Grade A Entrepreneurs

I let you decide… 

Anyway, this is the question that popped into my mind when I came across this spread as I was leafing through “Modern Menswear,” a book written by Hywel Davies, and published by Laurence King Publishing Ltd, London, in April.

We all know how challenging life can be for high-tech entrepreneurs, no matter how hard they may try to look like college students claiming they always pass despite their hanging around Formica bars. Now, think of a world where starting a company is way harder than in high-tech, where chances to make it are equal to zero and where you have to look impervious to anguish at all times: the fashion industry.

Hywel Davies showcases 35 of some of the happy few designers who managed to survive – and listen to that one, the “happy few” in this industry means a few hundreds over a twenty year span, not several thousands every five years.

So, here are three of the (probably multiple) reasons why you may want to take a look at this book:

1)   To think about what “creativity” and “innovation” mean in general. You may not like what these guys do. You may even peremptorily declare that some of it is bull shiitake (or whatever animal you want to scapegoat). Now, though, reflect upon your own business: does it withstand the sentence of people who look at you from the outside? If you believe that you are misunderstood, you may realize that you do not always understand others either.

2)   To give a “different” present to people you like – the holiday season is already here. They (or even you) may not be that interested in fashion per se – but they may appreciate by an excellent art-book on contemporary demeanors and appearances.

3)   To get a feel on how you could dress sometimes. If you want to buy something from one of these designers, you may want to wait until you are funded or, even better, are profitable – if you haven’t already made it. Meanwhile, this book might be a great source of inspiration whether you want to look wild, gnarly, or add the tiny touch of quirkiness that can make conservative looks extraordinarily appealing.

The Web Neat-o type

To know more about the fashion writer Hywel Davies (whom I have never met): http://www.showstudio.com/contributors/409

He has also published another great book in October: 100 Fashion Designers (men & women), featuring designers who are still in the first decade of their career.

To know about other very interesting books from the publisher: http://www.laurenceking.co.uk/

To buy:

Modern Menswear

100 New Fashion Designers

Marylene Delbourg-Delphis