Leandra Medine of Man Repeller On Influence & Growth | Summary and Q&A

Summary

Leandra Medine, founder of Man Repeller, discusses the origins and evolution of her website. She talks about how she started the site as a way to celebrate trends that women love and men hate and how it has now become a funny website for serious fashion. Leandra also discusses her plans for the future of Man Repeller and her thoughts on the fashion industry embracing technology.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the initial concept behind Man Repeller?

Leandra launched Man Repeller in 2011 as a site about trends that women love and men hate. She wanted to chronicle all the things she was wearing that men found unattractive, and it was a way for women to celebrate what they want to wear and regain ownership over their love lives.

Q: How has Man Repeller changed since its launch?

Initially focused on trends, Man Repeller has evolved into a funny website for serious fashion. It now serves as a microphone for women, using fashion as its language to connect with audiences. Leandra feels more comfortable calling it a microphone for women and a place where women can feel comfortable.

Q: Did Leandra invent the phenomenon of man repelling?

No, man repelling is a social condition that existed before Leandra identified and popularized it. She was the first to give it a name and turn it into a concept that resonated with many women.

Q: How did Leandra transition from her first blog to Man Repeller?

Leandra's first blog was called "Four Months in Paris" and chronicled her time studying abroad. When she returned home, she renamed it to "Boogers and Bagels." About three months after renaming the blog, she had the idea for Man Repeller and decided to take a new direction.

Q: How did Man Repeller go from a small blog to millions of page views and a six-person staff?

Man Repeller gained traction and attention when Leandra was voted more influential than Anna Wintour in fashion. This was one of the first indicators that she had something bigger than just a lifestyle blog. Despite the success, Leandra still saw it as a lifestyle until recently, when she realized its potential as a business.

Q: Why has Leandra chosen to bootstrap Man Repeller instead of seeking venture capital?

Leandra believes that a loyal following is more important than page views, and she focuses on building a comfortable place for women. She hasn't completely ruled out venture capital, but she feels that she can continue to bootstrap the company to stay true to her vision.

Q: How would Leandra pitch Man Repeller to venture capitalists?

Leandra envisions Man Repeller as not just a content site but something much bigger. She plans to grow horizontally and expand into different channels like podcasts, smart narratives on social media, and even a subscription box. The subscription box would collaborate with different designers and offer limited-run, customized products that can't be found elsewhere.

Q: What made Leandra realize that Man Repeller could be a business?

The Adweek list, where Leandra was voted more influential than Anna Wintour, was one of the first indicators that Man Repeller had the potential to be much bigger. Leandra also saw that Man Repeller was connecting with a younger audience and providing a sense of belonging and understanding for offbeat girls.

Q: How does Leandra view the intersection between fashion and technology?

Leandra believes that the intersection between fashion and technology is evident, with Instagram winning a media award at the CFDA Awards. Fashion designers are starting to integrate technology into their designs, but it may take some time for the fashion industry to fully embrace wearables and other tech advancements.

Q: Can the fashion industry and Silicon Valley work together to advance wearable technology?

Leandra believes that the fashion industry's sense of ownership and desire for control makes it challenging for them to embrace wearable technology. However, as technology becomes more integrated into our lives, fashion designers may start to see the value in collaborating with tech experts to create innovative products.

Q: What other apps does Leandra like besides Instagram?

Leandra also enjoys using Snapchat to connect with her audience. She mentions Uber and Via as transportation apps she finds useful. She also expresses frustration with the lack of healthy food options in hospital convenience shops and mentions an interest in running a company that addresses this issue.

Q: If Leandra couldn't run Man Repeller, what other company would she choose to run?

Leandra mentions that she recently visited a hospital and was frustrated with the lack of healthy food options. She expressed a desire to run a company that builds an educational food program for hospitals, providing nutritious options for patients.