Rider launches collaboration with Diet Starts Monday and we interviewed the people responsible for the brand.

A Rider, a flip-flop brand connected to streetwear, which has been gaining more relevance in this universe due to its latest partnerships (for example, with the brands ÖUS and Bolovo), announces collab with Diet Starts Monday, one of the most famous independent brands from Washington, DC (USA).

John Geiger, Davin Gentry, and Kevin Hallums, partners of DSM, customized the R Next product – Rider's launch that mixes the RX (papete) and slide models – influenced by what they specialize in: the urban culture of the U.S. capital.
 
The NOTTHESAMO had a chat with the brand's representatives who are here in Brazil for the model launch happening this weekend.
Where did the idea for DSM and its name come from?
Davin: DSM came from the idea of people with brilliant ideas and great content to offer and do something they really enjoy.
Kevin: The name came from a brainstorm of John and Davin, we had to stop procrastinating and start chasing after doing what we like and putting our ideas out in the world, and that's how we started. 
How was your first contact with Rider? Did you ever imagine collaborating with a Brazilian brand?
Davin: No, actually not, we almost never do collabs. But it happened very naturally, they invited us to get to know their office and grab some sandals, and in 10 minutes we were planning a collab (laughs), the whole process felt very natural. We like it to be like this, without being something forced; it has to be natural, and Rider was the perfect partner for that.

How do you see the streetwear market today? What is the role of DSM in this market? 

John: Our idea within streetwear is to create our own language; we have a restaurant/bar/pop-up in DC/USA, where we showcase different collaborations with brands from other cities and countries. We don't like to limit ourselves to the term streetwear; we produce various things, we can create a product worth $1000 and even things worth $50. DSM tries to remain different not only in t-shirts and caps or similar things you see in various streetwear brands; we produce everything from mugs to a thousand-dollar jacket sold at Barneys. It's not just streetwear.
Kevin: It's not streetwear, it's ANYWEAR.

Did you get to know the brands here in Brazil? Which ones caught your attention? 

John: Yes! PACE, Bolovo, High, Cartel 011 has several pieces, everything sold in the store is amazing. There's also Astro Runners and Void, which is not a brand but has a concept very similar to what we have in DC, a restaurant, shop, and bar.
A message for the Brazilians who follow Diet. 

Davin: We wanted to thank you very much; the folks here have been very kind, they are really supporting us a lot. We've been through several cities, but we never expected so many people to enjoy the brand; it's very cool to see people  showing that they like the scene. At the airport, some people even came up to me asking where to get their luggage thinking I was Brazilian, but I was as lost as they were (laughs).

John: Brazil is amazing, and we are surrounded by incredible people!
Kevin: It's ANIMAL!

The collaboration of Rider with  Diet Starts Monday will be launched today at Cartel 011 starting at 5 PM.