Meet Deirdra Mongan Jones: Co-Founder & Creative Director, Rendall Co.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Deirdra Mongan Jones and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Deirdra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a designer, the ultimate goal for many people is to be able to create and sell your own things products. I opened my first business at the age of 24, and I once I caught the entrepreneur bug, corporate job life was pretty much a non-option. I was lucky enough to work for the indie brand Steven Alan for 8 years, and was given a ton of autonomy and space to learn and create. I’m on my 3rd business now, and each one gives me a new opportunity to explore creative design ideas.

What should our readers know about your business?

My LA-based company, Rendall Co, was founded a year ago, at the beginning of the pandemic. It was meant to be an evolution of my previous workwear and uniform brand in NYC, Jones of Boerum Hill.

Once we realized what was happening with Covid-19, and our primary factory at risk of closing, all of our customers (hospitality) closing as well, we did an extremely quick, major pivot to a face mask brand! To say the response was overwhelming is an understatement. We ended up expanding our manufacturing to six factories at one point, hired a team of people in the span of a few weeks, and found a large 3PL to help with the fulfillment. It was an insane rollercoaster, but my business partner and I were on the same wavelength emotionally, mentally, all of it. It was like getting a crash course MBA in the span of six months. My partner and I bring totally different skill sets and experience to the table, and it was the only way we were able to pull it off.

Now, our big challenge is pivoting back to making amazing, stylish, premium workwear, aprons, and uniforms. It feels like we’re just getting started, and it’s going to be another wild ride.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I moved to Los Angeles about six months before the lockdown, so I have a really unique experience of the city. We would do lots of hikes, from the Palisades to Griffith. There would need to be a Malibu beach day, for sure.

This is a music town, so we’d have hit up the Greek Theatre, or some smaller venues around town.

Maybe we’d get super dressed up and grab a drink at Hotel Bel Air.

I know VERY little of the food scene in LA, but some of my favorite spots I’ve been introduced to are – Dune, Salazar, Sonoratown, Rustic Canyon, Alimento, Rose Cafe, and L&E Oyster.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

Many people! I’ve had several incredible mentors in my life, which I am very grateful for. It makes the path much less lonely, and anyone that is willing to give their time and advice is so valuable and inspiring.

My father has been a huge mentor and influence in my professional life. He went from being an entry-level forester to the president of his company. He has a ton of insight in decision-making, finance, strategy, and fortitude.

In NYC, I interned for a dynamic fashion designer named Mark Montano. He was also invaluable in my journey as a creative, a designer, and a business owner. He handed the reigns of his New York shop to me when he decamped to LA, and almost 20 years later, we’re neighbors, and we run around the Silver Lake Reservoir together every week and still have our chats!

Website: www.rendallco.com

Instagram: @rendallco

Image Credits
Photo Credit: David Padilla