COLIN @ IDLM

I DONT LIKE MONDAYS IS AN ONLINE FASHION BOUTIQUE, BORN IN A WAREHOUSE LOFT IN NEW YORK CITY. FOUNDED BY COLIN TALBOT AND DEAN RODGERS, BOTH WITH A BACKGROUND IN FASHION AND VISUAL ARTS, THE COMPANY BEGAN AS AN IDEA TO CREATE & SELL HANDMADE GRAPHIC T-SHIRTS. JOINED BY RIKA FUKUSHIMA, IDLM HAS EVOVLED INTO A PLATFORM TO SHOWCASE UP-AND-COMING FASHION DESIGNERS OF TODAY TO AN INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A SUCCESSFUL COMPANY?
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD GUT INSTINCT, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO TAKE RISKS BUT ALSO KNOW WHEN TO PLAY SAFE. DEFINITELY DON’T SPEND BEYOND YOUR MEANS. AND REALIZE IT’S ALWAYS A BALANCING ACT BETWEEN GETTING ENOUGH EXPOSURE TO KEEP THE CASH COMING IN BUT TO ALSO MAINTAIN SOMEWHAT “UNDERGROUND” SO AS NOT TO BECOME OVER SATURATED AND QUICKLY PASSÉ.

WHICH DESIGNERS DO YOU ADMIRE AND WHY?
I’M CURRENTLY VIBING ON MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA! HIS PLAY ON PROPORTIONS AND STRUCTURAL CONCEPTS WERE OUTSTANDING FOR FALL 09. JOHN GALLIANO WAS ALSO TOP NOTCH. HE MAKES MENSWEAR MASCULINE YET PLAYFUL AND HIS RUNWAY LOOKS ARE ALWAYS SO IMPECCABLY STYLED, THEY SEEM LIKE CHARACTERS FROM A FANTASY BUT IF YOU SEPARATE THE PIECES YOU’LL FIND EACH INCREDIBLY WEARABLE.

WHAT FASHION MAGAZINES INFLUENCES YOUR COMPANY?
METAL, PURPLE, LOVE, DAZED & CONFUSED, BUTT, U MAG, THE LAST MAGAZINE, ETC.

WHAT ADVICE CAN YOU GIVE TO OTHER SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS THAT CAN HELP SUSTAIN THEIR COMPANY DURING AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN?
LIKE I SAID ABOVE, DON’T SPEND BEYOND YOUR MEANS, BE METICULOUS WITH YOUR ACCOUNTING RECORDS, BE PREPARED TO WORK VERY HARD FOR VERY LITTLE PAY, AND PUT YOUR SOCIAL LIFE ON HOLD. BUT IF YOU LOVE WHAT YOU DO, NONE OF THIS SHOULD BE VERY HARD TO STICK TO.

VIEW I DONT LIKE MONDAYS @ IDONTLIKEMONDAYS.US FOR NEW ARRIVALS FROM DESIGNERS SUCH AS ALEXANDER WANG, MELISSA, AND OTHERS