportswear has a wide range of high-quality products, including silk-screen printing, direct-to-garment printing, vinyl printing and embroidery.

Working closely with the DTLA community, Sky Sportswear supplies specially designed clothing and accessories to individuals, schools, brands and local businesses.

Lee’s parents opened the Sky Sportswear doors in DTLA in 1975, after his father traveled from Korea and was hosted by a friend who worked in the clothing industry. Lee’s dad noticed the potential of a career in working with clothes and decided to open Sky Sportswear. When his parents met and married, his mom became part of the store, making it a family business.

Growing up, Lee was always in and out of the shop and received mountains of $1 and $2 clothing itmes for him to sell to customers since the age of five. Adjusting to the environment of a clothing store, Lee has always known the logistics of embroidery and printing. “It was a blessing to have this shop in my life at such a young age,” Lee shared. “I was able to learn the skillset and have a safe place as a kid to see my parents work. I noticed what working with customers, fulfilling orders and growing a business looked like.”

After graduating high school, Lee left home and attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA to pursue a major in Pharmacy. He received his Doctorate in six years in Pharmaceutical Sciences and found a job where he worked as a pharmacist for three years. “It wasn’t for me,” Lee said. “I didn’t enjoy it. Whenever I was off work, I would gravitate toward the shop. I’d spend so much time there helping my parents.”

Lee spent so much of his time wanting to be at Sky Sportswear, to the point that he realized his current job wasn’t his calling – clothing was. He quit his job of three years at the pharmacy and moved home, where he told his mom he wanted a job at Sky Sportswear. With open arms, his mom granted him a job and his career at his family’s business officially began.

“I was 27 when I started working with my parents, and then after about two years there I slowly transitioned into managing and growing the business,” Lee said. “Bit by bit, my parents gave me control of the reigns. My dad is fully retired, but my mom still works beside me, which I’m so thankful for. I began working as an owner in 2017, and things haven’t slowed down since.”

With 25 employees now on payroll, Sky Sportswear has grown significantly since Lee envisioned the store to reach even farther than DTLA. Sky Sportswear now has three locations – one storefront, and two warehouses used individually for screen-printing and embroidery.

Lee never considered that he’d be an owner of Sky Sportswear, it was an industry that his parents intentionally pushed him away from because of its strenuous work. As a kid in his parents’ household, they were always working at the store. He remembers his schedule in school and noted that he’d be in classes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and attend an after-school program from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. when his parents would pick him up. He’d fall asleep when he would get home, and the next day would be the same schedule.

“Working in a store like this is still just as demanding as it was back then, but I love the work,” Lee noted. “As Sky Sportswear grows, the work becomes more demanding. I do, however, love a challenge, and every day at the store brings a new challenge. It’s hard work, but it’s satisfying work.” If he finds himself burned out or needing a break, Lee loves to spend his town outdoors backpacking and scuba diving.

Customers wanting to visit the wholesale clothing company on Main Street can expect to find hoodies, joggers, pants, t-shirts and staple fashion pieces. For more personalized fashion, Sky Sportswear offers print and embroidery services. “We help a wide range of clientele from schools for uniforms to fashion brands,” Lee said. “Sky Sportswear is a store that can serve anyone, and we’re always happy to help.”

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