When Christopher John Rogers was in fifth grade, he knew he wanted to be a fashion designer.  He later stumbled on an Alexander McQueen show on YouTube and has since been hooked. Roger’s love of unadulterated and saturated Fashion with a capital F, has seen him rise quickly with his eponymous label, garnering a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund in 2019 and an incredible cohort of CJR wearers such as Lady Gaga, Michelle Obama, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and Beyonce. Iridescent fabrics, saturated jewel tones and dramatic volumes that physically take up the space of a room have marked Rogers out in the New York fashion scene.  

Jillian Choi, director of global exhibitions at Design Miami and hardcore fashion enthusiast, speaks to Rogers on this episode of the Live Curiously podcast, delving into his journey - from his upbringing in Baton Rouge, where prim church goers and an anything-goes eclecticism have become part of his ongoing reference points, to his time in New York designing for DVF, whilst side hustling with his own brand.  Choi and Rogers also unpack an unprecedented year, in which the young designer has had the luxury of time to be with his thoughts and really think about what his brand really stands for, realising that it’s ok not to be “everything to everyone.”  Rogers’ hopes for fashion’s future?  No grand plans for now, but just pure gratitude for doing him.   

“To be able to make clothing that is specific and charged with emotion be able to have a business out of that.  I feel lucky that we’ve found a community that understands that and relate to that and allow us to continue what we’re doing.”