Our Story & Team

As the founder and creative force behind Litto Howler, Jess proudly leads the way as an Asian American and woman-owned small business. With a background in fashion and years of experience as a Creative Director, she brings a unique blend of artistry, grit, and vision to everything we do. At Litto Howler, Jess wears many hats—designing our latest collections, managing operations, running our social media, sourcing materials, and keeping the website up to date. As a micro-small business, every detail matters, and Jess is behind each one. Outside of work, Jess and her partner Isak share life with their pack of four dogs. Whether camping off-grid, scaling rocks, or chasing the next great bite to eat, they thrive on adventure and the outdoors. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Jess carries a deep love for community, creativity, and connection into every part of the brand.

Meet Isak, the hands and heart behind every leash we craft. With over a decade of climbing experience—including lead and multi-pitch routes—Isak brings a deep understanding of safety, strength, and precision to our designs. Originally from Brazil, he’s summited some of the country’s tallest mountains and brings that same sense of adventure to Litto Howler. Multilingual and well-traveled, Isak speaks Portuguese, English, Korean, Spanish, and even a bit of Tagalog, thanks to his 10 years living in the Philippines. His craftsmanship, attention to detail, and love for the outdoors ensure that every leash we send out is built with care and tested by a true explorer. When he’s not on the production floor, you’ll likely find him in the mountains with the dogs and a cold beer in hand—his perfect day.

Affectionately known as Uncle Paul, he's both Jess’s uncle and grandfather figure—and an irreplaceable part of our team. A retired small business owner, Paul ran a successful furniture company in Santa Monica for over 30 years. His craftsmanship and attention to detail now support our production process a few times a week. These days, helping out at Litto Howler has become one of Paul’s favorite pastimes. Whether he’s assembling leashes or cracking jokes, he brings an infectious energy and youthful spirit to the studio. Outside of the shop, Paul enjoys golfing and spending quality time with his kids and grandkids. The shop dogs absolutely adore him (especially Kiko!)—probably because he always shows up with treats in hand. We’re endlessly grateful for the light he brings to our workspace and the care he puts into every leash.

Sam is the heart of calm at Litto Howler. Known for his gentle nature and warm presence, he’s a team favorite—and it’s easy to see why. With a kind soul and a quiet strength, Sam brings patience and care to every leash he helps create. When he’s not in the studio, Sam enjoys life at a slower pace. You’ll often find him golfing, going for peaceful walks, or experimenting in the kitchen—he’s still mastering his cooking skills, but he’s always eager to learn something new. A valued member of the team for over four years, Sam’s steady hands and even steadier spirit have become a cornerstone of our production process. We’re so lucky to have him with us.

Meet our in-house crew: from left to right — Ekko, Kenzo, Meka, and Kiko. These four are the true heartbeat of Litto Howler. Nicknamed our “Watch Commanders & Poopers,” they spend their days lounging around HQ, providing emotional support, comic relief, and plenty of distractions. But they’re more than just the faces behind the brand—they’re the reason we started this in the first place. When Meka was just a year old, she startled at the sound of a skateboard and made a sudden jolt. Her leash (not one of ours) unclipped mid-commotion and she ran straight into the street—one of the scariest moments we’ve ever experienced. The clip had a manual screw-lock carabiner, and it hadn’t been fully secured. As climbers, we already trusted auto-locking carabiners with our own lives, so we knew there had to be a safer option for dogs too. That moment changed everything. We became the first dog leash company to introduce leashes with auto-locking carabiners—a system that minimizes user error and maximizes safety. What started with Meka’s scare turned into a movement the industry has now embraced. The shop dogs remind us every day why safety, trust, and quality matter—and they’ll continue supervising from the couch (with plenty of treats, of course).