We had the good fortune of connecting with Collin McMannis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Collin, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Honestly? I was sick of my current life at the time. Going back a little longer real quickly, I moved to LA to work in the fashion world for an up and coming men’s wear brand. I was desperate to live in California after seeing it for the first time in 2012, and so I accepted a low paying salary for an awesome work environment and with some really cool people in downtown LA. After a few years I left and went to medical sales to chase the money. I quickly realized I missed fashion and money didn’t necessarily create happiness for me. I started saving the money I was making with that sales position, stopped doing most anything that cost me money, and started thinking. The people closest to me knew I wasn’t doing what was true to me, and my heart. Fashion, I knew, was the one real constant thing in my life. All my years of different jobs, one thing was always the same, and I wanted to look good. No matter what I was wearing, no matter what I was doing, self appearance mattered, and still matters, to me. I also found myself looking for specific pieces of clothing, or accessories, that were trickier to shop for. Many of the the times, I never found them. This played a huge role into where I’m at today. The combination of having a “safe career” along with the lack of variety in the fashion world, gave me the idea, start your own brand. From there I started drawing more, being more creative, and thinking of all the ideas I’ve always had. I started putting them down on paper, and out of my mind. I like to think of myself as a lover. I knew that I could use that, and have it play into my brand to really make it something personal to me. I was ecstatic about what was happening in my mind. The possibility of me controlling my future was the end all for me. I knew what I had to do to prepare myself to start this company. I would call it LLovesick.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career has been a roller coaster of several different occupations. My first job out of college was a staffing company, i doubled down and worked a nightclub in Scottsdale, Arizona at night so I could save money to move to California. Moving to La I found my first love in fashion working wholesale and running the social pages for the menswear brand. Then, on to medical sales to chase the paper, didn’t work either. Now i’m here, chasing the dream. Nothing has been easy in my life. Im privileged to have these opportunities, I understand that, but through hard work I have put myself in a position to succeed any various things. It has just taken me until 29 years of age to figure out what I really want in life. I’d like people to understand after reading this that you can truly do whatever you want in life. I know thats cliche but look at me. Im still trying to make it to the top and have had minimal success compared to others in this field and i feel this way. There is no better feeling that doing what you want in life and not waking up regretting your decisions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, anyone that knows me knows that when we wake up, were heading straight to Alfred Coffee in Brentwood. Cold brew ice coffee, light ice and splash of oat milk. Go get that if you haven’t. There’s a few spots for me that if your’e visiting for the first time we have to hit my favorite italian spot – La Scala, i’m still upset they got rid of the Brentwood location. Anyone that comes to california and doesn’t go to the beach isn’t here for a good time, so we would probably spend most days there. We would have to take a full day and drive up PCH to Santa Barbra. One, the drive up the coast is un comparable, there’s nothing like a California coast drive. Grand central station in Santa Barbra is some of the best architecture you will see in California. I don’t party much as i’ve gotten older but if you like to party, Los Angeles will be kind to you. Im also a shopper so we will either hit rodeo drive for the fancy stuff or head to melrose or la brea for the streetwear scene and get ourselves some new sneakers. You can really ever have enough if you ask me. Other than those things, im relatively a chill person. I like being at home with the dog and hosting people if that’s an option.

la scala
beach
pch highway, 1 grand central station

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost all my success is credited to my parents. They have always put me in the position to succeed even when the odds were against me. I would not be here in this position without the love and support of both of them. Janet McMannis and Mark McMannis

Website: www.llovesick.com

Instagram: @llovesick

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/posts/?q=llovesick

Other: in the process of getting a new handle on Instagram by the time this interview comes out we may have the @llovesick handle.

Image Credits
Photography: Kyle Herbert Shelby Pine Models Lena Ross Montana gillis Collin McMannis ( me )

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.