Reading into Atelier Details
- Milan Tanedjikov
- Oct 25
- 5 min read
Words of Advice from Books, Founder of Atelier Details
to Isabella, Viktoriya, and Nathan
Walking into Atelier Details, we’re greeted by Books — the designer behind a banner that reads: “We have the best denim in the world.”
Only two years into his brand and a few months into his current studio, Books has already built a reputation for precision, work ethic, and conviction. The space hums with industrial sewing machines and heavy cones of white and golden thread — a workshop born from obsession and discipline.
We sat down with him to talk about beginnings, burnout, and the poetry behind a pair of jeans.
Isabella: What motivated you to start your brand — and why denim?
Books: Before fashion, I played football — soccer. That was the plan, the only plan. When I realized it wasn’t going to happen, I told myself: If I can’t be the best at this, I’ll be the best at something else.
Fashion came naturally because it looked cool and entrepreneurial. I always had that drive. After I quit school, I experimented with everything: fabrics, patterns, jackets, pants — anything that inspired me. Then I made a pair of jeans. They weren’t great, but they felt right.
That’s when I knew I wanted to build a brand around denim. I had to choose — be good at many things, or perfect at one. So I decided to perfect jeans. Isabella: You seem very self-driven and confident. Has that always been the case? Books: Always. When I was a kid, I thought I was the fastest runner in the world. Playing football, I thought I was the best player. That confidence never left.
In fashion school, everyone was competition. I wanted to be the first to arrive, the last to leave. I stayed late just to work on my own projects. That mindset hasn’t changed.
Viktoriya: Could you describe your creative process — what inspires you?
Books: I’m mostly inspired by observation. I watch a lot of movies, listen to music — that’s where everything comes from.
I’m not really into what’s happening in fashion. I don’t follow trends or new designers. I love writing poems, and all my campaigns are based on pages from a book I wrote. I narrate my own campaigns on Instagram.
My last drop — Blue Indigo — was inspired by my family in Peru. My mom always wore blue denim. So yeah, it’s movies, poetry, memory. That’s the mix.
“If I can’t be the best at this, I’ll be the best at something else.”
Nathan: You have a signature piece — the reversible denim. How did that idea develop?
Books: That came from my poet side. I wanted to include an inside message. When you buy the jeans, you receive them inside out — that’s when you discover it.
It was inspired by the French film La Haine. I wrote la haine on one leg and l’amour on the other — hate and love. Two opposite words that often describe the same person.
At first, I didn’t tell anyone the jeans were reversible. But people started wearing them inside out. It became a thing. I had to name them reversible double pocket jeans because stylists were confused. It wasn’t planned — it just happened. Viktoriya: Do you have plans to expand?
Books: Yeah. A few months ago I kept saying: I need a bigger space, more machines, a team. Now I have all that — two new hires, interns, and in-house production. We’re starting to manufacture, but still keeping everything internal. Same work, bigger scale.
“The fear is always there — but you feel it, and you do it anyway.”
Viktoriya: Does all that growth make you nervous? Books: Of course. It’s all risk. You have to trust yourself and your team.
When I quit school and my job, I had nothing. I kept thinking: What if it doesn’t work? But fear is always there — you just do it anyway. Fashion isn’t a safe career, but that’s what makes it real. Isabella: You work constantly. How do you deal with burnout? Books: I’ve had plenty. I’m not great at handling them. When I quit school, I was working a hundred hours a week — seven in the morning to one a.m.
Now I try to take weekends off, though I still end up creating content at home. I’m learning not to feel guilty for resting. I start at nine or ten, finish around five or six.
I’m still early in my journey — only two years in — but I’ve achieved things people usually reach later. It’s the hours. I’m obsessed. But I know life is bigger than that.
Nathan: You’ve said school was valuable for you, even though you didn’t finish. Why?
Books: Because I learned everything there — how to sew, how to use Illustrator, how to pattern-make. The connections too. I still work with people I met there.
The degree itself depends on your goals. I didn’t need one because I never planned to apply anywhere. I wanted a studio. When I interned with a Montreal designer, she had this big space with windows and clients coming in. I saw that and thought: That’s it. That’s what I want.
Nathan: Do you ever regret not finishing your last semester?
Books: Not at all. I asked myself: If I’m not going to use the degree, what am I waiting for?
So I dropped out. I told myself six months of focused work could put me a year ahead. I worked 100 hours a week. And it worked.
Viktoriya: You’re known for your standards in construction. How do you maintain that quality with your team?
Books: Vincent — my right hand — trains the interns. We developed a system to define our margin of error.
If you’re an intern, we show you exactly what to do. During production, you repeat the same operation all day until it’s perfect. If something’s wrong, you unsew it and redo it. That’s the rule.
We don’t let anything leave the studio unless we’re proud of it. Craftsmanship represents us. Mistakes are part of the learning, but quality is non-negotiable.
Credits:
Images Atelier Detail Transcript Isabella, Viktoriya, and Nathan Editing Milan Tanedjikov
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