Chriss Rogers | Episode 6

Written By Bradley Wete

Chriss Rogers | all CR photos by Mia André, exclusively for THROUGH IT
Style Credits: diamond necklace, earrings, and rings by Clean Origin, grillz by EASE

Even without the added decor, Chriss Rogers has a delightful smile–one that would’ve fulfilled the needs of vintage toothpaste TV commercials. Pearly whites gleaming on a face that suggests an absolute absence of stress or evidence that she, like the rest of us, has ever been through some shit. Now snap her grillz over her ivories and suddenly what once beamed now twinkles and sparkles. The Houston native’s diamond cut-diamond dust set instantly adds a glowed-up boss veneer to her cheery visage, which is perfect; Rogers is the founder and force behind the EASE brand, a company which produces soon-to-be-fully patented protective mouth grillz that attach to retainers and ensure that teeth and guarded from metal scratches. 

Style Credits: denim jacket by Sebastian Ami | jewelry by TEN VIRTUES 

Over the course of a week, I’d see much of that grin for this episode of THROUGH IT. At BASE Nail Bar where she got her cat claws shaped and polished with her sister Ciera by her side. At her Silverlake Flea pop-up shop where we connected with designer and style pundit Kevin “PoppaYang” Shephard, who joined us to share his journey and grab a pair of gold PMGs. And downtown Los Angeles where pulled back the curtain on her roller coaster of a life over drinks in a booth at Death & Co. 

Style Credits: brown tank top by Entire Studios, silver sneakers by grounds, cargo pants by BABES.

Of course, I assumed she’d had an eventful life, sure. But she’s faced… a lot: There’s the  eye-opening teenaged trip overseas, a Houston-to-Los Angeles move inspired by a message from God, impersonating a pop singer, becoming a rapper, then a clothing designer. Add a toxic relationship with an ex fiance and that would just get you up to 2020–before she launched EASE and connected the dots between her hometown’s love for flossing dental jewelry with her inventive business savvy.  Shephard’s got quite the story, too.

In Fall 2024 our featured guest and his clothing brand Yang Vibe were making a huge pivot, moving from selling through massive shops like Footlocker to direct-to-consumer commerce. During the shift, a manufacturer he was in business with stole $30,000 from him. “Beat me,” he recalls as we talk inside of Chriss’ EASE pop-up shop in Los Angeles one balmy morning. Down 30 beans and firmly seated at “rock bottom,” Shephard recalibrated and threw a Hail Mary pass toward an uncertain new role: Content Creation.

Kevin “PoppaYang” Shephard | photos by Joseph Weté, exclusively for THROUGH IT

On the latest episode of THROUGH IT, Kevin walks me through his insane 12-month transition into becoming an increasingly revered style pundit at the intersection of fashion and culture. With new friends and peers like Salehe Bembury, Jerry Lorenzo and Michael B. Jordan just a text or direct message away and billion-dollar brands respecting his ascent, Shephard’s future is as shiny as the gold protective mouth grill (PMG) he just picked up from EASE. 

Style Credits: cream skirt by Entire Studios, black tube top brought by Rogers

Sit back and watch the inspiring stories of two self-made standouts who've been on incredible runs all year. The faith they exhibit and work they’ve put in powers the wisdom they share. Lock in, and enjoy. 

-bw

CREDITS & IG HANDLES 

  • Director, Aaron Murray Vazquez - @aaronisnotcool

  • Cinematographer & Sound Designer, Joao Gonzalez - @softglas 

  • Executive Producer, Brad Weté via HE TELLS STORIES - @BRADWETE @hetellsstories

  • Chriss Rogers Hair & Makeup, Chelsea Ciara - @chelsea_ciara

  • Chriss Rogers Photo Shoot Stylist, Raf Talaat - @rafnosimons

  • Interview Location, Death & Co - @deathandcompany

  • Editorial Photographer, Mia André - @_miazaki_

  • BTS Photographer, Joseph Weté - @lost.myhorse

  • Brad's Barber, Garrick Dixon - @thegarrickdixon

  • Bartender, Zakary Carter

  • Video Production, BLUE CAMELOT FILMS - @blue.camelot

  • THROUGH IT Logo designed by Marcus Hedgpeth - @okny

  • THROUGH IT Theme Song, "Pepper Soup," Produced by Nu Goteh - @nuthervandross 

SPECIAL THANKS

  • Weté and Company, Inc 

  • Jenna Gerbino Kaplan, Death & Co - @jennagkaplan

  • Ciera Rogers - @cierarogers

  • Kevin "PoppaYang" Shephard management, Nissa Coates via Capital GRND - @nissa_omg

  • EASE - @easethebrand

  • The Colours Shop - @coloursockshop

  • Tom Ford Beauty via KCD @tomfordbeauty & @kcdworldwide

  • BASE Nail Bar - @baseweho

  • Clean Origin - @cleanorigin 

  • New Balance - @NewBalance

  • Nike - @nike

  • Yang Vibe - @yangvibe

Bradley Wete
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bLAck pARty | Episode 5