We were lucky to catch up with Stan Rogers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Stan, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I was blessed with parents who have exposed me to the world at such an early age. Whether it be traveling stateside and across the country, or allowing me to participate in any activities and sports. My parents both were born in Chicago but lived two completely different lives. Knowing the turmoil and obstacles my father had to overcome just to make an “ok” living is the reason i understand grace and the importance of having strong morals and values to stand on when you have absolutely nothing left. My parents didn’t just tell me about life and being a good person, they embodied that in the flesh and then some. My Mom reminded me that we are only human and its ok to make mistakes and be wrong, as long as you communicate and be transparent with your vision and dialect. I played baseball, basketball, volleyball, and golf as well as earned my first degree black belt taekwondo at 13 and then learned to play the drums for 2-3 years. Everyone is born with a privilege and to empathize and understand others perspective is a direct influence of understanding your own privilege without being selfish, ignorant, or confused. They allowed me to be wrong. They let me fall so they can be there when i get up and they always let it be known that no matter what, do not be scared to tell the truth despite any consequence. You really gotta stand on it.

Stan, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well, my name is Stan R. I am a Designer, Tailor, DJ, Educator and have been working in music management and marketing for about 6 years as well. My bread and butter is fashion design and thats what i have my degree in. The name of my brand is, By Stan R which i created in 2016. I graduated from University of Missouri (Mizzou) December of 2018 where i majored in Textile and Apparel Management with an emphasis in product development and received a minor in business. I first started physically handstitching garments around my sophomore/junior year in highschool. I didnt really have any plan B. I knew i loved fashion and that i needed a structured foundation to further my knowledge and honestly earn my stripes. To be more specific, i am a technical cut and sew designer whose currently building the foundation for a fashion house. I debuted my first collection under By Stan R, with a solo runway show in chicago at the end of 2019. All the pieces were unisex because i believe the barriers around gender in fashion has put a ceiling on design and fashion (seperately). I spent 2 years making the garments for that show and had well over 40 looks and twice as many pieces. Some garments were manufactured but the bulk of the garments were all cut and sewn. I like to use silhouette as the basis for how i design as well as the textiles. I believe that how we physically see things and experience life effects who we are and more importantly, who we strive to be. That ultimately effects who we perceive ourselves as and how we empathize with others. What is in between these two entities, is fashion. Fashion is the core balance between the internal and external form of self. Thats why every stitch matters. Every cut, fold, and crease as well. Thats why balance is so important in how and why i design. Whether it be the seam lines within a womens maxidress silhouette, or patchwork with a balance color palette. It just has to make sense to me. Thats why i named my brand after myself. I have to be able to see myself wearing these pieces or finding them enticing and innovative in some sense (womenswear) and be able to hold myself accountable. Anonymity is cool and mysterious but in the age of social media, everyone wants a piece of you. So in every stitch and garment that iv’e made over the years, there you behold, me ( in some sense or form lol).
It is important to note that i was born and raised in Chicago and have a heavy influence of streetwear because that is how i was exposed to the industry. I am a product of my environment and i take pride in that alone. Trends have started here and trends have evolved here. Only way to make it in this city is to put the actual work in. You cannot “fake the funk”. I was born in a city where originality thrives and the moment you are in-genuine with your approach or self, your exposed because this city sees you for you and not the image you try to perceive. That is why BSR is an entity of Stan R. The clothes are really my flesh. Im as vulnerable as I can be right now and it is not comfortable but thats only because change is uncomfortable.
That leads me to my logo, insignia, spirit animal; The Almighty Dragonfly. I chose the dragonfly because it represents change and more importantly, adaptation. We have no control over a handful of things in our lifetime. One being, time itself. With time and exposure to knowledge, we evolve, we grow. It is uncomfortable being thrown into new situations, conquering new opprtunities, ane completely revamping your vision or self. But just like dragonfly, we must adapt. We cannot wallow, become stagnant and ultimately looking for a sense of self. We must adapt. We must pivot. We must grow. I just want all my consumers, family, and supporters to grow with time. Everyones perception of time is different but we all must move in the same direction. Forward. Every product from BSR is based on forward thinking and embracing innovative yet technical design. All through the lens of the almighty, dragonfly.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

The main mission of my creative journey as of right here, right now is still trying to find my Purpose. Finding my purpose within the industry itself and trying to figure out where i fit. Thats why i decided to get a formal education in Fashion design just so i could understand every position that is not an actual designer. Marketing. Styling. a Buyer. Tailoring. Etc. Another main goal im trying to accomplish is translating my vision from myself and team to my audience/consumers seamlessly. I am learning how to articulate the why and the how of any garment, project, collection and that is where my audience cares the most. Yes the pieces speak for themselves, but why not add more insight so they can feel more of a connection to myself, the pieces, and the brand itself so it can truly standalone.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn comfortability. I had to learn through experience that being comfortable without taking risk is just the early stages of stagnancy. It was 2021 and i was two years post the solo debut collection and getting ready to put out a 22 piece collection with no cut and sew pieces. It was time to pivot the brand to expand the clientele. I did this by marketing this new collection with new models/ fresh faces and releasing pieces that were more cost friendly as opposed to cut and sewn pieces that can get pricy. The collection was a success. It was my first time doing socks, designing bandanas, women’s pieces like skirts and half-zip ,cropped ,ribbed longsleeve shirts with 3m printing. It was my first time working directly with manufactures as well but refreshing because it was something new. I had to take the risk. I had to step into this position as a designer, and lead operator of the brand wholeheartedly. I had to understand that i know what i know and what i do not know, i do not know. I must always be a student of the game and willing to learn so that the more i learn, understand, and apply the things im learning in real time, i can share, articulate, and help the community im striving to build outside of the brand. Clothes are just clothes until someone puts them on. That being said, community is the driving force because i had to learn that these garments are not the glue that brings the community together. The purpose and drive behind the brand is. The clothes are simply the vessel.

Contact Info:

• Website: ByStanR.com
• Instagram: @BystanR (business) , @Stain.DJ (Personal)
• Twitter: @BystanR
• Other: Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/styliststan

Image Credits
Nersa Backstrom, Jordan Esperanza, Johntavis Mclean, Derek Machak