We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lea Panteliodis . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lea below.

Hi Lea , thanks for joining us today. One of the toughest things about entrepreneurship is that there is almost always unexpected problems that come up – problems that you often can’t read about in advance, can’t prepare for, etc. Have you had such and experience and if so, can you tell us the story of one of those unexpected problems you’ve encountered?

Some of the most unexpected problems I have faced in the business was the reality that when one of my machines breaks down there is not really anyone to call or any expert to turn to. The machines I use are all pretty old and rare. So I just have to figure it out on my own, sometimes with the help of an old manual. Just one machine going down stops the whole process.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I make custom denim, primarily jeans, jackets, aprons, hats, and work wear. I use selvedge, vintage, deadstock, and sometimes recycled materials. I got into industrial sewing by interning with a leather boot maker. I fell in love with the old cast machinery and eventually moved on to working with denim. I am most proud of the fact that my work preserves history by using traditional machines as well as traditional materials. I also am proud to offer custom clothing, which allows clients creative freedom in the process of designing a product that is especially for them.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Universal Traveler: A Soft-Systems Guide to Creativity, Problem-Solving, & the Process of Reaching Goals, by Don Koberg.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Social media, mainly posting pictures of clients in their custom orders on Instagram, has been the most effective way of growing my clientele.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @twindenimco