If there’s anyone who gives more meaning to the term ”late nights, early mornings,” it would have to be 27 yr. old David Shands.  The South New Jersey raised, but now Atlanta native is making his mark throughout the urban community with his fresh new clothing brand cleverly titled “SLEEP IS 4 SUCKERS!”   The young entrepreneur keeps himself busy but we were recently able to catch up with him for a quick interview, before his dash out to another meeting to discuss the future of  his line. Check out what he had to say about his brand and his journey on the road to success below!

Q & A

Blukolla: So tell us, where did SI4S derive from and who came up with the name?

Shands: Oh wow, it was soo long ago. Humm…well, I came up with the email address sleepis4suckers@gmail like, probably back in 05′. And I came up with the idea for the company about two yrs. ago. It started around March of 2010.

Blukolla: From an email?? And so did you decide, Well hey, I like fashion too or what?

Shands: Yea I do. I use to paint t-shirts. My man T-dot he started using fabric paint to design shirts for people. When I came back home from jersey I was staying with Dot, and he showed me how he was making them. So I took that, and started painting t-shirts and it went crazy at my college. I was making shirts for my friends, family and everybody!

Blukolla: (laughing) so you had everyone like “YEA LET ME GET A SHIRT DOE”!?

Shands: Haha yea (he laughs)…I became almost like a slave to the thing that I wanted and loved to do.

Blukolla: Okay ok.  A lot of people have been asking, will there be a kids line coming out soon?

Shands:  Yes. Its everything coming man. Kids,  uh onesies, all that..(he says, chuckling). It’s a process, It’s a process.

Blukolla:  Is there a particular designer that inspires you and what were you rocking before SI4S?

Shands:  There’s a bunch of brands that I admire, a lot of street wear brands that you know uh, came before me. I was wearing tall Tee’s and whatever else everybody else was rocking. Now, I don’t want people getting confused because we are much more than a clothing line. We are creating a mindset and it just so happens we started with t-shirts to represent who you are and what you do. I want to do sponsorships and all that, so clothing is the start but not the main focus.

Blukolla:  Whats up with these cellphone cases?? You know, everybody doesn’t have an Iphone. When will I be able to get an android case?

Shands:  Well, we’re coming out with it, I just have to have those made. They aren’t easy cus there’s sooo many androids out there.

Blukolla:  Cool, cool. So who are your partners on the SI4S team?

Shands:  Oh, man..i don’t want to forget anyone.  I have a huge team. I have people here in Atlanta, out in jersey, Alabama, Michigan, and Iraq etc.

Blukolla:  That’s global! So what do you say to those who didn’t believe in the SI4S dream and what can we expect from you in the future?

Shands:  Well im still chasing the dream but of course people will always be skeptical if they have never witnessed someone go from nothing to explosion. We are building this brand for the people, so the future is all about them!

               Shop the Sleep is 4 suckers brand at www.sleepis4suckers.com. Also find at local shops House of the dream on Peters St. in Atlanta, ga, as well as Attach and Balboa.  Contact David Shands via Twitter @sleepis4suckers and facebook at David Shands.  Remember to log onto www.blukolladreams.com daily for all your fashion and entertainment needs. As the brand conveys, “Dreams come to you in your sleep, but who needs sleep when your living the dream!”