Biography

Jonny Cota is an American fashion designer and the creative director of 'Skingraft,' a progressive streetwear label founded in Los Angeles. After receiving his degree in Journalism at UC Santa Cruz, Jonny set out to follow his creative dreams and joined an underground performance-art troupe as a stilt walker and fire dancer. Jonny fell in love with the ornate costuming in the troupe's shows and quickly evolved from circus performer to costume designer. He then found his calling in fashion design as the founder of Skingraft in 2005, alongside his brother Christopher Cota.

Credited with pioneering the new American avant-garde by GQ Magazine, Skingraft's roots in performance art-inspired fashion influence its seasonal collections, where music and its lifestyle-driven subcultures play a defining role in shaping the cuts, colorways, and fabrication of the brand's signature dark designs.

Skingraft is manufactured in Bali, Indonesia where Jonny spends half of his year designing and developing his collections. The manufacturing studio in Bali was founded by Jonny and his brother, and produces the Skingraft collections, Cota collections, and private label manufacturing for other brands.

Jonny opened three brick and mortar Skingraft stores in Los Angeles and New York during his time as creative director. In 2019, Skingraft closed its retail operations and launched a new multi-brand retail space in downtown Los Angeles called 'Cota.' Jonny Cota, the namesake label, is set to launch in Spring of 2020.

International tastemakers including Rhianna, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky, Kid Kudi, 2 Chainz, Missy Elliot, Usher, Ciara, Mary J. Blige, P. Diddy, Wiz Khalifa, The Black Eyed Peas, Juliette Lewis, Barry Manilow, Marilyn Manson, and Britney Spears have all worn Skingraft, both on stage and on the street.

Since inception, Skingraft has been featured on countless television shows and films, including True Blood, American Horror Story, and The Hunger Games. Global press outlets have also taken notice, with editorial coverage spanning WWD, Vogue Italia, Elle, Elle Mexico, Elle Italia, GQ, The L.A. Times, Style.com, Flaunt, Nylon, and the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.
- IMDb mini biography by: Amazon Studios