Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to DeVonte’ Harris. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi DeVonte’, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?

First and foremost I believe the educational system must start with being trustworthy. If the educational system doesn’t start with gaining trust from the people it’s suppose to be helping, then there’s no hope for a successful system. Which then means the system is no longer doing its duty. These systems dictate the world. Whatever the system is feeding itself, in return, it’s going to give it right back to its people. We must have a clearer understanding on the past to be able to present solutions in the future. If we are fed lies, violence, and fear, then that is what we will end up giving each other. The educational system and all systems should focus solely on the truth no matter what it might be, instill both hope and faith in its community, and actually WANT change. If the system doesn’t first realize it must change for the best, it’ll never change.

To better prepare students of this world, we have to listen to them! Let them be more expressive with their feelings. Believe in whatever dreams and aspirations they have, and most importantly show you love them all no matter! Truth, love, a listening ear, and instilling hope and faith are vital to not only children in their young days, but also for their entire life. We must be an example students can lean on in this world. Be their guidance and safe space. The more children grow up being free-spirited and big dreamers, they’ll have what it takes, mentally and spiritually, to handle this life, this world and everything it throws. Make children believe they can do whatever they set their minds and hearts on. Let’s first fulfill them in life and that in turn will push them in the direction they want to go. That’s how I got this far. I can’t thank my parents enough for making me a believer of all things!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

B.o.R (By DeVonte’ Harris) is a brand build solely off of faith in 2016. It is a creative collection of fashion and film, ran by myself, and music, which is ran by my partner Desperado. I create mostly cut/sew designs, but my spectrum ranges far when it comes to designing anything. (There will also be a film to be released by the brand later in time.) We created this brand in college with no money in our bank account or any direction on how to start. We knew we needed an area of life where it will always be sunny no matter if it was raining outside. We needed something where we could pour in every emotion, thought, dream, anything we could think of. Our goal was to make people happy. To make our families proud and to release the stress off of them in any way we can. After we released t-shirts for the first time, we knew right then and there we wanted so much more from the brand. WE WANTED TO INSPIRE TO THE WORLD.

Making that decision, I decided to take the leap to LA in 2017 to try and spread the idea of the brand and help build the foundation of it. I knew from this moment it was now or never. I spent my days, hungry and homeless at times, writing pages and pages of ideas. Whatever I felt I wrote. From colors to movies, designs, to even what I want in the future. With all the sacrifices it lead to us having a fashion show in NYFW 2019 , LAFW 2021, and countless songs and videos by Rado. I must say in 6 years time we expected this and more! In the upcoming years we want to start hosting our on runway shows, music videos, pop ups, festivals, and concerts.

We want to give the people of this world a new look on life. To look at everything from a higher perspective. Life is not only what you make of it, but also how you perceive the bumps in the roads. We want people to understand your life is more important than the world and the darkness that lies in it. We are all lights in this world and we must never forget that! We are here to add fire/hope to the lights that are dim or have burned out. You have to take the good with the good and the bad with the good. With how the world is currently, a lot of people lose sight of their dreams, of their light. We want to bring everybody’s light back to them that the world sucked out. A lot of people are breathing but not living. I want to bring LIFE back to the world no matter what it takes. I’m proud that me & Rado have a goal bigger than this life and that will always keep us moving forward strong!

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Crazy story actually Rado & I lived in the same neighborhood as children, only a few houses down from each other. Funny thing is we have been going to school together since 4th grade. Same elementary, same jr. high, same high school, even same college! Being in college, we were even roommates at 2 different schools! We have always been close to each other so it was an obvious choice when it came to who I wanted to start this brand with. After countless years of 4-5 hour long talks about dreams, each other struggles, and the vision we both had, we knew we had to be destined for something grand. We are two halves to a whole. Now looking into the future, he is going to be more than just my business partner, he’s a dear friend that has sacrificed for me. He’s the greatest friend I could ask for so it is only right I always stay true to our goals. It is only right we rise at the top together!

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

What helped me most is people knowing me personally I believe. People see my passion. They see my Spirit and my faith in myself. When people knew exactly what I stood for, it made them understand more on my creative process of designing. I believe a lot of people create for the money and their heart isn’t in it. It’s hard to build a personal connection to something where there’s no love or heart. I strive for my life to be filled with love, peace, greatness, and change. I use those same feelings to fuel my brand to help spread those feelings across the world. If my heart is not in it I am not designing. I want to connect with everybody who supports the brand and make sure they know they are loved! When people wear my garments, I want them to be able to feel the love put into it and then in turn they can use that love to spread to others. B.o.R is a brand of love. A brand of inspiration. A brand of light. A brand of life. Something the world is in dire need of.

Contact Info:

• Website: beginningofrevolution.us
• Instagram: deeor_a
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCqlNd4qV_IYzBVWndp0q1MQ
• Other: https://linktr.ee/hellodesperado

Image Credits
Ceondre’ Stubbs – @CEOVZNS – PHOTOGRAPHER,  Albert L. Ortega – Getty Images , Yusef Ramirez – Photographer,  Zoe Roland – Model Stacy De Pannetti – Model, Cristen Subia- Model