We recently connected with Jess Rodgers and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jess, thanks for joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I’m a risk taker I never take the easy route I always believed in there needing to be some sort of challenge in order to execute to my best ability. When things are to easy it’s not as rewarding. When Starting my business I took the risk to invest in just sunglasses instead of the typical clothing route that my audience is more presumed to buy. It was challenging from start to finish trying to navigate what kind of sun glasses I could create that would draw attention to my audience in a fashionable way. I’m the end it worked out I sold out of one color way in the first week. Now I branched into clothing as well but my stamp is sunglasses and they sell everyday.

Jess, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was always into fashion growing up I always wanted the latest shoe and couldn’t wait to style it. Life obstacles came in to play and helped me find an outlet to where I could show self love in a healthy way. So I picked up a camera and enjoyed getting infront of the lens and taking pictures. I finally decided to make an instagram and a good friend of mine insisted I had the look to peruse a model in the streetwear fashion lane. I was always uncomfortable with my appearance but knew you have to get uncomfortable to be comfortable So we went and did a photoshoot posted it to my IG tagged a few clothing brands. Before we knew it I was getting bookings asking if I wanted to model a few clothing brands latest drops, so I would do them and than more and more brands started to reach out. I was building a decent interactive audience. I was constantly behind the scenes of clothing brands and asking questions what made you start ? How did you start? How did you find a manufacturer? You know simple background questions and hearing stories I became intrigued and was wondering how can I still model these clothes but have something I’ve made in these photos as well. Than the ideas hit me.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Without this story I wouldn’t be where I am today as a brand owner and streetwear model. It wasn’t a easy journey to say the least. Through my young adult hood i was a college soccer player I got injured and could never play Again that’s when I lit all began i struggled deeply with a Eating Disorder specifically Anorexia Nervosa. I battled everyday with the thought that I was overweight at the time I was 135 pounds, healthy for my age and height but I didn’t see that I seen a very unattractive overweight person who dreaded to look at herself in the mirror or without baggy clothes on. I became to obsess over calories and food it consumed my daily life leading me into over 5 different treatment hospitals in different states for long inpatient stays lasting between 3 to 6 months of hospitalization over the course of 4 years. Nothing ever seemed to help I was sick and would spend months in a hospital getting treatment to come out and go back to my bad habits of anorexia it made me a mean person caused me to loose relationships, friendships and even some family because they couldn’t take it anymore. I have got down to weighing 69 pounds and I couldn’t love myself couldn’t even look at myself without being disgusted in what I looked like without trying to figure out how to loose more weight but I was 69 pounds at the age of 23 years old body dysmorphia took over and I needed to be smaller. Than one day it was about 9:00pm I remember this day so vividly. I went to try and get ready for bed and my vision was extremely blurry, my heart was racing and I was having trouble speaking. I knew something was wrong. Next thing you know I’m being rushed to the hospital by this time my face and my whole right side of my body is completely numb I was having a stroke i almost lost my life that night . Leading me to be in ICU for 15 days and hospitalized for 22 days. I was in a wheelchair and had to learn how to walk again. Fast forward, I knew I had to change my life around and start to love myself if I still wanted to be here. Take self love to the next level, it led me to get in front of the camera I use to get told you have a unique look so I utilized it to my advantage and started modeling clothing brands. Which than lead me to be so passionate with the brands clothes that I decided to start my own clothing line. Now I have my own sunglasses brand line and clothing line. The odds are against us but without giving up anything is possible.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

I do manufacture my products they are custom made with 3D cad designs So in order to custom make my products a manufacture is the best way to go it will save you time, stress and a lot of money. It’s like a one stop shop cut out the middle man here. I oppose you to always try a few manufacturers out get a feel on there communication, turn around time and importantly get samples from each to test out the quality and if they listen to all of your needs and wants. Quality matters when creating a good product everyone looks for good quality.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rogels.shop/
• Instagram: Jesss_do_it
• Other: Brand Instagram : @theofficialrogels

Image Credits
Kianna Wilson Darren Beatie