Flexin' In My Complexion | Fashion Designer Kheris Rogers | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Kheris Rogers, the CEO of Flexin' My Complexion, shares her journey of overcoming bullying and embracing her dark skin complexion to inspire others to love themselves.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] [APPLAUSE] KHERIS ROGERS: Hi, I'm Kheris. I'm the CEO of Flexin' My Complexion, and I'm the youngest designer to ever showcase at New York Fashion Week. YEMISI HARRISON: Awesome. KHERIS ROGERS: Yeah. That's a brief way to say it. [APPLAUSE] YEMISI HARRISON: That's a huge deal. So I wanted to just kind of get more about how did you g... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥰 Kheris Rogers started Flexin' My Complexion after facing bullying for her dark skin complexion, aiming to spread the message of self-love and acceptance.
• 🥰 Colorism within her own race made Kheris feel uncomfortable and lacking in confidence, leading her to embrace her power and love her skin color.
• 👪 Kheris's family, including her mother, sister, and grandmother, provided support and encouragement for her entrepreneurial endeavors.
• 🫥 Kheris's passion for empowering others extends beyond her clothing line, as she started the Flexin' My Complexion Foundation to help less fortunate children in her community.
• 👧 Kheris has collaborated with major figures like Nike, LeBron James, and Lupita Nyong'o, gaining widespread recognition for her brand and inspiring young girls worldwide.
• 🛝 Kheris believes in staying humble and grounded, as she understands that success can be fleeting and strives to make a positive impact while she has the opportunity.
• 👪 Kheris encourages parents to support their children's entrepreneurial ambitions and to help them navigate the challenges that come with starting a business.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Kheris come up with the idea for Flexin' My Complexion?

Kheris was inspired to create Flexin' My Complexion after being bullied for her dark skin complexion, wanting to let others know that they are beautiful no matter what.

Q: Who supported Kheris in starting her business?

Kheris received support from her immediate family, including her mom, sister, and grandmother, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams and start her clothing line.

Q: How did Kheris feel about being the youngest designer to showcase at New York Fashion Week?

Kheris felt excited and overwhelmed by the opportunity to showcase her line at New York Fashion Week, realizing that she was paving the way for other young African-American girls.

Q: What other products does Flexin' My Complexion offer?

Flexin' My Complexion offers sweatshirts, hoodies, a backpack, and recently collaborated with Lupita Nyong'o for a clothing line inspired by her book, "Sulwe." They also have plans to release a new line and an edge control product called Edge Flex.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Kheris Rogers started Flexin' My Complexion after being bullied for her dark skin complexion, with the goal of spreading the message that everyone is beautiful.

• She experienced colorism within her own race, which made her feel uncomfortable, sad, and lacking in confidence.

• The turning point for Kheris was in 5th grade when she began to embrace her power and love her skin color, which led her to start Flexin' My Complexion.