Rising Stars: Meet Javaun Anderson of Atlanta, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Javaun Anderson.

Hi Javaun, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve always been passionate about clothing design. I used to go shopping at Lenox in high school, and always felt like the pieces were cool but not always what I wanted. So i started thrifting and buying blanks. I’d take them and cut, bleach, distress, really anything i could imagine. Friends at school would ask where I got the pieces from and this sparked the inspiration to start my own brand. In 2017, I started “Swank Apparel”. I made cropped, pigment-tone sweaters for the first release. I had a fashion show on my college campus, Tuskegee University. It took place on the yard and I had a pop up show after. The sweaters sold out the same day. With classes getting more rigorous, I never started back up with my brand. Fast forward a few years, 2022 I started “Sylk Industries”. I knew that at this point I had the capital and sales knowledge to actually fund and market my brand correctly, so I gave it another try. I did t-shirts with the brands logo on the front and back. I set up my Shopify store, set a drop date, and advertised. On drop day, I sold about 25% of the bulk order. I realized the expertise I thought I had definitely had some holes in it. The orders sat and I got discouraged. I later realized that “Sylk” was a learning lesson. The real issue was that if I was more connected to the brand and it’s meaning, that feeling of discouragement would be null and void because it symbolizes not just unique pieces, but it’s a part of me. So, I started “EMPTY EXHIBIT” in 2025.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing great is ever a smooth road. When it comes to fashion design and being a business owner there’s a lot of ups and downs. From working with manufacturers to advertising, there’s always things to learn and ways to get better everyday. My advice is take the good with the bad. Don’t let the bad consume you or you become stagnant.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My name Is Javaun (Vaun) Anderson and I am the CEO of Empty Exhibit. The meaning behind the brand is “Everything isn’t always what it seems and perception can be deceiving”. I wanted to capture that in art form, for example, if you approached an art exhibit that’s seemingly empty from the outside looking in, would you enter? Odds are you probably wouldn’t. What if the Mona Lisa was inside, but just not in plain sight? You would’ve missed a monumental opportunity because you judged the exhibit for what it seemed to be. So take a step into whatever that “EMPTY EXHIBIT” is in your life, it may surprise you. My brand will not stop at clothing. I eventually want to create fragrances, artwork, candles, handbags, skateboards, etc. At the moment we specialize in sweatpants, hoodies, and t-shirts. I’m most proud of the support and feedback I get from my customers. Everybody loves their pieces, design, quality, customer service, fast shipping, etc. My brand sets itself apart through unique design and customer service. My goal is to give my customers luxury streetwear without the luxury price. The materials I utilize are the same if not better quality materials than your favorite designers, guaranteed. My designs are cropped and cut to perfection, giving a one of a kind fit that you won’t find anywhere else.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I’m pretty sure people that know me or my brand know that I’m athletic and used to hoop. They probably don’t know I play pickleball competitively. I started playing about 6 months ago and been hooked ever since.

Pricing:

• “MIRROR” Sweats – $120
• “REALIZE” Tee – $60
• “PERCEPTION” Tee – $60
• “BENEATH THE MASK” Hoodie – $130
• “SIGNATURE” Hoodie – $130

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.emptyexhibit.com
• Instagram: @emptyexhibit
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61581622808271/
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@emptyexhibit.com?_r=1&_t=ZT-93JWkWAxTHq