There is something unmistakable about the way Christopher John Rogers shows up in fashion. Before you even clock the silhouette or the tailoring, you feel it. Color that does not ask permission, volume that refuses to shrink, and a confidence that reads joyful instead of defensive.
Christopher John Rogers was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and that Southern grounding matters. Not in a surface-level way, but in the way his work understands ceremony, presence, and expression. Church, family gatherings, anime, comic books, and the visual language of the South all filtered into his earliest ideas of style. Clothes were never just clothes. They were statements, moods, and sometimes armor.
After studying at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Christopher John Rogers moved to New York and quickly carved out a lane that felt distinctly his own. In 2019, he became the youngest designer to win the CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund, and from there, his rise was not about chasing trends. It was about setting the tone. His designs have since been worn by Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kamala Harris, and others who understand that what you wear can be both elegant and expressive at the same time.
What makes Rogers stand out, especially now, is his refusal to neutralize himself. At a time when quiet luxury dominates the conversation, his work leans the other way. Bold color stories, sculptural shapes, and pieces that take up space unapologetically. Not for shock value, but because joy, optimism, and visibility are part of the message.
That philosophy is part of why Rogers feels so at home in Fresh Off the Porch. His work does not disconnect from where he is from in order to be respected. It builds from it. There is a Southern sensibility in his understanding of occasion, in how clothes can hold memory and meaning, even when they are loud.
For Catear, there is an additional layer of resonance. The R in our name is not abstract. It is literal. It stands for Rogers, one of our founders’ family names. Spotlighting Christopher John Rogers during Black History Month is not about wordplay or symbolism. It is about alignment. Shared roots. Shared belief that heritage and forward-thinking design do not cancel each other out. They strengthen each other.
Christopher John Rogers represents a generation of Black designers who are not interested in fitting neatly into existing boxes. He is proof that luxury can be expressive, that color can be serious, and that Southern influence belongs on the global stage without dilution.
As we kick off Black History Month, Catear's Fresh Off the Porch starts right here. With a designer who reminds us that showing up fully is not a risk. It is the point. It's been an honor to highlight him through this blog post.
We would love to hear your thoughts.
What Christopher John Rogers piece or moment stands out to you most, or what does bold expression in fashion mean to you today? Join the conversation in the comments below.
Sources:
Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). “Christopher John Rogers.”
https://www.scad.edu/guests-and-gusto/christopher-john-rogers
Forbes. “Christopher John Rogers.”
https://www.forbes.com/profile/christopher-john-rogers/
The Business of Fashion. “Don’t Put Christopher John Rogers in a Box.” Chantal Fernandez. October 22, 2020.
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/luxury/designer-christopher-john-new-york-emerging/
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