Check Out Daniel Henson’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Henson.

Hi Daniel, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I moved to SF from FL in 2010 and continued my education at AAU in the city. I loved SF but the weather wasn’t really my vibe coming from sunny FL so I moved down to LA and continued my education at FIDM where I then graduated. I went on to work in the costume world for another designer in Hollywood and had an awesome time. I met a lot of great people and learned a lot working in a very fast paced industry. A few years later I started to create some shorts after work with some spare fabrics just messing around and getting creative. I started wearing the shorts in some of my insta posts and people started asking me where they were from and after a few months of responding I made them I decided to possibly make them for others also. That train of thought and progress slowly turned into a business that I entertained more and more as time passed. I however enjoy the more creative side to business than I do the logistics so I knew I needed a partner to help balance out the workings of building a brand and preparing it for success in a world that is highly saturated with clothing brands. However, I always wanted to be apart of our manufacturing process as how things are made and the process has always been a fascinating and enjoyable part for me to be closely apart of. So I asked a friend who had currently left their position searching for a new path if they would join me in building something special made in America. Darren my now business partner was just the guy for the job. He is incredibly smart, savvy, loves business logistics and figuring things out and at times is great at reeling me in when I go off the deep end creatively. We launched officially in 2019 and soon after the pandemic started knocking on NY’s door and slowly made it’s way to LA. At the time we had a small office downtown with 2 desks likely less than 100sq ft and we stored our inventory in a storage unit. Well, as the pandemic sunk its teeth in further so did criminal activity and we unfortunately found our storage unit broken into and a majority of all our materials and inventory stolen. We surely thought it was the end as we had just begun and now the world around us was shutting down. At that time a friend of Darren’s had reached out to ask if we would start making fabric face masks for his company so they could keep working. This was during a time when we were being told not to buy surgical masks and no one really knew where to get a mask made of fabric. I had 2 personal industrial sewing machines so of course we said we could and would as we needed to try and survive what was to come. We pivoted at just the right time and blew up overnight. I remember posting to my social media a few masks and selling them and we sold over 1000 overnight. We then hired a sample maker… then another… and another and as we found ourselves afloat during the pandemic and a few years later we started manufacturing our clothing ourselves and thus found ourselves in a whole new business model that made a lot more sense. We then launched another company called SEW IN LA where we do product development and manufacturing for those looking for a made in America workforce behind their product. We then climbed out of the trenches of the pandemic slowly and re-entered the apparel world with lots of lessons and blessings and started doing trade shows getting the brand out there into the retail world. It has been such a wild journey but we now are in partnerships with stores across the US as well as online with Nordstrom. Our direct to consumer clients have grown along the timeline also and we continue to strive to create high quality American made apparel cut and sewn right here in Los Angeles. It’s not the common business model but it is the one that feels good to us and one we appreciate being apart of every day.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think I spoke to some of this in the previous section… but riding the waves of the apparel industry can be tough not only mentally but physically especially when you are producing the apparel with your own team right here in the USA. Costs are obviously much different producing here in America vs overseas but to be honest our speed to market is unmatched and our ability to pivot and be in control of our manufacturing at any given moment is invaluable as a growing brand.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’d say i’m likely best known at our office for being very creative and able to bring concepts to life. I focus heavily on product development and helping not only bring our brand Leisure Lab to life but with our manufacturing company I help others that may not have a background in apparel bring their designs to life in a way that is helpful and knowledgable that they most likely would not get with others especially overseas. I can be a bit sentimental and caring when it comes to helping others and I think people read that passion for the process well and would note that most likely as a differentiator in my role here.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Mental health is key here. When I first started Leisure Lab I did not have a good grip on my mental health and running a business can really take a toll. I reached depths of anxiety that I really had to work myself out of and build a toolbox of ways to deal with the ups and downs that often come with business ownership. I want to emphasize that whatever someone looks to build they should foremost make sure they are building mental strength alongside their progress. I try and host sound baths now at our office periodically and love when I can incorporate mental health into our story with Leisure Lab.

Pricing:

• I would like to remind people that when you buy something made in America they are often times supporting a much different working class than is overseas. Our costs are much higher here in the states but so is our pay and we love knowing every person that works on our garments and having a relationship with these talented team members that help bring our story to life everyday.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.TheLeisureLab.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leisurelab
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/danielghenson/