Today we’d like to introduce you to Eileen Ilic
Hi Eileen, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After having worked for some very successful apparel companies the past 25 years, I had a desire to create the company and culture I was searching for. Behind the scenes, the pressure to meet sales goals, the excess amount of development, ongoing compromises and the “hamster wheel” of doing it over and over again each season in pursuit of the sale can kill the spirit.
I studied design in Los Angeles and knew that I wanted to learn the business of fashion to support the art. Since I can remember, I’ve always been competitive and pursue passion over convention. I remember working as a seasonal sales associate at the Neiman Marcus in Chicago (where I was born and raised) and seeing the first ever shipment of Theory arrive at the store. I quickly tried on every piece which was hanging on a small rack no more than 4-5 styles. I thought “I am going to go work for them!” I quickly moved to New York and made it happen. Working under Andrew Rosen, the founder of Theory and the “Godfather” of the apparel industry from the early stages for the majority of my career opened up a world of art as it relates to the business of fashion. From sales to merchandising to curating the buy for wholesale and retail divisions, design, fabric, garment construction, people management, operations, competition…I realized that there was art and life on both sides of the business. After branching out and experiencing different companies, their cultures and products, my gut told me it was time to come full circle.
I created LEEN® to give me the platform to build with integrity on my terms, speak to my understanding of luxury and share it with the world. I refuse to be a resource that adds to the problems that clothing creates so I’m mindful in every part of the process. A lot of it is sharing my passion, being willing to take risks, staying true to my intent and celebrating the victories that accompany the challenges.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When I started LEEN® I promised myself that I would have an open mind and ultimately do what I “feel” is right versus what I “think”. This trickles down to every decision I make for the company.
With that said, self-doubt is still a challenge as a founder. These feelings I’ve learned show up regularly and are a part of everyone’s journey from entry level employees to founders. Even as a former executive with all the years of working in the industry, I can be my own worst enemy. There is a different level of vulnerability when you own your own company and are creatively steering the ship. I’ve accepted that this comes from one’s fearful thoughts and have learned to acknowledge when this happens. I strongly believe that great things are not possible unless you continue to take risks and are willing to step out of your comfort zone. The fear of being stagnant is much scarier for me than the effects of a bad idea or decision.
Another challenge is the financial pressure. When commerce meets art there must be some level of compromise. It takes a lot of capital and risk to create an ethical and quality focused clothing business. It can be daunting to think about, but it forces me to be much more creative and strategic. I remind myself that everyone has their own purpose and journey, this is part of mine. Through the life of LEEN® I have accomplished many goals that I had only dreamed of. The parts that make me feel most alive sometimes are the struggles.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about LEEN ?
LEEN® is a reflection of my streamlined aesthetic and authentic, no-compromises point of view. LEEN® strips what we know of fashion down to its core rawness, free from logos or the marketed-to-perfection big-fashion machine. The aim is to create go-to pieces that tie everything together by way of strategic details, premium fabrics, and timeless, supremely comfortable silhouettes.
I create with intention and measure quality through a lens of longevity rather than trend; the hope is that these pieces are destined to become future vintage.
I took my time to develop the twelve styles that make up the first LEEN® collection. Each one is a refined take on the pieces we wear most, blurring the lines between masculine and feminine, resulting in the kind of elevated, wearable clothing that many of my customers tell me they secretly want to wear all the time.
The intention was not to just have women wearing sweats everywhere, but I wanted to create a casual product that was elevated enough to work in with their dressier and structured pieces…taking a more lifestyle approach to dressing. I have a love for luxury, but don’t like the idea of making product that is precious. I aim to create casual clothing that offers a level of sophistication and ease which are easy to care for.
Fueled by a belief that less is more—and that less doesn’t mean compromise—LEEN® places a premium on quality of fabrics rather than quantity of items. The choice to use superior interpretations of traditional natural materials was strategic, and the only way I could truly be passionate about the brand.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
8 years ago, a good friend invited me to take an “Accomplishments” course with her. The 9-month course was led by LA based business/life coach, Andrea Quinn. The small group of women would meet once a month, I was initially skeptical as I had never done anything like it before, but went in with an open mind. From the first session, I can honestly say that Andrea helped change the trajectory of how I live my life. She now has her own book, The Quinn Essentials, but if you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend one of her in-person workshops.
Some other books include, The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav, The Success Principles by Jack Canfield. I find listening to Louise Hay is calming, and often go back to read quotes from Rick Rubin’s, The Creative Act as I find them thoughtful and inspiring.
Pricing:
- Starting price for tshirts $225. Pre-washed, pre-shrunk, made in Los Angeles.
- Sweatshirts start at $475 and up. Japanese Terry and Loopwheel, pre-washed, pre-shrunk. Made in Los Angeles and Japan
- Starting price for pants start at $298 and up. Pre-washed, pre-shrunk. Made in Los Angeles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Theleenshop.com
- Instagram: @theleenshop
