YEDaily: Daniel Torjman

Daniel Torjman is the designer and creative director for the Toronto-based lifestyle brand 18 Waits. As the head of a young company, though, his role ranges to include anything from styling to sales. He also has some very keen advice for young professionals, as you’ll find out in today’s YEDaily…

Elevator Pitch: Describe your job in a nutshell.
That should be an easier answer than it is. I’m the designer and creative director for the Toronto-based lifestyle brand 18 Waits. But we’re a young company that’s growing very quickly, so for now everyone who works with us wears many hats. For instance, in addition to designing clothing and accessories, I do production, sales, marketing and PR, develop concepts for photo shoots/videos, styling, product development, everything really that’s involved in growing and developing the brand. 

Why did you start working at your company? What was the inspiration for this career route?
I was living in New York City working with a brand called Rogan. It was great fun and I loved the city, the company and the people I was working with. But I needed to do my own thing. I learned a lot while living there and it just came to a point where I couldn’t get on NOT doing my own project. It became all I thought about and focused on and my heart and mind were really not into anything else so it was an obvious time to move on and start 18w. 

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What is the best part of what you do on a day-to-day basis? The most challenging part?
There is so much that I love about what I do on a daily basis. I love everything about it. Its partially because its my own project but it also has to do with the freedom of being able to work on whatever I want to create. I like every aspect of it. Determining themes for a collection, choosing fabrics/textures/colors, designing styles, the process of sample making and perfecting a fit or design, selling the collection to stores and buyers, talking about the new designs and collections – I really love everything involved. I have a strong passion for all of it. It’s not work to me. It’s pleasure.

I think the most challenging part of all of this is that I can’t really turn it “off.” My wife tells me that I need a better balance of work and life but the reality of it is that this IS my life. I get inspiration for the brand all the time, every day. I always carry a Moleskin and pen on me and have notebooks all over the house and office. I come up with most of my ideas when I’m sleeping or trying to sleep so there are notebooks around the bed. 

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Within the next five years I’d like 18 Waits to do women’s collections, as well as have our own brick and mortar store. I get asked on a weekly basis when we’re going to make clothing for women. All of my girlfriends buy 18w clothing and just get it tailored to fit them. Both starting a women’s line and opening a store takes capital and manpower. So the challenge for both would be growing enough to fulfill both elements in order to make that happen. But that would definitely be the five-year goal.

What does success look like to you?
Happiness. Anyone who is truly happy is successful. They’re doing SOMETHING right. 

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What is the most memorable milestone in your career?
That’s a good question. There are many. I feel good about many things that I’ve done and achieved. And there are still so many milestones and goals I’m still striving to achieve so it still seems so far off. I always like seeing a complete stranger wearing my clothes. That always feels good. It’s not a “major” milestone per se but it always brings a smile to my face and makes me happy. Last year we achieved some sales goals that were a first for us and that was also really exciting. It’s always a good feeling opening new accounts in new countries, too. We’re carried in stores throughout the world but the FIRST time a store from another country carries you is a nice feeling – knowing that you’re now in that country. And we receive a lot of good press and when that happens I feel like we’ve achieved small goals. For instance, for many seasons in a row we’ve received “Editor’s Pick” as one of the best brands who showed at the trade show. We always show at the Capsule trade show and we go to Paris, NYC and Vegas every season. So every collection we’re picked by a different media source as their favourite brand among the show. It is very flattering and quite an achievement as we’re exhibiting among the best brands in the world and for stores and buyers from around the world who have very keen eyes and knowledge of the industry. So to be touted as one of the best – season after season – speaks volumes.  

Do you have any advice for other young professionals?
Yes. LOVE what you do. There’s really no point in doing it otherwise. Life is way too short and it’s crazy to spend the majority of it doing something you couldn’t care less about doing.

Do you support any charities? If so, which one(s) and why is that important to you?
I don’t have a “go-to” charity. I think charity is a great thing and I support the idea of charity in general. So whenever I get an email or call from a friend who’s raising money for their charity – no matter what it is – I always donate. I figure that if it’s important enough to my friend that they are dedicating their time to it and reaching out to me to help, then it’s important enough for me to do so. 

What to you is notable?
Passion, sincerity, creativity, fun, love. Lots of things. Basically, anything that you can tell is “real.” Not contrived or trying to be something that it’s not.

Blackberry, iPhone, Android, or Other?
iPhone. With Moleskin and pen.